Scratching posts: For healthy claws and intact furniture, a scratching post is essential. If you've been to pet stores and balk at the costs of many synthetic posts, a great natural alternative is a chunk of cut tree trunk, or any log that's taller and larger than your cat. Many cats prefer this to store-bought scratching posts: it comes from outside, it's natural, and it'll be more durable than a lot of flimsy and hollow posts you'll find in stores.

Dental care: Cats can suffer tooth and gum disease if their teeth aren't cared for. You should regularly check your cat's teeth by gently lifting up a lip and noting the color of the teeth. If they are yellow or visibly built up with tartar, it's time for a teeth cleaning. Don't attempt to clean your cat's teeth yourself. Let a veterinarian do it, since they have the proper tools and cleaning agents.

Diet and nutrition. Consult a cat care manual or your vet as to which cat food is best for your cat's diet, according to your cat's weight, age, and lifestyle. The proper food can help maintain a shiny coat and healthy teeth, as well as cut down on digestive problems.

2torial #0885: Learn2 Groom a Cat (continued)   Part 2: Bathe cat If you're doing a dry grooming (just a clip and a brush, please), skip this part and go to Part 3. In general, watch where you stick your hands. Avoid any facial cleaning. Cats usually won't accept any fiddling with that area. If your cat doesn't mind a face cleaning, you can proceed with caution--just consider how you'd want your own face cleaned. If you're trying to remove fleas, you can use a flea powder, but it's safer for your cat to use a flea shampoo formula along with a bath. See Part 3 for an even better flea-removal technique. Add water Prepare to get wet. It's going to be a messy experience, so prepare to get almost as wet as your cat. Wear old clothes or a bathing suit, and don't be afraid to climb into the tub with your cat. Avoid hovering over your cat however, because this'll make it more agitated. Stay calm. Whether in a plastic tub, sink, or bathtub, your cat won't be delighted with this. Be prepared for wide eyes and loud tortured-sounding meows. At all times, keep your movements slow, and your voice soft and gentle; your cat won't sense pandemonium and react badly. Wet your cat down. First, wet its coat down with lukewarm water. Don't pour a bucket over your cat or soak it through--that would be very unpleasant for your cat. Wet the coat gradually, using in a stroking motion; you'll give the impression you're also petting it. If you're also giving your cat a flea bath, follow the directions on the bottle of shampoo carefully. (Many flea shampoos require a period of waiting for the shampoo to soak in. If this is the case, it's likely your cat won't sit quietly and wait for the flea medication to soak in. Continue to lather and pet your cat, thereby keeping its mind off what is happening.) Lather and rinse Lather the fur. To begin, pour a capful of pet shampoo on its back. As you rub it in and create a lather, keep your movements linear instead of rubbing in all directions; your cat won't be familiar with that sort of petting pattern. Keep away from the face and ears at all times, but be sure to lather up its tail and legs. Rinse completely. After it's lathered up, you may have to wait a few minutes for the shampoo to set in, if the directions say so. Otherwise, rinse the fur in the same manner as the initial wetting with a little bit more water. Make absolutely sure you've rinsed out all of the shampoo. Even if the shampoo is organic or non-toxic, both the smell and the taste may make your cat sick. Do the drain maintenence. If you're using a bathtub or sink, don't forget to clean the cat hair out from the drain, especially if your cat is long-haired. Deposit it in the trash. Dry the cat This is the best part of the process, where you can cuddle your pet as well as dry it off. Have a towel handy: Have a huge towel waiting for it after you're done with the water segment, and wrap it around your cat. Sit on the floor with it and gently rub its fur. Dry your cat thoroughly. If you don't spend sufficient time drying your cat, it'll have to lick itself dry; this can cause problems with hairballs. Don't be concerned when your cat licks itself for a while even after you release it; it's merely regaining its composure.   Part 3