Persian Cat Grooming Guide

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Are you prepared to groom your Persian cat?

Yes, Persian cats do require a lot of grooming. But once you know exactly what you need to do, grooming isn’t so bad. In fact, it can be enjoyable. This is a nice time to bond with your pet.

But in order for this to be an enjoyable experience, you need to have the essential tools for a smooth grooming process.

In this guide, we are going to discuss the essential Persian cat grooming techniques. We will cover all the tips and tools you need to make grooming as simple as possible.

Start Here

Persian cats are known for their long, thick fur. While this fur is beautiful, it requires daily maintenance to keep it healthy.

In addition to fur care, you need to groom your Persian cat’s eyes, ears, and nails. Once you establish a grooming routine, you will have no trouble maintaining your Persian cat’s beautiful appearance.

Before we discuss how to groom your Persian cat, let’s look at the supplies you need.

Essential Grooming Supplies:

• Brush
• Fur clippers
• Nail clippers
• Furminator
• Shampoo
• Coconut oil
• Cotton balls
• Ear cleaner
• Styptic Powder

Once you have your supplies, you can start properly grooming your Persian cat. This is a step-by-step guide that will cover the basics of Persian cat grooming. We are going to focus on fur, eye, ear, and nail grooming.

Nail Care

When grooming your Persian cat, it is important to start with their nails. As you move to the other grooming steps, your cat might decide to retaliate. So, to avoid being scratched, start by trimming their nails.

It is also important to keep their nails short so they don’t accidentally cut themselves while they are scratching an itch.

Let’s look at the step-by-step process of trimming your cat’s nails. You can also view this helpful video for additional information:

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Make sure you have nail clippers designed for cats. These are different than human nail clippers. Cat nail clippers are curved. A straight blade (such as scissor blades) can be very painful for your cat.

Step 2: Prepare to Trim

Your cat will probably be uncomfortable with the nail trimming. So, do everything you can to help them feel calm. Bring your cat to a quiet space, like the bathroom. Practice pressing and massaging on their paws to expose the claw. This will help your cat get comfortable with this process. You can reward them with a treat at this point.

If your cat doesn’t seem comfortable, you don’t have to trim their nails on the same day as this practice session.

Step 3: Trim Their Nails

Once you decide they are ready, you can start the nail trimming process. Gently massage and press on their paw. Clip the white part of their nail. The pink area contains blood vessels and can be very painful if you accidentally trim this part. You can do this over multiple days if your cat is uncomfortable with the process.

If you happen to cut your cat’s nails too close to the quick and they start to bleed, don’t panic. Simply apply styptic powder with a cotton ball to the injured area.

Necessary Supplies:

For a successful nail trimming, make sure you have the following supplies.

• Cat nail trimmers
• Treats
• Styptic powder
• Cotton balls

Fur Care

Grooming your Persian cat’s long coat involves brushing and washing it on a regular basis. You will also need to trim their fur on occasion.

Persian cats have thick fur that is prone to matting. You need to be aware of how to prevent and remove matted fur.

Let’s look at the step-by-step process for grooming your Persian cat’s fur.

Brushing

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Make sure you have a comb, brush, and clippers. I’ve previously reviewed some of my favorite fur grooming tools, so be sure to check out those posts for more details.

Step 2: Comb Your Persian’s Fur

Start by gently combing down your cat’s fur. This will help detangle their fur and make it easier to brush and wash. It is important to also comb the fur on their face, but be careful of sensitive areas.

Step 3: Remove Any Matted Fur

We will go into more detail later in this post, but know that this is the point where you should remove any matted fur.

Step 4: Brush Their Coat

Removing loose fur from the undercoat can help keep your cat’s topcoat healthy. I believe the FURminator is the best deshedding brush for Persian cats. You can watch my full review here:

Remember to move down the length of the fur. Start at your cat’s head and brush along their body towards their tail.

Step 5: Trim Any Fur

If necessary, trim any fur around their backside. Since Persian cats have thick coats, feces can often get stuck in their fur. Use the clippers to remove any feces if necessary.

Also, you can trim their fur to help prevent mats. In the summer, I especially suggest trimming their long coats to help them stay cooler and to prevent mats.

Removing Matted Fur

As mentioned earlier, you might encounter a mat in your Persian cat’s fur. It is important to remove these mats because they are very uncomfortable for your pet.

Step 1: Prevent Mats

The best way to deal with matted fur is to prevent it. With regular brushing, you can help reduce the number of mats.

Step 2: Brush Out the Mat

If you find a mat, first try to gently brush out the mat. Use a Cat Slicker Brush to try to work through the mat.

Step 3: Apply Coconut Oil

If you can’t easily brush out the mat, apply coconut oil to the matted fur. Apply coconut oil to the fur and let it sit for an hour. Hopefully, this will help detangle the fur. And don’t worry, coconut oil is non-toxic!

Step 4: Try a Mat Removing Comb

You can try to use a mat removing comb to work through the mat. These can help remove the mat when the brush is unsuccessful.

Step 5: Shave the Mat

Shaving the mat is the last resort, but sometimes it is necessary. You can either take your cat to a professional groomer or use professional clippers to cut out the mat.

Washing

To keep your Persian cat’s fur fresh and healthy, bathe them once or twice a month.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Make sure you have cat shampoo before starting this process. You can check out my review of cat shampoo here.

Step 2: Fill the Tub and Start Washing Your Cat

Fill your tub or sink with about 4 inches of warm water. Now, start washing your cat. It is best to start with their tail and work your way up.

Step 3: Shampoo Your Cat

Select your shampoo and use it to wash your cat’s fur. Gently massage it into their fur before rinsing it out.

Step 4: Dry Your Cat

It can take a while for your cat’s fur to air dry, so consider purchasing a pet hair dryer. This can help speed up the process. Check out my review of pet hair dryers here.

Necessary Supplies:

For successful fur grooming, make sure you have these supplies.

• Brush
• Clipper
• Comb
• Shampoo
• Coconut oil

Eye Care

Due to their facial structure, Persian cats often have trouble with their tear ducts. Tears and eye discharge can discolor their fur.

Step 1: Prevent Tear Staining

To prevent tear staining, wipe their eyes daily. Use a cotton pad and warm water to wipe away any eye discharge. To prevent infection, use a new cotton pad for each eye.

Step 2: Clean Tear Stains

If you notice staining, you can easily clean this with a non-toxic solution. Simply dampen a cotton pad, how your hand over your cat’s eyes, and wipe away the stain. After, dampen a new cotton pad to remove any leftover cleaning solution.

Necessary Supplies:

For successful eye grooming, make sure you have these supplies.

• Cotton pads
• Stain-removing solution

Ear Care

Ear wax can build up in your cat’s ears, so it is important to occasionally clean their ears.

Step 1: Apply the Solution

Apply a non-toxic ear cleaning solution into their ears. Allow the solution to stay in the ear for a few minutes.

Step 2: Clean Out Their Ears

With a cotton ball, gently wipe the inside of their ears to remove any buildup.

Necessary Supplies:

For successful ear grooming, make sure you have these supplies.

• Ear-cleaning solution
• Cotton balls

Final Thoughts

Persian cats require a lot of grooming. But, once you establish a routine, you can help your cat live a happier and healthier life. It’s important to start grooming your Persian when they are kittens.

Remember, it is very important to groom your Persian cat’s nails, fur, ears, and eyes.

With the right supplies and a proper routine, grooming your Persian cat will become second nature in no time!

Do you have any tips for grooming a Persian cat? We would love for you to share your stories below.