Regardless of the type of cat you have or her coat, regular brushing is an important aspect of cat care. Grooming can prevent or minimize hair balls which can be a nuisance, especially with longer haired cats; but grooming can also provide distinct health benefits. Regularly brushing your cat gives you the opportunity to check for fleas and other parasites while ensuring that your cat’s hair is clean and free from contaminants. Furthermore, grooming gives you an unparalleled opportunity to spend quality time with your cat and improve bonding.

Regular brushing prevents the development of knots or tangles in your cat’s hair that are usually very difficult to remove.  In fact, when your cat’s fur gets severely tangled or knotted sometimes the only solution is a visit to an expensive professional groomer.  Sometimes, cats will need to be shaved because of excessive matting and in this case you’ll need to visit a veterinarian.  Clearly, regular grooming can also save you money.

Another benefit of regular brushing and grooming is that you prevent the build up of hair around your home.  Dead or loose hair is removed when you brush your cat so less of it ends up around your house.  Choosing the right grooming tools is important.  A flea comb will trap fleas so they can be removed and will also prevent matting.  You can also use a metal comb with wider gaps between the teeth to further reduce the risk of matting.  Brushes should be used to remove dead skin from you cat’s coat as well as loose hair.  Choose a soft bristle brush for cats with a short coat and harder brushes for dense coats.

Remember that before you start any grooming routine that cats often need to adjust to this new activity.  A grooming glove is a glove with tiny bristles that allow you to remove hair as you stroke your cat and this may be easier than a traditional comb or brush.

Grooming is an important aspect of pet care that gives you an opportunity to spend some quality time with your dog.  Most dogs enjoy being groomed as it is a practice that has evolved as a central part of their natural social order.  Proper grooming can help to maintain your pet’s health because you can keep an eye out for skin problems like parasites, lumps, fleas, or other problems.  Grooming for dogs with short coats, medium coats, and long coats will help you determine which practices are most appropriate

Dogs with short coats like the Jack Russell terrier or German shorthaired pointer should be brushed with a soft bristle to remove dead hair and skin while spreading natural oils throughout the coat.  Dogs with short coats often have more sensitive undersides and a soft bristle brush is gentle and comfortable.  Choose a brush that is an appropriate size for your dog.

The Labrador retriever and German shepherd are good examples of dogs with medium coats.  Dogs with longer hair need to be brushed but grooming is usually a bit more challenging.  First, groom with a slicker or wire brush to remove dead hair from the undercoat.  A slicker is a brush with a rubber base and metal pins that may or may not have a plastic tip.  After combing your dog to remove hair, give him a good brushing to distribute oil throughout his coat.

Finally, long coated dogs like the Afghan or shih-tzu will require the most grooming to maintain their coats.  You’ll need to brush long haired animals every day to prevent knotting and matting.  If you’re brushing a coat that has been neglected try a mat rake or shedding comb to loosen knotted hair and remove it more comfortably.  When you have removed the tangles from your dog’s hair, use a wire or slicker brush to remove dead hair and the undercoat.  It is important to brush daily because once your dog’s hair becomes matted to the skin you’ll need to visit a professional groomer or veterinarian and your dog will probably need to be shaved.