Cats love to be stroked, so it is easy to teach your cat to accept brushing. Brushing your cat will help to remove loose hair and prevent kitty getting a fur ball stuck in his throat. It also helps to remove irritating prickles he may have picked up on his walks outside. You will be able to keep tabs on his general health if you brush him regularly, too.

The best time is when your cat is feeling sleepy, and maybe even curled up on your lap. If you have the brush near you, you can get it without disturbing him. If you haven't used one on him before, hold it near his face so that he can inspect it by smelling it, so that he will get used to it and realise that it won't hurt him. A good idea is to get your scent on the brush so that they can smell it. You can do this by rubbing your hands on the handle. Provided that he is used to you, it'll show him that the brush can be trusted.

When a comfort level has been reached, with a slow pace and soft hand, gently brush the fur. Don't brush against the direction of fur growth. Stop the grooming procedure right away if your cat grabs the brush. You don't want him to get rambunctious when you bring out the brush; he needs to learn to stay still.

When your cat has settled, begin to brush him again. Using long strokes, begin brushing at his ear and draw the fur backward. Never brush near his eyes or whiskers since they are delicate and can be injured easily. Also take care not to pull hard on the knotted parts of the fur since this hurts them. If every time he sees the brush he panics because he remembers it being painful, your next session won't go as smoothly.

You can use more than one brush to groom your cat. Softer, smaller brushes are best for areas such as the stomach and tail, while you can use a bigger and stiffer brush for their back and sides. Long haired cats may need a brush with slightly stiffer bristles, while you can also use a comb in your kitty pampering toolkit.

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