Mythology Of The Cat

Most of the lesser complex animals, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and reptiles probably have a worldview along the lines of 'it just is' and accept whatever comes along - go with the flow. But once you consider the relatively higher and more complex animals, like birds and mammals, then brain complexity becomes such that to a greater or lesser degree, intelligence and the ability to think and figure things out has to be taken into consideration. For those of you who have companion animals, or even those of you who have just watched animals at a distance, you may have wondered how those animals view and perhaps even think about life, the universe and everything. That is, each animal must have some sort of personal worldview; a perspective or point of view probably forever beyond our understanding - usually but not always. I'm picking on cats in this particular case because I've owned cats nearly all my life. This essay could just as easily have been dogs or horses or some other domesticated mammal. So what are cats? Can we identify with them? Can they identify with us? Well, domesticated cats are playful; curious; adaptable; selfish; they dream; they like variety though they can also be creatures of habit; they can 'think' things through and make decisions; they have a vocal language and a body language; they display emotions; they have memory and therefore somewhat a sense of history; they have the same sensory apparatus as we have; they have their own likes and dislikes whether it be food; a place to sleep, where they want or don't want to be scratched or rubbed or petted; and, in short each cat has their own very unique personality. Cats are certainly very self-centred, perhaps a bit more so than typical adult humans, but certainly akin to human infants and toddlers whose worldview is very self-centred with a near 24/7 gimmie, gimmie, gimmie; I want, I want, I want. Cats, at least those intersecting with humans have a gimmie/I want aspect to them, and like infants/toddlers the 'pester' factor can often reach extremes. In short, cats really seem to be mini albeit furry versions of humans, especially infants/toddlers. But, how close might that version really be? For starters, and perhaps like all animals, the cat probably has a worldview something akin to it being the centre of things - the be-all-and-end-all - and that the entire environment the cat finds itself in is there to provide for all the cat's requirements. From the domestic cat's point of view, the world owes it a living! How else could the cat view things? One's self perceptions tend to revolve around 'I am the centre of the universe' because you are most intimately bound up in your worldview with yourself and not as intimately with anything else. Therefore, anything else, in a self-centred worldview must be subservient. Of course the cat often finds out the hard way that parts of that external reality have differing opinions. That never seems to shift the cat's worldview however that it is 'top dog'* and deserves all the best that comes its way - which might not be all the 'best' that nature could provide but the cat doesn't know that. Cats certainly have no comprehension, perhaps like toddlers, of being in the way, underfoot, in danger of being trodden on or sat upon, while helping themselves to whatever piece of household geography suits their fancy. One could conclude from their selfish (from our point of view) behaviour, their worldview must be one of 'supreme being' and 'rank has its privileges', and such a worldview will persist at least until such time as their tail gets stepped on or they get tossed out of the easy chair! They still probably see themselves as supreme beings - it's their worldview of you that's now somewhat changed. The average head of the household and cat owner is probably somewhat of the opinion or has the rationale that 'I pay the bills, therefore I call the shots and what I say goes'! Cats can probably understand 'head of the household' in that in cat society, as in all animal societies, all cats are not equal - there is a hierarchy and one cat alone will be 'top dog' as it were. But there's nothing in a cat's worldview that corresponds to money or bills or economics or finance. Everything is a free lunch, be it sunshine or the electric/gas/wood heater you, the owner, pay for. Even if the cat goes outside and catches and eats a mouse, it's still as free a lunch as far as the cat is concerned as the food you put in its food bowl. So that bit about 'I'm the boss because I pay the bills' has no meaning or significance to the cat since the concept of 'bills' is foreign. Cats have no mythology about shopping. The post Xmas sales and weekly specials at the supermarket are alien concepts. So is that nearly supreme abstraction to humans - time. Birthdays are a non-event with no realization when they occur and with no relevance in any event. Ditto all those other special points in time like holidays we humans are obsessed with. Cats don't make a habit of staying up late on New Years Eve. It's of no consequence. Weekends are no different than weekdays. Equally the cat has apparently no worldview of tomorrow or of the future (though