Some cats do not like being groomed, but if they’re long-haired or unable to groom themselves for any reason, grooming is a necessity. If their coat is not free of mats and tangles, it can tug uncomfortably on your cat’s skin, causing discomfort and even skin problems.
If you’re struggling to keep your cat calm during grooming sessions, there are a few methods that you can use to sedate them. This will make grooming much more comfortable for your cat and for you!
The 3 Methods on How to Sedate a Cat for Grooming
1. Sedative Medication
For some cats, a suitable cat sedative for grooming is the most humane way to groom them comfortably. Before using any medication of this type, speak to a vet for advice. They may prescribe a particular type of sedative to match your cat’s circumstances. You may decide to administer the sedative and groom your cat at home or book your cat in for a sedation and grooming session at your vet practice.
2. Non-Medicated Options
If your cat is used to grooming and you and your vet think sedation and pharmacological tranquilization are not necessary, you may be able to find a non-medicated option to help them instead.
- Cat calming treats: The ingredients used in the chews and food are usually hydrolyzed milk protein, L-tryptophan, vitamin B, and L-theanine, which have been proven to be safe and effective in cats.1
- Popular plants: These include valerian, silver vine, and catnip. Each plant is different, so if you know your cat responds well to a particular ingredient, make sure to have it nearby.
- Pheromone diffuser: Feliway is a plug-in diffuser that releases cat-calming pheromones, which are the chemicals your cat produces and liberates when rubbing their face against people or surfaces. These pheromones are for communication, which makes them feel calmer and more comfortable. Your cat needs to be within a specific range of the diffuser to feel the effects.
- Calming spray: These contain the same pheromones as the diffuser, but you can spray them on your chosen surface for grooming.
Any of these may help relax your cat enough for you to be able to groom them effectively. You can consult a vet if you want more information about the non-medicated options, too.
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3. General Anesthesia
In some cases, a vet may choose to anesthetize a cat to groom them effectively. This may be used if a longhaired cat with extremely matted hair has been rescued and needs a significant amount of hair clipped away. If a cat has torn skin from mats or is suffering from other complications, like flystrike, using anesthesia will often be less stressful.
A well-groomed cat will be much more comfortable than one with dirty and matted fur. So, rather than putting off those grooming sessions because you know your cat doesn’t like them, consider having your cat anesthetized to keep them comfortable without any unnecessary stress.
Conclusion
We have gone through the three ways to safely sedate a cat at home for grooming and have a stress-free session. Some cats may need a hand with grooming, especially those with long hair or if they have suffered from a problem that prevents them from grooming themselves, such as arthritis or a recent surgery.
Your veterinarian will help you determine the best option for you and your cat. Follow their advice so that your cat can enjoy a beautiful and healthy coat.
Featured Image Credit: Sherbak_photo, Shutterstock
The 3 Methods on How to Sedate a Cat for Grooming
