Grooming your pet cat outdoors keeps dirt, hair and fleas outside the house, and is also beneficial for those who suffer from allergies to cat hair and dander. If it can't be done outside, the next best place is the porch, bathroom, or a common area inside the house.

Turkish Van Cat

1. If the weather permits, it is best to groom the cat outdoors.

Grooming your cat outdoors keeps dirt, hair and fleas out of the house, and can also be beneficial for those who are allergic to cat hair and dander. If it can't be done outside, the next best place is the porch, bathroom, or a common area inside the house.

2. Check the cat’s ears, eyes and claws

Before grooming your cat, you should take this opportunity to check whether the cat’s ears, eyes and claws are clean and whether there are any potential diseases.

3. Health care of cat ears

If your cat is healthy, you don’t need to pay much attention to its ears. Check if there is any dirt inside the ear, dip a cotton ball in olive oil and remove the dirt. If the cat keeps scratching its ears, it is likely to have ear disease. Check whether there are black waxy spots in the ears. Another reason why cats scratch their ears may be that their ears are clogged with earwax. If the cat continues to scratch, a veterinarian should be consulted for diagnosis.

4. Cat’s eye care

Dirt around the cat's eye can be wiped off simply: soak a piece of cotton in warm water and gently wipe the dirt away. Cat's eyes should be bright and clean. If there is inflammation or discharge, the cat may have a serious health problem.

5. Wash your face

Long-haired cats are often prone to blocked tear ducts. When this happens, tears run down the cheeks, leaving unsightly black marks on the face. To remove stains, use a cotton ball dipped in light salt water and rub the hair on your cheeks. If this problem occurs frequently, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian.

6. Check the cat’s mouth

Check whether there is tartar on the cat’s teeth. Ideally, your cat's teeth should be brushed once a week to prevent tartar from forming. However, your cat may refuse this undignified treatment. If this happens, it may be necessary to have your teeth removed and polished by a veterinarian every year