it has a memory of the past). It doesn't save for a rainy day. I've never observed a cat hide away a few of its dry cat food pellets for a future emergency or a midnight snack. A cat is very 'now' oriented. A cat probably has no concept of death, far less an afterlife. I've always tended to have two cats at a time on the theoretical grounds they have companionship when I'm not around. As such, one cat will finally get to go to that great 'litter box in the sky' and as such the surviving cat (for a while at least) will be without its companion feline 'friend'. I've never noticed however any real change in the behaviour of the surviving cat. The demise and removal of the other animal has apparently all the relevance of my tossing an empty can into the recycling bin. Now if I tossed out the cat's favourite easy chair that would probably cause more of a reaction! It's difficult to teach a cat anything that isn't already hardwired into its little grey cells. I mean you don't tend to have guard cats, seeing-eye cats, or cats that sit up, stop on command at the corner, beg, and play fetch, etc. when their human owners say so. The cat's worldview is quite foreign to such concepts, though there's little difference between a cat's IQ and a dog's IQ. Maybe that's why the saying 'dogs have masters; cats have slaves'! So those are several significant differences between the worldview mythologies of the cat relative to humans (or even dogs, who, are well known to 'grieve' upon the death of a fellow companion dog or of their owner. If I died, my cat's loyalty would shift quick-smart to the next human who fed it). I noted above that cats dream and why not. I judge this because often when they are sound asleep I frequently notice their paws and mouths twitching as if in response to something going on inside their head. I assume it's not some abstraction that occupies this assumed dream state. It's probably related to visions of chasing and eating fat mice and plump flightless birds! There's no way of telling for sure, but that's what I suspect. If they dream, they dream practical cat-related things. I've never gotten the impression that a cat ponders anything at anytime but practical matters that have a direct bearing on it in the here and right now. An obvious example is that any cat always finds itself on the wrong side of a door, and you are expected to correct that state of affairs as often as is necessary - which is very often indeed. No wonder people install cat flaps! Anyway, things like philosophy and religion and the arts and mathematics and anything abstract not only isn't considered and immediately dismissed, the cat probably can't even conceive of such things in order for them to be dismissed as of no relevance to the cat's worldview. There's no creativity in their little grey cells whatever. I very much doubt whether any cat has pondered whether or not it has free will. My cats don't respond to cat art, like the pictures of cats on calendars. Music soothes the savage beast but with one minor exception all my cats have been oblivious to whatever type of music CD I'm playing, be it classical or jazz, country & western or film scores; vocal or instrumental. That one exception is that I once had a cat that would react to whistling within a song that emanated from the speakers. Still, cats probably therefore never have to endure that annoying experience of having an irritating song play endlessly, over and over and over again inside their head! If the cats were of a human frame of mind, they might conceive of something like: In the beginning the great cat deity, lets name it Bastet (also spelled Bast, Baast, Ubasti and Baset) after the ancient Egyptian cat goddess, created not only the domestic feline, but all that's part and parcel of their world. In the beginning Bastet created the ever pristine litter box; the ever full food and water bowls, and lots of birds and mice for felines to chase, catch and snack on. That's of course according to the mythology of the cat, if the cat had a human's imagination. Well actually, not. No cat has imagined any self-contained mythology about the origin and evolution of cats. If cats have a worldview mythology outside of the concepts of self and now, then it probably centres on what strange companions humans are. And I'm 99% sure that while such human activities might be fascinating, they are equally incomprehensible. Translated, whatever mythology our domestic feline companions come up with that explains to their satisfaction their worldview, it will bear little resemblance to actual human activities on behalf of the animal, like the concept of money to pay for the goods and services it receives. The cats have no conception of livestock (slaughtered as pet food), of biological evolution (that provided the birds and mice and the abilities of the cat to chase, catch and snack on them), of the infrastructure that gets them their fresh water (and other goodies) that ends up as the end product in their water bowls, etc. So while I have no idea what worldview mythology my cats have (and they probably aren't the exact same - each cat's worldview will be in part unique) it's wrong. However, we can speculate; take scenarios that are part