How to Keep a Cat Calm While Brushing

Contributor

By Lauren Romano
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (1 Ratings)

My cat is calm and content after a brushing.

Many cats aren’t happy when they are being brushed. Some cats, especially those that are anti-social or those that have longer hair that gets knotty, can squirm and become very panicked. It doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Consider following some of these steps in order to help keep your cat calm while you are brushing him.

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Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

How to Keep a Cat Calm While Brushing

Step 1

Use your hand as well as a brush. While the brush may feel good initially, too much use, especially in one area, can cause the cat to become irritated and uncomfortable. If you alternate between using the brush and petting him with your hand, he will be able to feel more at ease.
Step 2

Scratch behind the cat's ears and on the chest with your fingers. These are two areas on a cat that, when scratched, can have a calming effect. Cats love being scratched in these areas, so before and during the brushing make sure that you continue to do this to help keep your cat relaxed.
Step 3

Talk to your cat in a calm and soothing voice. If you are screaming at your cat to stop squirming, he is going to get more frightened and continue to try to run away. When you talk in a soothing voice, you cat is going to be able to stay calm. Look him in the eyes and compliment how good he is being.
Step 4

Show your cat the brush and let him sniff it. As strange as this sounds, when you show a cat the brush that you are using he will be able to be a bit more calm. Cats can be frightened of the unknown. All he knows is that there is something going repeatedly up and down his back that he can’t see. Let him see it and sniff the brush so he knows that it’s his own and that it’s something that’s not going to hurt him.

Tips & Warnings

Don’t rush the brushing. When you take the time to make sure your cat is comfortable and that he is thoroughly enjoying the grooming, he will be more receptive to being brushed in the future. When you rush, the experience isn’t usually as comfortable as it could be.
Make sure not to brush too hard. He won’t be able to stay calm if he is irritated and being hurt by the brush. If you are rough in brushing your cat, he will associate grooming with something painful.