Advantages of Mobile Grooming for Elderly Cats
Cats are notorious for their constant grooming, but even the most fastidious cat will slow down in grooming as it ages, largely due to arthritis and loss of flexibility. Less frequent or less effective grooming might seem like it’s only am issue of some surface dirt and some excess fur, but it can become an health problem for both the pet and its family. Grooming a cat, especially a senior, is no easy task though. Just like in humans, elderly cats need special care as they get on in years.
Why Elderly Cats Need (Extra) Help With Grooming
All cats benefit from regular grooming to remove loose fur and dead skin cells. When an older cat grooms less frequently, the amount of fur that gets into their stomach increases. This can cause increased digestive issues. Another problem is the increased number of dead skin cells, which are a common allergen. Human family members can become extra sensitive to the increase in pet dander, making it difficult to care for their pet.
When cats get older and slow down, they also do less climbing and scratching, activities which naturally trim their nails. When their nails become too long, it makes walking, jumping, climbing, and balancing uncomfortable or even dangerous to the pet. Add to this possible issues of reduced flexibility due to joint pain and arthritis, and it starts to make sense that older cats sometimes need outside help keeping up appearances.
Advantages to Calling in Professionals
Even if your cat has been a regular visitor to your local groom shop and are used to being professionally groomed, there are additional advantages to using a professional mobile cat groomer when your pet gets older. As pets age, they often become less tolerant of travel and even a short car ride can cause significant stress. Elderly pets are more impacted by stress, and recover much more slowly. Reduced stress for the pet is the number one reason people call a mobile groomer as their kitty gets older.
Speed is another huge advantage. Since mobile pet groomers work on only one pet at a time they can complete the whole grooming process in about an hour — much more quickly than a typical groom shop visit. This reduces the amount of time your cat needs to endure an unfamiliar process and routine. When your pet is done, rather than having another stressful car ride, they are just a few steps away from the comfort and safety of home.
Most elderly cats, even those with long hair, can be kept in good shape with a monthly grooming appointment. Between professional groomings, you can help your cat out with daily brushing to keep the coat free of tangles, excess dirt and loose fur. Pet wipes (baby wipes) also come in handy for quick touch ups.