Essential Cat Grooming Tips for Australian Pet Owners

By Sophie Kininmonth · 23 Oct 2025 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·6 min read

Essential Cat Grooming Tips for Australian Pet Owners

Most cats do a lot of their own grooming, which is part of why they make such low-maintenance companions. Your job is smaller than you might expect: help with the parts they cannot manage well on their own, and keep an eye on the coat and skin so small problems get spotted early. The trick is to keep sessions short and calm, because a cat that hates being handled will remember every rushed mistake. This guide covers coat-by-coat brushing, bathing, nails, ears, eyes, teeth, shedding and hairballs for Australian homes, along with the moments when it is kinder to stop and involve your vet.^{1, 6}

Understanding your cat's coat

Coat length and texture set the grooming rhythm. Short coats tangle less but still shed. Long coats can mat close to the skin, where you will not see the problem until it has tightened. Some coats, especially very fine or dense ones, hold a lot of loose undercoat that needs regular removal.

Short-haired cats: usually cope with weekly brushing, with more frequent sessions during heavy shedding.^{1, 6}
Long-haired cats: often need frequent brushing to prevent mats forming, especially behind the legs, around the collar area, and along the belly.^{1, 6}

Age and health matter as much as coat type. Older cats, or cats with arthritis, may groom less effectively and often prefer softer tools and shorter sessions.¹

Basic grooming tools

You do not need a drawer full of gadgets. Start with two or three tools that feel gentle on skin and are easy to control.

Brush or grooming glove for removing loose hair, often enough on its own for short coats.¹
Comb for finding hidden tangles and working through thicker areas.³
Cat nail clippers, small, sharp and designed for claws.¹

Before buying, run the tool lightly over your own skin. Avoid anything that feels sharp, scratchy or grabby, because those tools tend to scrape a cat's skin and sour the whole routine.¹

Brushing: frequency and technique

How often to brush

Use coat type as a starting point, then adjust for the season and your cat's tolerance.

Short-haired cats: about once a week, more if you are seeing loose fur drifting around the house.¹
Long-haired cats: frequent brushing is usually needed to stop mats forming, and many cats do best with small daily sessions rather than one long weekly one.^{1, 6}

How to brush without a fight

Work with the direction of the coat. Start with the head and shoulders, then move down the back and sides. Keep pressure light, especially on the belly, armpits and behind the legs.

Keep sessions short. A few calm minutes is more useful than wrestling through ten.¹
Let your cat set the pace. If they tense up, swish the tail, or try to leave, stop and try again later.¹
If you hit a knot, do not yank. Tease it gently with your fingers or a comb, working from the ends of the tangle back towards the skin.⁶

Mats: what not to do at home

Severe mats can sit tight against the skin. Trying to cut them out with scissors is risky, because cat skin can be pulled into the mat and sliced before you realise.¹

If the coat is heavily matted, contact your vet. Clipping may need sedation for safety and to keep stress down.¹

Bathing your cat

Bathing is the exception, not the routine. Most cats keep themselves clean, so a bath is best kept for genuine need: sticky spills, strong odours, or a skin problem your vet is managing.¹

If you do bathe your cat, use warm water and a shampoo made for cats, and avoid getting water or shampoo into the eyes and ears. Have warm towels ready and keep them somewhere draught-free while they dry.¹

Prepare everything first: towels, shampoo and a non-slip surface.^{1, 7}
Keep the water at body temperature and work steadily rather than quickly.⁷
Use a damp cloth for the face rather than pouring water over the head.⁷

Nail clipping

Check nails regularly and trim as needed. Overgrown claws can snag, split, and in some cases curl towards the paw pad.¹

Choose a quiet time when your cat is already relaxed.¹
Use cat-specific nail clippers.¹
Press the toe pad gently so the claw extends.
Trim only the sharp tip and avoid the quick, the pink area containing blood vessels.¹
Finish early if your cat starts to struggle. One or two claws today is still progress.

Scratching posts help cats shed old claw layers and stretch, but they do not always replace trimming, especially for indoor cats.¹

Ear and eye care

Healthy ears are usually low-maintenance. If you are cleaning them, use a vet-recommended ear cleaner and wipe only what you can see with cotton wool or a soft pad. Keep cotton buds out of the ear canal.²

For eyes, wipe away small amounts of discharge with a damp cotton pad, using a fresh pad for each eye to reduce cross-contamination.

See your vet promptly if you notice redness, swelling, a strong odour, persistent discharge, cloudiness, or your cat rubbing at the face more than usual.

Dental hygiene

Dental disease is common in cats, and home care makes a real difference. Tooth brushing is considered the gold standard for plaque control, but it needs to be introduced gradually and kept calm.^{8, 10}

Only use toothpaste made for cats. Human toothpaste can be harmful if swallowed.^{2, 4}

Start by letting your cat lick a small amount of pet toothpaste off your finger, then progress to a finger brush or soft brush once they are comfortable.^{2, 4}
Aim for frequent brushing. Daily is ideal, and less frequent brushing tends to offer less protection over time.^{9, 10}
If brushing is not tolerated, ask your vet about alternatives, including dental diets, water additives, gels and treats that have evidence behind them.^{4, 8}

When choosing dental products, look for options listed by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), which reviews data submitted for plaque and tartar control claims.⁸

Dealing with shedding

Shedding is normal. Indoor cats can shed year-round, while others shed more heavily at certain times. Regular brushing removes loose hair before it ends up on the furniture, or inside your cat during self-grooming.^{1, 6}

Contact your vet if you notice bald patches, inflamed skin, excessive dandruff, constant scratching, or a sudden change in shedding. Skin disease, parasites, stress and pain can all change coat condition.

Hairballs

Hairballs form when cats swallow loose hair while grooming. Regular brushing helps by reducing how much hair is swallowed, which can cut down on hairball frequency.^{1, 5}

An occasional hairball can be normal. If hairballs are frequent, increasing, or your cat seems unwell (repeated vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, lethargy), speak with your vet. Large clumps of hair can contribute to intestinal blockage, which is an emergency.⁵

The bottom line

The best grooming routine is small, regular and kind. Brush little and often, trim just the tips, and stop before your cat feels trapped. Over time it becomes less of a task and more like quiet maintenance, one steady ritual that keeps the coat clean, the skin visible, and small problems noticed early.¹

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.