and parcel of their world, natural or otherwise, and try to figure out how they see and interpret things through their eyes. So what goes through a cat's mind when it's not immediately concerned with me; now - when it's not in immediate need of catering to various biological requirements and functions? The cat is just sitting, wide awake, alert, observing, but what is it thinking? Does it have to be deep in thought at all? Probably not I suspect. In fact, it's more likely as not they are observing just for the sake of observing - always on the lookout for something to chase and eat (that's probably just hardwired into their brain), or for something that might chase and eat them. I mean my cats are interested in birds; I'm interested in birds too - but for totally different reasons. On the other hand, my cats are interested in a clean litter box, but what goes through their minds when every time they go to the litter box it's pristine, even though it wasn't in that condition a little while back for obvious reasons? Do they associate that 'it wasn't then but now it is pristine' phenomenon with a cat deity or with me or neither? Cat food appears on demand in bowls they eat out of, yet they have no comprehension of the chain of events between manufacture, distribution, the need for money to purchase, transport, open and pour into those bowls that food. So how do they account for the food that somehow magically appears before them? Do they have a food bowl mythology? Or, perhaps it is a phenomena that just is, and they think no more about it than a fish ponders the nature of the water it swims in. For some reason I find it very hard to picture my cats deep in thought wondering about all those whys and wherefores associated with the food they consume. Well we have some idea what a cat's worldview mythology is (me; now), and isn't (nothing that's abstract) but you, the owner, aren't an abstraction. How do you fit in to your animal's mythology? Cats must have a field day with respect to inventing a mythology that accounts for the strange habits of those creatures they share their environment with - humans. For example, my cats see me getting dressed every morning - I'm putting on the fur. Since cats don't need to dress, this behaviour must be really weird to them. Ditto making the bed or washing the dishes. The cats must be totally freaked out by my habit of deliberately getting wet via a daily shower or bath. What activity could repulse a cat more than that? Yuck! How do cats explain the dwelling they reside in along with all the stuff it contains? I know where it all comes from, but how do they account for it all? Do they even bother to try to account for it? Part of that all is my personal computer (PC). They see me typing away on this PC but I'm sure they have no comprehension of what this PC device is or why I'm pecking away on it instead of paying attention to them. When I go out of the house, shopping say or off to the club for a few cold beers, do they wonder where and why? Do they worry that I might not come back, because if I don't they will find themselves in a pretty pickle. Or, is the fact I'm away of no interest and no consequence and causes no speculation? Since they don't seem agitated when I leave, I suspect they have no comprehension of the possibility that I might not return, being hit by the proverbial bus instead. So, do my cats develop a point of view, a worldview mythology to account for birds (a natural part of their environment), litter boxes (not so natural), and PC's (totally unnatural)? I suspect they don't. These things just are and don't require any mythological interpretation to otherwise explain them. Cats like to lie and stretch out in and soak up the warmth of the Sun. How do they account for sunshine and this warmth since presumably they know nothing of stellar astrophysics, nuclear fusion, photons, etc.? Might it be, if it be at all, that our cats conclude that in the beginning that great cat deity Bastet created the Sun to give pleasure and warmth to them, but, Bastet hides the Sun at regular intervals (at night) so as not to totally spoil us cats? Probably not I suspect. The warmth of the Sun probably just is (like the water is to the fish) - in fact they might not even make the connection between the Sun, sunshine, and the warmth that gives them. Conclusions & Summary: So what is a domestic cat's worldview mythology? Well, if the cat could speak, it might say something like this: "It's all about me; it's all about now; everything else just is and if it doesn't affect me now, it's not relevant." The more I think about it, the more I draw a parallel between a cat being an eternal toddler (me; now; everything else just is, albeit interesting and worthy of exploring), but at least without the temper tantrums! *The standing observation or joke is that a dog thinks to itself that 'my human feeds me and plays with me and looks after me, therefore he must be a god'. The cat thinks to itself that 'my human feeds me and plays with me and looks after me, therefore I must be a god!' There's an awful lot of relevance in that observation IMHO. Science librarian; retired. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_Prytz/784091

