Cats Need More Than Just a Tongue Bath to Stay Clean!

Cats need more than just a tongue bath to stay clean!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more cat grooming and coat care! This information will give you information about the feline coat and skin and will give you a little better knowledge as to why mats occur and why self-grooming may not be enough for your furry feline.

COAT TYPE

Pet grooming needs are best determined by coat and breed type. Here at Iv San Bernard we carry only the finest Italian pet grooming products. Iv San Bernard products are formulated specially for short, medium and long-coated pets. All cat breeds (except for Cornish Rex) fall into the medium or "natural" coat category.

Cats are considered medium or natural coated, with the exception of the Cornish Rex which is a true feline short coat, and have one primary hair and between 12 to 24 secondary hairs in each follicle. The denser the coat, the softer the fur. Cats also absorb 30% more through their skin than we do and should not be shaved as it removes the animals’ first line of defense against toxins bacteria and pollutants. June 21 and December 21 are the peak shedding days of the year. Shedding starts at the back of the animal and continues to the front until the coat is ready for the new season.

COAT NEEDS

This type of coat needs vitamins and hydration through all the layers. The natural coat is wondrous in its ability to keep the animal cool and warm according to the environment. Each hair is attached to a muscle that will expand and contract giving the skin more or less ventilation as needed. These types of coats should never be shaved as shaving will disrupt the pet’s ability to regulate body temperature, leave the skin unprotected against UVA/B rays, remove the hairs essential to the maintenance of natural oils and leave the skin without a barrier against pollution, toxins and allergens.

©C & K Distributing, LLC - Iv San Bernard USA www.ivsanbernardus.com

COAT CARE

It is always best to keep this type of coat free of excess undercoat and mats so that the pet receives maximum protection therefore, maximum skin health. These products form a complete skin care regimen for the medium coated cat with no issues. Cats with skin conditions should see a veterinarian.

Iv San Bernard Banana Shampoo Iv San Bernard PEK Conditioner

Iv San Bernard Banana Conditioner

Iv San Bernard Eye Cleaner FOR DRY BATHS

Iv San Bernard Ear Cleaner Moussette

COAT BRUSHING

The best brushes for your feline friend are a slicker brush, a large (7in) and a small (4in) metal comb. Do you ever wonder why your cat starts to smell bad 1 or 2 days after a bath? This usually means that the natural oils that were shampooed away were not replaced by a conditioner and the sebaceous glands are overproducing to try and protect the delicate skin. This is the reason it is always best to use a conditioner or balsam after shampooing. This will keep the glands in the skin from overreacting and the cat will smell nice for an extended period of time.

©C & K Distributing, LLC - Iv San Bernard USA www.ivsanbernardus.com

HOW TO BATHE THE FELINE MEDIUM OR NATURAL COAT

Feline friends should be brushed before bathing to remove any excess hair and prepare the coat to receive the cleanser. Cats should be bathed with a quality shampoo and conditioner rather than relying only on the cats ability to lick. Otherwise the cat is basically ingesting all of the dirt, oil, pollution, and toxins that are left on the coat by the environment. Most cats can be bathed every 2 months. This is the proper interval in which to bathe your feline friend. Some cats for various reasons cannot be bathed this often or not at all as they have developed an aversion to the bathing process. For these kitties we have an optional dry bath solution. Using warm water wet your pet friend thoroughly and apply enough shampoo to lather.

Iv San Bernard Banana Shampoo can be diluted with clean water 1:5 in a clean squeeze bottle if it is more convenient. Massage the shampoo into the coat being careful not to go against the grain of the hair. This will stimulate the glands in the skin and cause them to overproduce oil that can make the pet even smellier. Always be sure to wash the belly, armpits and feet very well, these are places that have a greater number of oil producing glands. After the entire pet is lathered, let rest a minute or two then rinse well. Letting the shampoo rest allows it to do it's job preventing you from having to repeat the shampoo cycle.

Apply Iv San Bernard Banana Balsam to the entire coat at the ratio of 1:5. Be sure to apply balsam to the face (some cats will not tolerate this), belly and feet. If the skin and/or hair is very dry, you may mix a small amount of PEK (1 Tablespoon depending on how large your cat is) directly into the balsam before you put it on your cat. Let the balsam rest on the pet for a minute or two, using the slicker brush the balsam through the coat to loosen the shedding hair then rinse well.

Towel dry your pet friend making sure you do not go against the grain of the hair. When the cat is damp to dry, this is the perfect time to use the slicker brush and comb to remove tangles and loose undercoat with a 4 inch metal comb.

CLEANING THE EYES AND EARS

Use a cotton ball damp with eye cleaner to wipe your pets’ eyes.

Use a cotton ball damp with ear cleaner to wipe the folds inside the pets’ ears.

COAT MAINTENANCE BETWEEN GROOMS

We understand that some kitties do not like to get wet so we recommend using Iv San Bernard Moussette for difficult cats or for between grooms. Moussette is a dry foam shampoo which cleanses the coat and gives softness and shine. Instructions for use. Brush the coat first. Shake can before using. Massage foam onto cat’s hair and remove the remainder after 5 minutes with a clean, damp towel. Brush the coat again. Many cats find the soothing massage of the Moussette application very enjoyable.

Every few days the slicker brush or the metal comb can be used to brush dirt and dust from the coat and keep the oils spread throughout.

Nails should be clipped once every 3 to 4 weeks.

WHY IV SAN BERNARD PRODUCTS?

Iv San Bernard products improve the health of your cat’s skin and coat and can be used daily or weekly without stripping the natural oil away and are 90% biodegradable.

Questions? Call our product consultant at 855-464-8726 ext. 703.

www.ivsanbernardus.com

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