Regular grooming of a Siamese cat gives the pet several benefits. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to groom a Siamese cat.
Without the right skills and experience, brushing, dental cleaning, trimming the nails, or bathing can be traumatizing.
The post highlights the essential steps to groom a Siamese cat.
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Siamese Cat Grooming Guide
Grooming a Siamese cat involves the following;
Coat Brushing
Regular brushing of the Siamese coat (long or short hair) is vital. The grooming procedure lets you bond with your pet and remove loose fur. The Siamese cats are sensitive to harsh handling. Therefore, don’t be rough with her.
Below are some useful Siamese coat brushing tips:
- Employ the soft-bristled brush or those with rubber tips
- Make every stroke soft and enjoyable. Pay attention, especially to oversensitive areas such as the belly and head.
- Keep the bristles away from the cat’s skin
- Comb the Siamese coat in the same direction as the hair.
- Finalize the brushing by wiping off the loose hair with a clean wet towel.
Bathing
Most cat breeds (Siamese included) don’t require frequent washing. However, your pet can get infested with fleas, and ticks or become smelly. In such a scenario, washing the Siamese cat becomes a wise idea. Further, bathing minimizes cat allergy cases.
You can increase the chances of the cat enjoying the bathing by implementing the following ideas;
- Use low-level lukewarm water. Ideally, the same temperature level that’s comfortable for an infant.
- A cat is more likely to panic during a bath. You can minimize the chances of her slipping by spreading down a rubber mat on the tub.
- Whenever you speak to the cat don’t use a harsh scaring tone. Instead, maintain a composed and soothing voice.
- If the Siamese maintains a stiff resistance to bathing, consider wiping her with a wet towel.
Nail Trimming
When you let the nails of the Siamese cat overgrow, it becomes unsafe and uncomfortable too. You can hire a vet to carry out the nail trimming.
But if you have the expertise, you can accomplish it at home. Notice that most nail trimming concentrates on the front paws. The cat uses the back claws to scratch herself.
Read below for expert cat nail trimming tips;
- The timing of the exercise is vital. Choose a time when the cat is relaxed and almost falling asleep. Grooming a tense or frightened cat is courting an accident.
- Assist the pet to calm down by placing her on your lap and maintaining a calm assuring voice.
- Use one hand to hold the paws by pressing on the pad to exposé the claws. The remaining hand holds the trimming tool.
- Remember your aim to trim and not declaw the Siamese. For that reason, keep off the quick.
- You can increase the chances of trimming the nails by introducing the cat to the habit from a kitten age.
- Use a sharp trimming tool and angle it at 45 degrees to minimize the chances of nail splintering. You can consider trying the Pakeway or Gonicc nail clippers.
- You can trim the front nails after every two weeks.
Cleaning the Ears
Keeping the ears wax and dirt free is a step towards minimizing ear infections. Unfortunately, many Siamese cats find trouble reaching out to clean their ears.
Weekly checking and cleaning of the ears are necessary. But since the ears are sensitive; go slow with the procedure.
You can use a Q-tip or a wet cotton ball to clean out the ears. However, never let the cotton ball go very deep into the ears.
Also, rolling back the cat’s ear exposes a large surface area for easy cleaning.
If you can’t reach out to effectively clean out the build-up gunk or wax, consult a vet.
Cleaning the Eyes
A Siamese’s eyes also need regular cleaning. For the task, use a soft damp cloth. While being gentle on the face, aim at removing the crustiness and discharge around the eyes.
And during the cleaning, take a close observation of the eyes and face in general. If you spot signs of eye infection on the Siamese, visit the vet immediately.
Teeth Brushing
Regular brushing (at least weekly) of the teeth prevents gum infections and diseases in a cat.
Here are essential tips for cat teeth brushing;
- Prepare the cat for the occasion by making her relaxed. For example, you can carefully place the Siamese on your lap.
- The hardest step is calming and convincing the cat to open her mouth. You can introduce toys, treats, or even calming sprays to get over the hurdle.
- A cat toothbrush or finger brush is ideal for the task. However, plastic toothbrushes might scare some cats.
- In such a case, brush the teeth using a soft sponge, cloth, or finger brush first.
- Before introducing the brush, wet it and apply cat-compatible toothpaste.
- Then gently brush the teeth using various patterns; up and down, circular, back and forth patterns.
- Brush all the sides of the teeth for approximately two minutes to remove all the leftover food or plaque.
If the Siamese turns down teeth brushing, try the following brushing alternatives;
- Consider using dental wipes
- Introduce textured food in the cat’s diet
- A finger toothbrush can also help since it’s smaller than a regular toothbrush.
FAQs
Are Siamese Cats Easy to Groom?
Most Siamese cats have short hair that requires minimal attention, such as weekly brushing, and dental cleaning. But Siamese are very social and crave human attention in all ways.
How Often Should You Groom a Siamese Cat?
Siamese cats who have short hair require weekly grooming procedures. Routine brushing is vital and helps you bond with the cat.
What Kind of Brush is Best for a Siamese Cat’s Coat?
Owing to their short coat length, a short-bristled brush is ideal for Siamese cats. You can also try brushes with rubber tips to achieve sleek-looking cat fur.
Conclusion
Grooming the Siamese cat doesn’t have to traumatize you. And to achieve success with your cat, initiate the pet into grooming at a tender age.
That way the cat gets used to dental cleaning, nail trimming, and coat brushing procedures. And by following the Siamese cat grooming guide in the post, caring for the cat becomes enjoyable.