Grooming Tips and Tricks

  
Velvet Rose

Sweet & Mellow
 
 
Purred: Mon Jan 19, '09 7:30am PST 
Hi all! Thought maybe we could share some things we have learned about grooming. I'll let my mom do the talking here!
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I tried to show PJ a year and a half ago (CFA). He did not like it. Had to take him home after a couple of hours because he became so stressed. But I did meet some nice people and have learned a lot from them.

Now I show Velvet (TICA only) and have learned these tips about grooming...
Bathing, wet your cat with a solution of water and Woolite. You only need about a capful in a bucket of water. I usually dunk my cats once into the bucket of water then transfer them to the sink. They are instantly no longer water proof by doing that.

Now shampoo with your favor product. Because the coat is no longer water proof, it is much easier to get a lather to work in and down to the skin. I use a cat shampoo with aloe in it so to protect the skin from drying out.

Rinse, I do a quick rinse with plain water, then... this is the good part ... put about a tablespoon or 2 of white vinegar in a 2 quart pitcher. Fill it up with water. Pour over cat to rinse. Might have to repeat once, but that's it. The vinegar rinse does a wonderful job of getting the soap residue out. And your cat will not smell like vinegar! The trick is to put the water in on the vinegar. For some reason it doesn't work as well as putting the vinegar into the water. Guess the vinegar mixes better throughout when the water is added to it.

The wetting down and rinsing methods have really cut down on the time it takes me give baths to my cats.

Now for the shine and anti-static without build up ... Bio-Goom Anti-Stat ... made for cats so it is safe. You can get it on the internet. I got mine at Amazon.com and seems to last forever as you don't need to use much. Spray it on to a wash cloth (the whole cloth) and wipe down your cat. I use it on Velvet to get her to shine right before going to a ring. Got to get a black cat to shine or they won't place. I have used it on PJ at home. Makes getting him combed much easier without all that static electic making hair stick to everything.

Edited by author Mon Jan 19, '09 12:03pm PST


Bumpurr

RESPECT The- Star!
 
 
Purred: Tue Feb 3, '09 4:14pm PST 
Hey Velvet Rose! big grin

Excellent post! How far east do ya get?

I show CFA, but tried a few TICA shows, wanted to see how the other half
does it, mol, and learn a few things. I was at White Plains NY, Allentown
PA and Lancaster PA. Met some very nice people and made some new
friends. wave

Thanks for the info on the vinegar rinse, just learned about that at the
White Plains show, but not how to actually do it. big grin

Other things I have learned over time, Jerob shampoo is very good, and its
color cordinated, black for black, red for red, etc. Haven't tried this yet,
but from showing horses, I know this works, use the essence of purple for
white. In the horse show world, its called Quick Silver, its purple, and it
makes the white so brite, ya gotta wear shades, mol. I have a palomino and
her white socks, mane & tail were brite brite white. Looked into the safety
of QS for cats, its a no go.

Use Ice on Ice for a finishing spray, no build up, just spray a light, very
light mist over the cat, its made by Chris Christoper something. Also
learned from a prof groomer, to use the metal comb by Chris.

Rinse, rinse, rinse, is the key, and rinse some more.

Velvet is SH, and this applies more to the LH's, sigh, major project to get
them bathed, dried and groomed, is use the dryer with the ion's, and use
the not hot setting, and on low speed, for us, we blow against the fur.

Don't remember seeing you, mol, but I would have been in the LH Tabby
division. Be glad to help you with anything, hope to see you at a CFA
show some day. I will be at Middletown NY, the end of March. wavewavewave

Linus- (Dreamboat- #72a)

So many toys, so- little time.
 
 
Purred: Sat Feb 14, '09 10:04pm PST 
Products/Tips we like:

Jerob Anti-static Conditioning/Detangling spray. You just spritz one or two sprays on a chamois and wipe the cat down. You don't need much. It instantly eliminates any static and adds extra shine to you coat. http://www.jerob.net/anti_stat.html

Zoom Groom rubber brush. It makes a fantastic shampoo brush and can be found at PetSmart and PetCo. I also love to be brushed with it outside of the bathtub because it feels so good, like a massage.

Groomers Goop. Wonderful for cats with oily coats. Apply while the coat is dry, rinse, follow with Dawn dishwashing liquid to draw out any extra grease, rinse, follow with your shampoo of choice, and rinse really well. Mom used this on my "brother" Mickey when he showed in HHP. He has a medium length mostly white coat that tends to get oily - and it worked wonderful on him.
http://www.momsgoop.com/items/27/24/groomersgoop-degreaser.asp x