The best way to Groom Your Cat, Trim Their Nails, and Give Them Treatment (PPiC Ep12)

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Watch episode 12 of The Pawsitive Submit in Dialog on Youtube or under, pay attention through your favorite podcast app or under, or scroll right down to learn among the highlights.

Husbandry for cats

On this episode we chat about how you can groom your cat and how you can take care of mats, in addition to how you can trim your cat’s nails. We focus on the various the reason why it’s necessary to not “declaw” your cat and the way it’s actually like an amputation. Scratching is a pure habits for cats and we discuss in regards to the type of put up to offer to maintain your cat joyful.

We additionally focus on the difficult subject of how you can give meds to your cats, together with pilling, towel-wrapping, and methods to make meds simpler. Alongside the best way we share tales about our personal cats and naturally a couple of suggestions for canine as properly.

On the finish we chat in regards to the books we’re studying. 

Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Joyful by Zazie Todd is on the market from all good bookstores.

All the books talked about within the episode can be found from my Amazon retailer.  

The Paw Undertaking: Cats’ paws want their claws https://pawproject.org/ 

BC’s 2018 ban on declawing cats was excellent news for cats, research reveals  

What sort of scratching put up do cats desire?  

Caring for a diabetic cat will get simpler with time, research reveals  

The best way to give your cat an insulin injection (iCatCare)  

The best way to practice your cat to make use of an bronchial asthma inhaler  

Train any cat AeroKat (iCatCare)  

The best way to clip your cat’s claws (iCatCare) 

Two folks giving a cat a capsule (iCatCare) 

Medicating suggestions and methods (Basically Feline)  

Consolation cats in a towel wrap (Dr. Sophia Yin)  

Contemporary and Fearless: Fundamental Grooming Made Straightforward (Kristi Benson)

The Books

Kristi’s advice is Crimson, White and Royal Blue: A Novel by Casey McQuiston. 

Zazie recommends Unbroken: My Battle for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Ladies and Ladies by Angela Sterritt.

The books can be found from all good bookstores and the Companion Animal Psychology Amazon retailer. 

Highlights of the dialog on cat husbandry

Z: Let’s begin with speaking about how usually we brush our cats and the way we do this, as a result of one in all my cats Harley completely likes to be brushed. And it took me a couple of years to find this about him as a result of he is a brief haired cat and he did not really want brushing. My different cat Melina isn’t very joyful [about it], she is going to settle for it nevertheless it’s not one thing that she significantly loves. Harley simply naturally loves it, Melina would not adore it. 

However Harley likes to be brushed on daily basis it seems. And he has a very good inner clock so he is aware of what time it’s when it is time for him to be groomed, which was truly simply now, and he’ll come and meow at me and say it is time for me to be groomed. And that meow is a barely totally different meow from when he is meowing as a result of it is time for his dinner time. So he needs to be brushed out at this set time within the morning, that is when he expects to be brushed, and he additionally does type of want it as a result of he sheds quite a bit. Although he is short-haired he does shed quite a bit. Even when he is simply been brushed he nonetheless sheds quite a bit, and he is getting on a bit as a result of he is 14. Older cats usually want a little bit of grooming even when they did not earlier than. So for him it is on daily basis. 

For Melina, she comes and appears once I’m doing Harley and generally she’s like okay you may brush me a little bit bit and I’ve to do actually actually quick strokes with the comb, type of like you already know if a cat was licking one other cat there’d be actually quick licks. So that they should be actually quick whereas with Harley I can truly do fairly an extended brush and he likes it, however for Melina it needs to be quick after which she’s okay. One other day she’s like no I am going away in the present day, she would not need it. So how about Apricat? As a result of Apricat is short-haired is not he? 

Ok: Sure short-haired and we do brush him however kind of when he wants it, and so I might say a couple of occasions a 12 months nearly. And perhaps I am it with like a canine individual’s lens however I see his coat appears a little bit totally different and I am like oh it is time to brush him now and I brush him. However you already know if you’re saying older cats must be brushed extra, that’s fascinating and I am questioning if that is what they’re saying he appears like. 

You already know if you requested me to speak about this I checked out him and I assumed, oh you already know what it is truly it is most likely time to groom him proper now, I believe his coat is trying a little bit bit like he must be brushed. However usually I believe he takes care of himself in that approach fairly you already know, his coat tends to be fairly good so when his coat begins to look not like his lovely Apricat self then I give him a brush and he is okay with it. 

However he solely likes it for a brief period of time, similar as kind of most kinds of petting he’ll solely put up with it for a little bit bit after which he is identical to “and now I am accomplished.” However I believe he likes it in that point he would not go away you already know till he is like okay now.