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Recognizing if Your Cat Is Sick

by I LOVE CATS

As with people, there are things that you need to look for in your cat to recognize if they are sick or not. Below is a list of symptoms that might trigger some concern.

• Unexplained weight loss
• It's hard for your cat to breathe
• Your cat is constantly throwing up
• Really bad diarrhea
• The cat doesn't want to eat or drink
• Abnormal inactivity
• Lumps on the body
• Blood in urine or not urinating at all
• Abnormal behaviors
• Sneezing and hacking
• Abnormal aggressiveness
• They aren't using the litter box

If any of these behaviors catch your attention you should take your cat to the veterinarian.

No matter how clean you keep your cat there is always the chance that some little parasite is going to call your cat's body its home. If you are keeping a good eye on the health and well being of your cat, you might be able to determine when one of these pesky parasites are moving in.

Listed below are some of these parasites that you need to keep a look out for and how to treat them if they invade your cat's body.

• Ticks or Lice: Ticks and lice can be a very annoying problem for you and your cat. In order to determine if you cat is suffering from ticks and lice; you need to check your cat's body. You can decipher a tick because you will either see the parasite or will feel it like a bump on your cat's skin. You can actually remove these yourself if you know what you are doing. You just have to pull the tick out with tweezers, but don't break the body while doing so.

After the tick is removed you should clean the area with an antiseptic. Lice are much easier to remove; you might notice your cat scratching a lot and find that these pests are the cause, just use a spray or powder to send these parasites packing.

• Fleas: Fleas are a common problem with cats. Again, you can find these parasites with a quick examination of your cat's body, this can even be done while grooming your cat. Fleas are not something that you can get rid of on your own; you will need your veterinarian's assistance for this.

You may also need to look over your cat's environment to see if there is a particular reason they contracted the flea infestation. Make sure that after you have treated your cat that you do a thorough cleaning of your cats thins, wash beds, vacuum, and use other flea killing products to help clear these pests out of your home and away from your cat.

• Ear Mites: Ear mites have been mentioned earlier in this article because they are quite common in cats and can lead to many other health problems. This is why it is recommended to clean your cat's ears on a monthly basis. If your cat's ears begin to look a bit questionable and are not pink and clean, but waxy and icky smelling, your cat might have ear mites. You should take this concern to your veterinarian and have your cat treated right away.

• Mange: Mange can be transmitted by a variety of different mites, but you should be wary because this is something that humans can be affected by as well. If you cat begins to lose fur in patches, bleeds, or has issues around the ears, nose, and ears, you cat might have mange. You need to get your cat to your veterinarian right away if this is a concern for your feline friend.

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Things To Know About Abused Cats

Cats that have been abused can appear severely maimed and damaged all over their exterior. Some may appear to be in perfect shape on the outside, although all of the damage they sustained may be internal or emotional. Even though physical damage is bad, emotional damage is much tougher to fix. Cats who have physical abuse will still answer to a soft touch and soft voice, as long as they know that the abuse has come to an end.

When you have a cat that has been emotionally abused, you’ll need to wait until the cat comes to you. You’ll need to use patience, as the cat will be confused and not know if you plan to hurt him or not. If you take your time and let him know that you are nothing to fear, he will eventually come to you. When he starts to come to you, you can let him sniff you and pet him. After a while, he will learn that he can trust you and he will come to you when you call him.

Yelling, raising your voice, or using disciplinary tools such as flyswatters or water guns the wrong way can lead to emotional damage. If you continue to use the wrong means of discipline on an emotionally damaged cat, the cat can become mean or lethargic. When a cat turns mean, it’s not always a bad thing. Meaner cats are easier to reach, as they still care a bit about what happens to them – while lethargic cats could really care less.

Cats that have become lethargic won’t play, take treats, or respond to anything you say to them. With a lethargic cat, the ideal way to get him to respond is to bring in a companion cat. Over time, a lethargic cat will eventually look for attention, normally a scratch or a pat. When this happens, you should always use a soft voice and snuggle with him. Never raise your voice at this point, and make sure you let the cat know that his behavior is a lot better.

You should make slow movements around a lethargic cat, as he is still quite traumatic. Once he is coming around and letting you touch him again, he is getting back to his normal self. Keep in mind that it may take some time, which is to be expected with this type of situation. If your cat starts to get upset again or if you raise your voice, he will hide again. If you continue to use a soft voice and have patience, your cat will eventually get past this. If you get a cat that is lethargic, you should prepare yourself for a long and very intensive healing period.

Angry or mean cats on the other hand, will either fight and scratch with you, or simply run away from you. With mean cats, the best thing to do is use gentle treatment with a soft voice. You can never try to raise your voice or use strict discipline, as it will only make the cat meaner. Never attempt to trap the cat either, as trapping it will only make the cat react. If you take your time and let the cat know that you are there for him, he will eventually calm down.

