How to Groom a Pet Tiger

Like the common house cat, tigers are pretty fussy about their personal hygiene. The big cats take great pains to keep clean, spending a good portion of the day self-grooming. Still, a pet tiger needs a proper grooming every few months, so follow these steps to get it done safely and quickly.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Hire a professional. Even if you're the best tiger nail-clipper in the world, you need to hire a professional to oversee the process. You should not attempt to groom or interact with a tiger without a professional handler or veterinarian by your side.

2. Sedate the animal. This is where your animal professional comes in. The handler or vet must sedate your pet tiger before you can start grooming it. This is essential. Skipping the sedation step can lead to injury to both you and your tiger.

3. Trim the tiger's claws. Trimming the tiger's claws will make the cat safer. A vet has tools made specially to trim thick claws, so let the expert do the work here.

4. Check for and remove parasites. Think of the grooming as a medical opportunity in addition to a cleaning. Look for parasites like ticks and fleas that you can remove from the animal while it's sedated. You will improve your life and the tiger's health by doing so.

5. Clean where the tiger can't. There are places where a tiger can't reach with its tongue (though, rest assured, it does have a method for getting those places). Pay special attention to the paw pads, between the toes and the animal's head. Clean the tiger and give it a once-over to look for any sores and tender spots that the animal might have.