Cats are famous for being excellent self-grooming pros. If you have ever watched your cat spend half the afternoon licking and cleaning themselves, you might wonder (pun intended), do they really need our help at all?
While cats do a great job on their own, they still need your help! Regular grooming is a lot different from self-grooming and plays a bigger role than most people realise. It helps in reducing hairballs, keeps their coats healthy, and gives you early signs of skin or health issues.
How often you groom, though, depends largely on one thing - the length of your cat’s coat. Let’s break it down and explore more about it!
A cat’s tongue is covered in tiny hook-like structures that remove dirt and loose fur. But that same fur often gets swallowed, leading to hairballs, digestive discomfort, and extra shedding around the house. You can think of grooming less as “cleaning” and more as routine coat care.
Removes loose hair before it’s ingested
Keeps skin clean and well-oxygenated
Reduces mats, tangles, and painful knots
Helps you spot fleas, ticks, rashes, or lumps early
Strengthens your bond through gentle handling
Short-haired cats often seem easy to manage, but their coats still shed year-round and need regular care to stay healthy. Regular brushing helps maintain the coat quality while preventing some common issues like excess shedding, hairballs, and skin issues.
Brushing your cat once or twice a week is usually sufficient for most short-haired cats. During seasonal shedding or warmer months, you may notice they benefit from slightly more frequent sessions.
Even without long fur, short-haired cats shed dead hair continuously. Brushing helps:
Remove loose fur before it’s swallowed during self-grooming
Distribute natural oils evenly, keeping the coat shiny and smooth
Reduce hairballs and digestive discomfort
Improve air circulation to the skin, supporting overall skin health
Over time, regular grooming also makes it easier to spot early signs of skin irritation, parasites, or unusual bumps.
Grooming tip: Keep sessions short, ideally 5 to 10 minutes. Most short-haired cats have limited patience, so it’s best to stop while they’re still relaxed. A calm routine helps grooming feel like care, not a chore, for both you and your cat.
Long-haired cats are stunning to look at, but their flowing coats need regular care. Without consistent grooming, tangles can quickly turn into painful mats that affect both skin health and movement.
Long-haired cats need brushing daily or at least 4–5 times a week. Even short breaks in grooming can allow knots to form, especially in friction-prone areas.
Long fur mats easily around the neck, chest, underarms, belly, and hind legs. When left unattended, these mats can:
Pull on the skin and cause discomfort
Trap dirt, moisture, and bacteria
Lead to skin irritation or infections
Increase hairball formation due to excessive shedding
Regular grooming helps keep the coat light, breathable, and easier for your cat to move in, especially in warmer climates.
Grooming tip: Work slowly and brush in small sections rather than rushing through. Always start near the tips of the fur and move toward the skin. If your cat shows signs of discomfort, pause and try again later. Gentle, patient sessions build trust and make grooming a calmer experience over time.
Cats are excellent self-groomers, and most do a perfectly good job keeping themselves clean. In many cases, regular brushing matters far more than bathing, and too many baths can actually strip natural oils from the skin.
Baths are only needed in specific situations, such as:
When your cat gets into something sticky, oily, or unsafe to lick off
For senior cats who struggle to groom themselves properly
If a vet recommends medicated baths for skin or coat concerns
For most indoor cats, bathing is rarely needed. One or twice every 2-3 months is usually enough. Baths are only required occasionally for messes, reduced self-grooming, or on a vet’s advice.
Your cat might not complain, but their coat will tell you:
Increased shedding around the house
Frequent hairballs
Greasy or dull fur
Visible tangles or mats
Excessive scratching or licking
Cats remember how things feel. A calm approach makes all the difference:
Start grooming when your cat is relaxed
Keep sessions short and consistent
Speak softly and take breaks
Reward calm behaviour with gentle praise or a treat
Over time, many cats come to enjoy grooming as a quiet bonding ritual.
Grooming isn’t about perfection; it’s about comfort, health, and trust. Short-haired cats need less effort, while long-haired cats need more consistency, but every cat benefits from regular coat care.
If you’re building a grooming routine for your cat, having the right tools and everyday essentials can make all the difference. From brushes and combs to comfortable beds, toys, treats, and nutrition, choosing products that suit your cat’s habits helps grooming feel less like a task and more like part of daily care.
You can explore a wide range of cat grooming essentials and pet supplies on the HUFT app or at a nearby HUFT store, and pick what fits naturally into your routine.
A little regular grooming goes a long way in keeping cats comfortable, confident, and healthy!
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