Abused cats are truly a sad thing, although they are out there. Abused cats can be a sad thing to see indeed, especially those that were physically abused. Abused cats need a loving home and a loving owner who will give them the type of lifestyle they deserve. Always remember that if you are dealing with an abused cat – you should always be as gentle as you possibly can.

courtesy of i-love-cats.com

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Behavioral Problems In Cats

Cats are ill tempered and mean at their worst, but even the most annoying problems have a remedy somewhere. Below are six of the most common behavioral problems in cats and some solutions for them.

1. Scratching Your Furnishings and Carpet. Cats actually need to sharpen their claws, just like rodents need to gnaw. Their claws never stop growing, and what they're actually doing when they sharpen their claws is removing the outer layer of the claw. Some people will simply declaw a cat that is having this problem. I do not advocate this. Even the most indoor of cats may wind up outside by accident or design one day, and if you remove your cat's claws, you're taking away his or her primary form of defense.

Before declawing, try getting a scratching post. If your cat loves someone more than anyone else in the family, hang a dirty sock belonging to that person on the scratching post to make it smell familiar (you can take it off after about a day). You can also sprinkle catnip over it or – this is weird but it works – powdered chicken bouillon. The idea is to get the cat to feel friendly enough to the scratching post to attack it.

Meanwhile, make your cat's favorite scratching areas less attractive. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over them, wrap them or cover them with aluminum foil (fingernails on the chalkboard, anyone?), and clean them well to eradicate any cat odor. If you can, close doors to make those places inaccessible to the cat.

2. Eliminating Outside The Litter Box. The first thing to ask is, is it your fault or the cat's fault? Many cats won't use a litter box that is too dirty. They just don't like it. If you think this may be the problem, change out the litter about twice as often as you currently do. You can also be prompt about cleaning any places the cat goes, spraying these areas down well with Lysol or a similar disinfectant with a nice strong smell. You can also try putting the litter box in a more attractive place to the cat; the bathroom, for instance. If it's not in too obnoxious a place, you can put the litter box on top of the place your cat has chosen to go, too, just to make the point. As last resorts, put down bleach, safely, in those spots, and cover the area with aluminum foil.

3. Scratching people. Cats generally do this because they're afraid; again, is it the fault of the cat or of the people around him? If you have a cat that is generically afraid of children, though, you should do something about it; try acclimatization, or exposing the cat to young children until he's calmer about it. Don't let the child loose around the cat. Either have the child sit down in your lap or next to you, feeding Kitty treats.

Not all cats are afraid; some are just plain mean to certain people. The only thing you can do about this is remove the cat from the situation; when the cat starts clawing or growling, pick her up and take her to the bathroom until your guest is gone; and it's usually a guest that this happens to, often one who owns pets of his or her own.. If it's a family member, try cat repellant or lemon juice to keep the cat away, then acclimatization to get them used to the other person. If all this fails, you may be forced to have the cat declawed.

4. Caterwauling (whining). Siamese cats do this by nature, and you may not be able to get them to stop. But other cats do it because they are hungry, tired, or sick, or to let you know she has done something good. There aren't many things you can do about this, unfortunately. If you think it's a hunger thing, feed her more promptly, and refuse to feed her when she caterwauls; she won't understand what you're doing, but she'll almost certainly quit after she figures out it does her no good. If she caterwauls because she is in heat, you should get her fixed. For other caterwauling problems, try to ignore her, and keep her as far away from yourself as possible.

5. Spraying. Male cats do this to mark territory, and they usually do it when they feel threatened: when dogs or small children threaten, or when other male cats are around. There is little you can do about this beyond having your cat neutered. Don't punish for it; the cat will not understand at all.

6. Running Outside. Cats get very curious about the outside. The first thing you should do is not open the door when the cat can run out. But you can also try to get the cat accustomed to the outdoors by getting a cat leash and walking her on it, or by carrying her in your arms when you go outside. Once she knows what's out there, she's less likely to want to get to it, particularly if you expose her to snow and wet conditions.

courtesy of i-love-cats.com

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Preparing Your Home For A New Cat

You've done the most important part: you've scoured local shelters and found your new pet! Now, before you bring your cat or kitten home, finish up the leg work and make sure your home—and you—are completely prepared for the new arrival. Once you bring your cat home, you'll be secure in the knowledge that you are ready for your new pet, and you can spend your time playing and getting to know each other in a comfortable environment.

