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Grooming and your cat

© Caroline Anderson

You know how much your cat cleans himself - he's constantly licking, preening and cleaning. It's a habit that is commendable, but it doesn't always do the trick. Cats groom to comfort themselves, get an idea of smells and tastes in their environment and just to stay clean. It can be downright obsessive too.

If you have more than one cat, they usually clean each other. It's an act of bonding, even nurturing. They get more familiar with their housemate by getting a good sense of his or her smell. I've noticed my own cats cleaning some of the other's "hard to reach places," like the ears, back of the head and even the face. They both seem to enjoy it very much. But if one cat is not in the mood for a good cleaning session, usually my male cat Van, he swipes back and a fight ensues. Belle usually persistantly continues, "I will clean those ears!!"

Since grooming is such an important social ritual to cats, it can be used as a bonding time for you and your pet. Brushes, combs and gloves are excellent groom aids. Cats don't always take to them well at first, especially if they've never been exposed to one before. With Belle, I placed the brush in front of her for a few hours. She sniffed it, and even rubbed against it (she must know more than she lets on!) and then ignored it. But once they understand this is "lap time" or just petting time, they usually relax and take it like any grooming.

Personally, I've found that the "petting gloves" with the special bristle-like feature works very well. Use it whenever you pet your cat and it can remove much of the loose hair that would otherwise be on your floor, your furniture and yourself. It stimulates their oil glands and stimulates that purring mechanism too.

I've noticed that cats often like their face scratched or rubbed. They do have scent glands in their cheeks and rubbing it probably feels good. It gets their scent on you, marking you as theirs. It really is true that cats adopt you, and not the other way around. Petting or rubbing their face and head probably reminds cats of their kittenhood, groomed by mom and being a part of a litter.

Have you ever been groomed by your cat? I've had my hair licked, my arms, my legs and my nose too. At first I thought they were trying to tell me something! Then I realized the cats were just trying to "get to know me" a little better. I think they were even trying to teach it to me. Lick, then rub. Lick, then rub. They are a little neurotic, of course.

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