There is a proper way to use a comb as well as better combs for different types of coat. The right comb for most short hair cats is one that has teeth about one inch in length with a fine spaced side and a wide spaced side for use for the body and tail hair. Another comb with a bit short tines close together are for use on the cats face, top head and legs. For cats with semi long hair and very long hair choose a comb with longer times about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches in length. Use a comb with shorter tines for the face and legs.

Begin your grooming with a pet session. Set the cat on a table, you stand beside the table, the cat stands up while you groom. Then begin gentle combing at the top head and chin. Most cats will enjoy this very much. Now work down the neck area. The correct way to use the comb is to insert the tines into the hair in the direction the hair grows, head to tail, then draw the comb out way from the cats body from root to tip of hair strands. Now with the neck area finished begin the underside (tummy). The same technique, away from the body with strokes from skin to hair tips until you have completely combed thru all of the tummy and between hind legs and under front leg (pits). Often a cat will lie down while enjoying the tummy grooming. Now you are ready to do the tail, body and sides. Begin now at the tip of the tail with the same from base of hair to tip use of the comb.. a little on the underside of the tail and then a little on the top. Next begin with one hindfoot and your shorter toothed comb, do the combing from the toes up the hock back side and front side and continue the same with the other hind leg. Change to your longer toothed comb and begin combing the hair of each of the cats sides from the lower portion of the cats side to the center of the top of the cats back. Always comb from the skin to the hair tips. Finish up with combing the front legs and feet, bottom to top.

Most show cats should be bathed weekly with a complete combing before the bath. While you are grooming you can peek into the cats ears to check to see if they need cleaning. To clean them, put a few drops of ear cleaning solution into each ear and gently rub a moment. Let that soak in while you trim the cats toe nials. Gently wipe the inside of the ear with a Qtip swab, changing for a fresh Qtip as they become soiled. Examine the chin and tail top to see if there is any oils to be washed away. If there is oils, then it is time to bath. Before bathing, to better dislove the oils, apply a few drops of Avon Skin so soft, to the oily areas and rub gently. This will help wash the thicker oils from the hair. Now you are almost ready to bath.

You will want to have everything you want with in hands reach before you begin. Three towels, one wash cloth, baby shampoo for use on the cats face, good cleaning shampoo for first wash, Wash N curl shampoo for your second wash. Choosing products that work for your cats hair will take trail and error. You would not want to do a product test right before the show date. Do it well in advance of the show so you can redo the bath if it didn't turn out.

A good spray hose like those in a shower is nice, one can use the kitchen sink kind too. Rinsing is the most important part of the bath. It must be rinsed, extra, extra, well. I have a plastic covered wire rack on legs that I use to stand the cat on. It keeps the feet from soaking up oils in the foamy water and I can also spray the cat from beneath getting the tummy and between the legs well.

To help the cat stay calm, I talk with the cat the whole time I am bathing. I place the cat on the wire rack, petting and assuring the cat that this is a wonderful fun thing. I put the ointment into the cats eyes and turn water on slowly, talking and petting, until the water is set to a comfortable warm temperature. Now on the cats dry hair I apply the cleaning shampoo to the tail top and (under the tail find anal gland area, and add shampoo) and chin and rub it in. Next wet the wash cloth and put a bit of baby shampoo onto it for washing the cats face. Apply the shampoo with the wash cloth to the face, cheeks and head rubbing gentle to disolve soils. Now you are ready for water, wet the whole of the cat (except the face) then add shampoo as needed to get a good lather to every bit of the cat. Rinse well and do the second shampooing with the Wash N Curl Shampoo. Lather the intire coat. Now you are ready to rinse the cats face. All soap must be rinsed completely. To rinse the cats face you will fold the cats ear and cover with your hand to keep water from flowing into the ear, tilt the cats head slightly to one side and spray that side of the face well over the eye and down under the chin and over the top of the cats head. Repeat this to rinse the other side of the face. Finish by rinsing the cat for about five minutes. Let the water drip from the cat. Wrap in your towel. Change to a dry towel as the towels become soaked. Do not rub. You want the hair to remain close to the cats body. Air dry in a warm room.

When the cat is completely dry it is time to comb again. This is done very very gently in the same manner as before the bath. You may find you are collecting loose hair in to the comb. If this occurs you will want to bath again is a few days. Bathing can loosen hairs and also at differnt times of the year there is natural shed of hairs with new hair growth. Curly hair retains loose hair much more than the straight haired coats. Some Selkirk Rex will require more grooming than a persian cat.

Freshly bathed and smelling nice, the cat is happy and beautiful. Other things that are part of good grooming are to check the cats teeth and breath. If they need attention, have your vet help you with correcting any conditions that need atending to.

With the variety of coats from dry to oily, fine to heavier your choice of products will be something you will have to learn for your self,. No one product fits all types of coat. Further, at differnt times of the year the coat may need extra care, moisturizing durring shed times, or creme rinse to help rinse loose hair from the coat. Some coats can be Ok with the creme rinse left in, other it must be washed out again. Dead hairs loose their curl. Some females in heat cycles often wilt and become nearly curless. There are also many scrinching products made for aiding curly hair from the frizzies. Be sure to test the use of any of these prior to show time.

Maintaining a show coat thru the whole of the show season may seem impossible. Many of us have found ourselves rebathing our cat on Saturday night. A coat can become oily quickly from handling, eating and pottying. Nothing worse than a poo paw or tail tip going un noticed as we hussle from one ring toanother. Or having to bring a damp cat to the judge. A bit of cologne can be handly for these untimely occassions.

If you follow these basics for grooming and do them regularly you and your cat should be very happy.

I have some grat news to brag about. Went to the College Station show this last weekend--took 2 Selkirks--sh cream male(the guy that was Best SH Selkirk Rex kitten at the International) and mypretty dilute calico LH. You know how I complain about how hard it is to get a final here in Texas and the the judges don't like Selkirks. Well, Jody Garrison used my male and made him 3rd best sh ch in Sp ring, Pam Delabar used the calico and made her 3rd best sh champion AB ring.

I was told by a friend of mine who happened to overhear one of the judges saying how a certain type of dog was the Selkirk of the dog world (a derogatory remark)--she asked the judge why some judges don't like Selkirks and the judge told her they are dirty and smell. She asked --all of them? and the judge said yes and another judge concurred. ( Names with held)

After hearing this I almost did not put my Selkirks in either of their rings, but decided the only thing I can do, isto keep putting my clean well groomed Selkirks in their faces. In Wayne Trevathanes ring, I was surprized he did not make a face like I have seen him do gefore while judging my cats. He seemed to actually like the calico. Now ,I was in complete shook when I heard her number called for his final. He gave her Best Shorthair ch and 3rd best Allbreed ch. When he pulled her out , he announced this was the first Selkirk he had ever finaled and about how clean she was. Then he went on to say, how he felt she fit the standard--especially her head, eyes and muzzle. Sure made me proud! Also happy to have perhaps made a step forward for the breed with a judge that had his mind set that ALL Selkirks are dirty and smelly. Apparently this opinion of the breed is pretty widespread--how did this reputation get to be?

Later,

Michelle

I am very proud of Michelle Kirby of Roustabout cattery. These are kittens of her own breeding. She is somewhat of a newbee but a very serious breeder/shower. Her shock of hearing the dirty cat comments , and my shock to hear such talk at this place in time when I had believed that our Selkirk Rex were well persented all around.

Maybe I am wrong, it seems that Wayne Trevathan did final "Splendor" at least once.

Back now to completing the grooming article.