Stress-free brushing: caring for your munchkin's coat

Why brush a cat who already grooms itself?

Cats are meticulous about grooming themselves, but they still benefit from a helping hand. Regular brushing removes dead hair, so less of it ends up on your furniture and less of it gets swallowed when your cat washes. It's also a perfect excuse for a weekly once-over: ears, eyes, skin and paw pads, so you notice early if anything has changed.

Brushing also brings you closer. A kitten who gets used to the brush early on sees it as part of spending time with you rather than an ordeal.

How often to brush

Munchkins come in both short-haired and long-haired varieties, and that determines the schedule:

• short-haired cats usually need one thorough brushing a week;
• long-haired cats need it more often — several times a week, or daily in short sessions if their coat tangles easily;
• during shedding season any cat will benefit from extra sessions.

Short and regular beats long and rare: your cat will cope far better with five calm minutes than with half an hour of wrestling.

The tools you need

You don't need a big kit. International Cat Care suggests a few basics:

• for short coats: a fine-toothed comb, a natural bristle brush and a rubber grooming mitt or rubber brush;
• for long coats: a wide-toothed comb and a rubber grooming mitt.

Choose tools with rounded tips and test them on your own arm first. If a brush scratches your skin, your cat won't enjoy it either.

Getting your kitten used to the brush

Start as early as you can and take small steps:

• let your kitten sniff the brush first, and leave it near its favorite resting spot;
• begin with one or two strokes along the back while your kitten is relaxed, then give a treat or a cuddle straight away;
• gradually add a few more strokes and new areas — the sides, chest and tail;
• end each session before your kitten starts to wriggle away.

Never hold your cat down. It should know it can walk away if it feels uncomfortable, which makes it more willing next time. You don't have to do the whole cat in one go: the back today, the sides tomorrow.

With their short legs, munchkins are usually more comfortable being brushed on your lap or on the floor beside you than on a high, slippery table.

Brushing technique

Brush in the direction the hair grows, from head to tail. For a short-haired cat, follow the comb with a rubber mitt, which is great at picking up loose hair. For a long-haired cat, work section by section to reach the undercoat.

Be especially gentle in the armpits, on the belly and between the hind legs. The skin there is thin and sensitive, and on long-haired cats this is where mats most often form. Don't forget the "trousers" on the back legs, the area behind the ears and the fur between the toes.

Dealing with mats

Work a small mat apart gently with your fingers, slowly, a few hairs at a time, without pulling on the skin. Don't be tempted to cut it out with scissors: in tightly matted fur it's very hard to see where the hair ends and the skin begins, and it's easy to cut your cat. If there are many mats or they're large, see your vet or an experienced groomer.

The best way to prevent mats is consistency. For a long-haired cat, a few minutes every day will do far more than one big session a month.

Shedding season and hairballs

During seasonal shedding, cats lose more hair and swallow more of it while grooming. Brushing more often at this time means less hair ends up in your cat's stomach — and on your clothes.

If your cat brings up hairballs often, tries to bring one up without success, seems constipated or is off its food, have it checked by a vet, who can find the cause and advise you on how to help. Don't give your cat any hairball remedies without talking to your vet first.

A health check while you brush

Every brushing session is a chance to spot changes. Look out for:

• black specks on the comb or skin, which can be a sign of fleas;
• redness, dandruff, bald patches or areas your cat won't let you touch;
• any lumps or swellings;
• the condition of the ears, eyes, mouth and paw pads.

If anything worries you, have your cat seen by a vet, who can find the cause and advise you on what to do.

The takeaway

Regular brushing means a healthy coat, a weekly health check and calm time together. Start early, keep sessions short and reward your kitten, and the brush will become a ritual it enjoys.