Short-haired cats need brushing about once a week and long-haired cats daily combing. Mats are clipped by a vet or groomer, never cut out with scissors.
Occasional hairballs are normal, baths are rarely needed, and regular grooming is a chance to check teeth, claws, ears and skin.
Healthy short-haired cats keep their own coats in order. Help is needed for long-haired breeds, and for cats that are elderly, arthritic or overweight and can no longer reach every part of themselves. Regular grooming is also the easiest way to notice a health problem early.
A short-haired cat benefits from brushing about once a week, more often during the heavy moults of spring and autumn. Long-haired cats such as Persians and Maine Coons need combing every day, down to the skin, with attention to the armpits, belly, behind the ears and the back legs, where knots form first.
A wide-toothed comb followed by a fine one suits long coats; a soft brush or rubber grooming mitt suits short ones. Kittens are introduced to grooming in short, pleasant sessions with treats so that they accept it as adults.
Mats are never cut out with scissors, because a cat's skin is thin and is easily pulled up into the knot and cut. Small tangles can be teased apart with fingers; a badly matted coat is clipped by a vet or professional groomer, sometimes under sedation.
Cats swallow loose hair as they groom, and most of it passes through the gut. Now and then a cat vomits a sausage-shaped wad of hair, which is normal, especially in long-haired cats and during a moult. Regular brushing reduces the amount swallowed, and diets and pastes are sold to help hair pass through.
Frequent hairballs, repeated retching that produces nothing, constipation, a swollen belly or loss of appetite need a veterinary check: hair can block the gut, and persistent coughing or retching is sometimes asthma or another illness mistaken for hairballs. A cat that suddenly grooms far more than usual may have fleas, an allergy, pain or stress.
Most cats never need a bath. The exceptions are hairless breeds, whose skin becomes greasy; cats with a skin condition for which a vet has prescribed a medicated shampoo; and cats with something harmful on the coat.
If the coat is contaminated with oil, paint, antifreeze, lily pollen or another toxic substance, the cat is prevented from licking itself, by wrapping it in a towel, and a vet is called at once.
Where a bath is needed:
For a cat that is merely dirty, a damp cloth or pet-safe grooming wipes are usually enough.
Cats that go outdoors rarely need their claws trimmed. In indoor and older cats the claws can overgrow and curl into the pad. Only the clear tip is cut, well short of the pink quick, with clippers made for cats. A vet or veterinary nurse can demonstrate the first time.
Dental disease is very common in adult cats and causes pain that owners often miss. Brushing with a soft brush and toothpaste made for cats is the most effective prevention; toothpaste for people is unsuitable. It is introduced gradually, starting by letting the cat lick the paste from a finger. Bad breath, drooling, red gums and difficulty eating are reasons for a dental check.
Healthy ears are clean and pale pink inside. Dark wax, a smell, scratching or head-shaking suggest mites or infection. Cotton buds are not pushed into the ear canal. Discharge from the eyes is wiped away with damp cotton wool, using a separate piece for each eye, and persistent discharge is checked by a vet.
Running the hands and comb over the whole cat each week reveals lumps, wounds, sore spots, weight change and parasites. Black specks in the coat that turn reddish-brown on damp white paper are flea droppings; see fleas, ticks and worms in cats.