Z: And I believe most cats desire issues to be quick. It is like most cats desire solely to be petted for a short while after which they’ve had sufficient after which they’d prefer it most likely to occur once more fairly quickly with the patting. Whereas that is the bizarre factor about Harley, he fairly likes it to go on for a very long time. Once we hadn’t had him for very lengthy, if we have been petting him and we stopped, from his perspective it was too quickly, he would chew us after which he would observe us meowing like “I would like extra!”. So he is a really cuddly affectionate type of cat in that approach regardless that he is not a lap cat. However I believe short-haired cats do not want it fairly often. 

I stated older cats as a result of I believe usually older cats if they’ve a little bit of arthritis or one thing it may be a bit harder for them to achieve sure areas so perhaps their pants may want grooming a bit extra, like their trousers, the again of their legs for instance. And with Harley I even brush him on the stomach however I’ve to do it when he is standing up and I type of attain spherical beneath his stomach and brush his stomach and he’ll settle for it if he is standing up. He truly likes to rub his head on one thing so now we have a set spot and he has someplace he can rub his head whereas I am brushing him and it is simply ecstasy for him. 

I believe longer haired cats, and I’ve had longer haired cats earlier than, they want much more brushing. And I believe a Persian cat would undoubtedly want much more brushing doubtlessly on daily basis, and that type of cat, as a result of they’ve a extra squashed face and a few folds of their faces they most likely would wish wiping round their eyes identical to some canine want wiping round their eyes as properly. 

Ok: Yeah after which it’s essential to by no means get mats in. Apricat as a result of he is a brief haired okay I do not suppose so, I am attempting to suppose, I do not suppose he is ever had something like mats anyplace. Yeah no, his hair is fairly constantly quick you already know and he does, he’s fairly straightforward to care for and he is on us quite a bit. It isn’t like you already know when you have a canine or a cat or one thing that does not wish to be touched generally I believe mats can creep up you already know after which hastily you are like whoa I suppose I have never patted your you already know stomach or no matter for a very long time,  or behind your ears or wherever canine normally get mats. However as a result of Apricat sits on my lap for like hours a day, he would not wish to essentially be patted that entire time however he likes to kind of sit on my lap, I believe as a result of I am kind of touching him on a regular basis I might really feel it.

Z: Yeah I believe you’d. And I suppose the trousers and perhaps the armpits and there are particular areas perhaps behind the ears maybe as properly the place mats are extra seemingly. Perhaps they’re frequent throughout cats and canine I do not know. 

Ok: Yeah I do not know. When you have an extended haired cat it you may miss mats in the event you’re not cautious as a result of they will really feel high quality if you stroke them on the floor however the mat may be beneath. 

Z: Yeah yeah, they are often fairly deep after which that may be actually uncomfortable for the cats. So one factor you are able to do about that’s truly simply to type of tease the hairs aside. It takes some time and also you want a affected person cat however you may simply type of tease the mat aside. And that is usually higher than attempting to chop it, as a result of in the event you reduce it you are risking slicing the cat by chance and that is not good. And naturally if it is dangerous then you have to ask your vet to assist out. And yeah you may take them to the vet and have them shaved if needed on the vet and you then get a clear slate to start out once more. However actually it is one thing it is best to do and to start out doing if you’ve received them once they’re younger, it is a lot a lot simpler. However like canine you may educate them at any age. Sorry go on.

Ok: I used to be gonna say in the event you take them, similar because the canine you already know, generally folks will come as much as me and say oh I noticed that you’ve like Jane’s grooming course, I’ve a canine that hates to be touched and has matting. And I usually advocate you discuss to your vet and let’s have a look at if we will do a groom the place the canine is receiving kind of medical help, get all of it groomed and that offers you such as you stated a clean slate to start out practising to be able to begin with out having to be like that stress of being like Oh my God my pet has a mat and it is uncomfortable for them and I want to love work on it. You possibly can simply be like here is a contemporary begin for me and my cat or my canine. I can begin working. I can begin doing counter conditioning and get the animal actually comfy being groomed which I believe is a pleasant it is a good reward for you and your animal. 

Z: Yeah and also you’re proper in regards to the individual’s stress as properly as a result of in the event you’re pondering oh there is a mat I’ve received to take care of, you are going to wish to get on and take care of that, and on the similar time in case your intention is absolutely to show the cat or canine to get pleasure from being groomed truly it’s important to go at their tempo, which is type of contradictory to finding out the mat. So it is a good suggestion such as you say, in the event you get that accomplished on the vet then you may consider doing the coaching correctly and get that accomplished. Yeah it makes it a lot a lot simpler. And it is so good that you’ve these this course out there to assist folks with that I believe it is good. 

Ok: Yeah yeah completely.

Z: Yeah. So many individuals so many individuals need assistance with that. After which nails as properly. So your course appears at canine’ nails, the one that you’ve out there, however cats generally want their nails trimmed too particularly in the event that they’re indoors solely. It is a bit totally different in the event that they’re open air cats as a result of they use their nails for lots of issues they most likely climb timber with them and so forth and so they most likely put on them down a bit extra however how usually do you do Apricat’s nails? 

