Cat Grooming

Is your cat licking their rear end or scooting across the carpet? Anal gland issues might be the cause. These glands release fluid during bowel movements, and when blocked, they cause discomfort. Discover the causes, signs, and vet treatment for this problem.

When your cat’s coat has more than small tangles and snarls and matting begins to form, your cat might need professional help to get her hair-do back to norm.

There are certainly dozens of other chores you'd rather tackle than giving your cat a bath—and without a doubt, your kitty doesn't welcome the idea either! But when you need to provide the best care for your adorable fuzzball, we have helpful tips to make bath time easier.

Need help trimming your cat's nails? As anyone who lives with cats knows, cats like to scratch. They scratch to mark their territory, to stretch and flex their feet and bodies, and to wear down the dead outer layer of skin on their nails. Unfortunately, all the scratching behavior can result in damage to furniture or curtains—and maybe even you! You can satisfy their need to scratch by making sure they have plenty of scratch-approved surfaces and by keeping your cat's nails in check with regular trimming.

Along with our affinity for sharing the best spot on the couch and indulging in the occasional salmon croquette, we have a lot in common with our feline friends. Adult humans have 32 teeth; adult cats have 30. We also share the same type of teeth: incisors, canines or fangs, premolars, and molars. People brush their teeth at least once a day and cats should, too—with your help, of course. Here's how to brush your cat's teeth.

Your comfy couch kitty still has a bit of a wild side, and you see it when she yawns wide. Her sharp, strong teeth—perfect for self-defense and catching and eating prey—may look like they're just fine. But the reality is cat teeth cleaning is necessary both at home and by a professional to stay healthy, just like us humans.

Cats spend countless hours licking their fur clean and using their paws to groom the tops of their heads and faces (so cute!). But one place they can't reach is inside their ears. Some cats' ears naturally stay clean, while others have ears that tend to get a little gunky. If your kitty's ears become dirty, your cat needs a little help with sweeping the debris out. A veterinary professional can do it or you can learn how to clean your cat's ears at home.

Watching your cat struggling to cough up a hairball is unnerving. It looks and sounds like they're choking, but hairballs are harmless, right? Not always, Lynn Paolillo, CFMG, an instructor at the National Cat Groomers Institute, says. Though it's common for cats to get hairballs, it can also be a sign of trouble. Read on to learn what causes a cat hairball and what remedies will help your kitty safely pass one.

Cat tongues are often described as being rough like sandpaper, but we can assure you that the structure of your favorite feline's tongue is far more fantastical than anything you'll find on the shelf of a hardware store. However, to see what's really going on would require a close inspection, and we doubt your cat would appreciate such an intrusion.

Some facts of life: The sun rises in the east, the sky is blue, and cats scratch. It's normal behavior, but owners might get frustrated if that habit leads to your house looking like the set of the latest Wolverine movie.

Having cat allergies is no fun. The itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and wheezing can take all the joy out of being around cats. People often point to cat dander (shed skin cells) or hair as the main culprits, but Lynn Paolillo, an instructor at the National Cat Groomers Institute, says it’s a little more complicated than that. Read on to learn more about cat dander and how to get rid of it and other cat allergens.

Noticing white flakes every time you scratch your kitty? It's probably cat dandruff. It's a common condition, especially in overweight or older cats who can't reach around to groom themselves well. Learn the simple things you can do at home to get rid of cat dandruff and keep your cat's coat healthy.

Shedding is a normal, natural event in a cat's life—irrespective of hair length—because the feline fur growth cycle allows each hair to grow, rest, die, and then fall out. And yes, there is cat shedding season.