1. Think Like A Cat

This one is a good place to start, particularly if you have never owned a cat before. Get down on the floor and survey the room from a cat's perspective—after you've closed the blinds, of course! What might pique a cat's interest? What stands out as a potential danger to the cat? Be sure to use a flashlight and look under the sofa and in smaller areas that a human can't easily reach, but might be tempting for a cat to explore. Keep a list of the potential hazards that you discover.

2. Remove Temptation

Now that you have identified some of the hazards and off-limit items that may be facing your cat, do something about it. Start by moving any small breakables, irreplaceables, or valuable items out of reach. Out of reach, however, is a relative term for cats, as adults cats can jump and climb nearly anywhere in a room. When possible, store valuables away in a closed container. Also keep in mind furniture—if any pieces are extremely important to you, you may want to move them to a room that is off-limits to the cat.

3. Seek Out Hidden Dangers

Go around any areas the cat will be in once again, this time with an eye for hidden dangers. One that pet owners may not consider is poisonous plants. Cats are often attracted to the movement of plants, and investigate by biting as well as pawing. Either move poisonous plants to a different part of the house or hang them out of reach.

Another item that attracts cats with its movement is cords: hanging blind cords, phone cords, or electrical cords. Cords that can't be moved out of reach or fastened securely can be sprayed with Bitter Apple, a harmless but unpleasant tasting substance.

Finally, remove any small hazardous items such as paper clips, thumb tacks, or pest poisons from the area.

4. Litter Box

The litter box should be placed somewhere easy for the cat to access, away from busy areas, and out of the reach of any inquisitive dogs or small children. It's best to put the litter box on a hard surface, as sometimes cats may mistake soft carpet around it for the actual litter box. Once you get your new cat home, she will let you know what type of litter and box she prefers.

5. Make Some Areas Off Limits

In the first few tips, it was recommended to move hazardous or valuable materials to another part of the house. Before you can do this, however, you need to decide what parts of the house can and should be considered off-limits. If a room is a high-traffic area or does not have doors, you should not plan on making it off-limits to your cat. Typically an unused bedroom is a good place to put off-limits items or, alternately, be certain to secure them in closed storage areas throughout the house. The garage is one area that should always be considered off-limits, as there are too many chemicals and hazardous materials in there.

6. Shop Till You Drop

In addition to the many obvious essentials, such as a litter box and food, several other items will make you and your new cat more comfortable. As mentioned in regards to cords, Bitter Apple Spray is a handy purchase for when moving danger items is not an option.

To save your furniture and keep your cat happy, a scratching post is also a good investment. If you like to build things, you could make it yourself. Or purchase one from a store—there is a great range of styles and prices available.

Although some cat owners prefer to have their cats sleep with them, it's also a good idea to purchase a cat bed. Your cat can use this throughout the day, for short cat naps, or at night. Ask store employees about what size would be appropriate, depending on your cat's age and breed.

7. Stock The Pantry

Your best option for finding a food your new cat likes would be if you can speak with the cat's former owners. If not, be sure to pay attention to the needs of your cat based on age or physical condition. Kittens need more nutrients than adult cats do, and overweight cats may be put on a special diet.

Don't forget that the food needs to go somewhere! Food and water bowls should be ceramic or metallic—plastic is not recommended as some cats may develop a chin rash. If you will be gone for long periods of time, also consider automatic food and water servers.

8. Toys

Cats are born to hunt or—in the case of pet cats—play. Playing offers you an opportunity to bond with your new cat and help kittens develop. There's a wide variety of toys available in any pet store, from the very small to elaborate houses and climbing posts. Purchase toys based on your budget, your living situation, and what your new cat's preferences might be. If it is an older cat, you may want to stick with smaller toys. With a kitten, the sky's the limit!

9. Cat Carrier

Cat carriers are a necessity even if you plan on keeping your new cat indoors. For starters, you will need a way to get the cat home from the shelter or pet store. Additionally, there will be many trips to the vet and possibly to friends' houses or a boarding facility when you are on trips. A cardboard carrier is a good short-term solution, but you will eventually want to purchase a sturdy plastic one that will afford your cat comfort and security during travel.

10. Grooming

If accustomed to it, cats enjoy grooming just as much as playing. It is also important to your cat's health, since grooming helps prevent hairballs and overgrown nails can become problematic. Be sure to get a fine-toothed comb and rubber-backed pin brush for brushing, and a nail clipper specifically designed for cats.

Cat Article courtesy of I-Love-Cats.com

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