Ok: I do his nails once they begin to hurt me when he sits on my lap. So he takes care of them himself generally a bit he does have a scratching put up that he likes to make use of and generally I believe that the nails get kind of worn down or they shed there, however I do hold cat nail clippers proper at my desk after which when he is sitting on my lap, it provides me a chance to trim his nails. So not as a lot as I’ve to do the canine’s nails for certain, as a result of the canine’ nails, I try to do them each week, nevertheless it finally ends up most likely being as soon as a month simply because it is onerous to do this type of stuff however perhaps as soon as each couple months I might say I’ve to do it so generally. He is excellent right here that is why my arm is doing just like the tram kind of factor. 

If he is right here and he is comfy I can kind of gently seize one foot, do one nail after which pat him and he is high quality with it. In order that’s one of many ways in which I love to do it. 

The opposite approach is I hold Churu within the closet there and and I will put a plate down if he wants all of his nails accomplished and and I want I wish to do them rapidly, I will simply put a little bit little bit of Churu on the plate and he’ll lick it after which I will reduce a nail after which I will give him a little bit bit extra. So it is kind of prefer it’s each a distraction and a counter conditioning I believe kind of protocol. It is a little bit sloppy, do not inform Jean {Donaldson]! However it works and he goes bananas for the style of that stuff and it takes an entire tube primarily, or you already know two-thirds of the tube after which I get by all of his nails and his entire physique and he is comfy and joyful after which it is accomplished. 

In order that’s how I do it once more. I put a little bit bit on the plate to get him oriented to the plate after which I choose up his foot and I clip a nail after which I give him a little bit bit extra so I ensure that after each nail clip he will get some treats in order that he is making that affiliation. 

Z: Yeah and I believe it is one thing folks do not usually notice they will do with cats, and even so far as canine and husbandry behaviors go we’d like extra consciousness that you need to use meals to assist your canine get pleasure from these items. However for cats we’d like much more folks to know that utilizing meals is an efficient option to practice your cat or to make use of this as distraction for one thing. And yeah these these tubes are Churu. I believe each cat appears to like them. 

Ok: Yeah they’re very helpful, very helpful. And so they’re good as a result of they’re shelf secure so I can simply have them in my workplace you already know and pull them out when it is time, and so they’re not terribly costly so throughout great things. 

And I believe I have been fortunate as a result of Apricat could be very handleable, so it is all the time been straightforward for me to choose up his foot. He would not like his foot being held you already know however he would not, you already know it hasn’t taken numerous work like a few of my canine have taken numerous work. Sitka has taken numerous work to get comfy having her nails trimmed. However I suppose it is you already know kind of for cat homeowners to understand if their cats are actually uncomfortable having their toes held you may discuss to a behaviorist you already know or discover a good coaching plan. Is there one in Purr? I can not bear in mind. 

Z: Not for nails. The 2 coaching plans in Purr are one for a trick referred to as sit fairly and the opposite one is instructing your cat to go within the service. And I solely had house for 2 coaching plans. However it tells you numerous about how you can practice your cat so it provides you the entire common ideas that folks can use.  

Ok: Yeah so I imply you could possibly you could possibly give you a coaching plan or work with a cat behaviorist on a coaching plan the place you already know so as an alternative of going proper to grabbing and holding their foot and type of like wrestling them to carry their foot after which reduce their nail. You begin with one thing actually easy and that the cat’s already comfy with, perhaps like a agency contact to their shoulder or one thing and you then give them among the deal with and over time when your cat is demonstrating that they are  comfy in anticipating the treats you progress into this like better and better kind of nearer and nearer to the precise nail clip. However in the long run then you find yourself clipping their nails and it is all lovely and angels sing! 

Z: And yeah so that you begin with the shoulder and transfer right down to the paws as a result of they most likely do not prefer it in the event you simply seize them by the paw. They don’t seem to be used to that so it’s important to begin with one thing they’re extra used to. After which there’s the implement as properly. So I am certain that is what you probably did with Apricat of displaying the implements individually and getting them used to the implement. Or perhaps you did not must as a result of it did not predict something did it? 

Ok: I might, I had to do this with Sitka, construct a separate plan. However with Apricat no, he’s simply that straightforward that he is like oh meals certain I will allow you to do this. You already know even when he is kind of like within the I do not love this however I will tolerate it, he would not have an issue. I do not suppose he is ever had an precise painful expertise having his nails accomplished as a result of it is fairly straightforward. As a result of nails are white you already know so it is easy sufficient. And Sitka would not match on my lap so it is type of a special state of affairs. 

Z: Yeah that’s extra of a problem but when somebody’s canine or cat have beforehand had dangerous experiences you then would separate out the implement and you’d counter-condition them to seeing the Implement as properly. 

Ok: Yeah and generally canine do not even want a foul expertise to only discover issues scary. So you already know your canine greatest or your cat greatest. In the event that they discover one thing scary you then’re gonna should do the coaching for it. In case you’re fortunate sufficient to have an Apricat you may transfer a bit extra rapidly.