Tag Archives: hygiene

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Brushathon

I had an absolutely delightful morning at the cats-only boarding facility yesterday! Don’t get me wrong — I really like this job. I enjoy working with the cats, I like the exercise, I like the change of pace from my other job (writing). We have great clients and some really wonderful guests. But some days, the job is challenging. The kitties are extra messy, or I’m just off my routine and trying to catch up. Yesterday was the opposite. Yesterday, I had the magic touch. I was the cat whisperer. An aggressive cat needed to be weighed? I picked her … Continue reading →

Good Hygiene on the Go

Some days, the schedule is just packed. You’re running from one thing to another, with barely a minute in between to catch your breath… let alone freshen up. So what can you do to keep feeling (and smelling) fresh on those ultra-busy days? The very best thing you can do is to plan ahead. If you know you’ve got a crazy day on the schedule, be prepared. Pack a change of clothes if you think you’ll need a fresh outfit. Bring toiletries so you can wash up a little when you change. Maybe you won’t end up needing them… but … Continue reading →

How to Teach Good Hygiene

If you’re a parent, you are also a teacher. You have the incredibly difficult, challenging, amazing, wonderful, emotional job of helping the little life you created grow up healthy, smart, and strong. And one of the more awkward parts of the job can be teaching good hygiene. I’m sure my mom dreaded certain questions and milestones in my life (and looked forward to others). Questions about smells and the prevention of smells can be some of the most uncomfortable ones — whether you’re talking to a friend, a child, a parent, or a coworker. Here are some tips to help … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: My Personal Best

I did something today that I’d never done before at the cats-only boarding facility. It was a feat of Olympian proportions: I bathed four cats. Not all at the same time, mind you — that would be a recipe for disaster for sure. We’re approaching full capacity at the boarding facility this weekend; as I type this, we have forty-eight guests. (Between Christmas and New Year’s, we hit sixty-five guests.) So it’s not surprising that we have many guests who have signed up for extras — special treats or grooming services. Generally, we try to schedule a bath for at … Continue reading →

Human Preferences about Grooming

Once in a while, a long-haired guest at the cats-only boarding facility will get a little messy in the caboose region (if you get my drift). Sometimes a spot-cleaning or a full bath can take care of the problem. For repeat offenders, we often suggest a “sanitary clip” — a trim of the hair around the rump in order to help keep things clean. It doesn’t have to be a full shave — but with shorter hair in the nether regions, there’s less chance of a mess. Some owners flat-out refuse to have any sort of trim done. They like … Continue reading →

How Do Ionic Brushes Work?

Have you seen ads for ionic brushes for pets? They don’t just brush the fur — they can also help reduce pet smells. So how do they work? Ionic brushes break down water molecules in your pet’s coat and release safe levels of ozone into the air. This helps neutralize pet smells. The advantages of an ionic brush: An ionic brush can be used instead of a full bath. Sure, sometimes a bath is necessary, but regular brushing with an ionic brush can help keep pet odors at a minimum. Brushing your pet is a great way to bond! You … Continue reading →

Make Bathing Easy: Prep First!

When it’s my turn to do baths at the cats-only boarding facility, the right preparation makes the work a lot easier. Before I even think about fetching a cat into the grooming room, I make sure I’ve set up the hand-held sprayer, towels, shampoo, nail clippers, and blow dryer. You can do the same thing at home to make grooming much easier! What might you need for bathing a pet? Brushes or combs — you can remove a lot of loose hair before the bath with a quick brushing. Tangles and mats can tighten as they dry, so it’s better … Continue reading →

Grooming an Older Cat

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Older cats may groom themselves less than younger cats for a variety of reasons. Perhaps pain makes it difficult to reach certain areas. Perhaps an illness is impacting skin and coat, making it harder to keep up with grooming. As your cat ages, you may need to take a more active part in grooming! Helping your older cat with grooming is a good way to monitor changes in health. Look for changes in your pet’s skin as they age. Some pets develop dry skin and dandruff as they age; others tend to get oily skin that leaves the coat feeling … Continue reading →

Cats Who Won’t Groom

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We’ve had guests at the cats-only boarding facility who can’t or won’t groom themselves. I started to wonder why. Looks like there are a lot of different reasons why a cat might not groom him or herself. Here are a few: Illness. A cat that doesn’t feel well might stop grooming. Many times, this is the first warning sign an owner will notice when their pet is sick. Maybe you’ll see mats, or just notice that your cat isn’t as clean as usual. It’s not a bad idea to talk to your veterinarian if your cat has stopped grooming. Hormonal … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Fleeing Fleas

Not all guests who come to the cats only boarding facility are indoor cats. Some are allowed to roam the “big blue room” once in a while; some spend the majority of their time outdoors and only show up for meals and bedtime. Not that fleas are solely a problem of outdoor cats — far from it. Fleas can get into your house (and onto your pets) even if your furry family never sets a paw outside the door. One thing we don’t want at the boarding facility is for a guest to catch a case of critters while they … Continue reading →