How to Groom a British Shorthair Cat

The British Shorthair cat has an intelligent and pleasant nature. Likely the oldest English cat breed, the British Shorthair's ancestry dates back to Roman domestic cats. A relatively large cat, its short, full coat is easy to groom. Most coats are bluish grey, but many colors are allowed in show.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cat nail clippers
• Cotton ball
• Cotton tip applicator
• Blunt tweezers
• Washcloth
• Mild cat shampoo
• Bath towel
• Wide-tooth comb

1. Clip her nails with cat nail clippers at least once a month. Be sure to clip the tips, avoiding the quick, which causes pain and bleeding.

2. Clean your cat's ears with either a warm, damp cotton ball or a cotton tip applicator. If using the latter, be sure not to penetrate too far into the ear, where you could damage the ear canal.

3. Pull with blunt tweezers any ear hair extending past the tip of his ears.

4. Wash your cat's face with a warm washcloth. Don't use shampoo on her face.

5. Soak him in warm water in your kitchen or laundry room sink. Squirt some mild cat shampoo onto a washcloth and work it into his coat. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

6. Dry your cat with a soft bath towel and comb her coat with a wide-tooth comb with the coat's grain. Then comb against the grain to fluff up her coat. Allow her coat to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use a blow dryer to dry your cat's coat. His coat looks more natural when you air dry.