In the first of her articles for the News Shopper, Rebecca Ford discusses the best ways to keep your cat looking purr-fect.

Cats are very clean animals. They are able to maintain themselves independently, often requiring minimal effort from the owner. This is part of the reason they are now the most popular pet to own in the UK.

However, a cat will need a helping hand with its grooming throughout its life. You may already be grooming your cat regularly to help it keep up a good appearance, but did you know that this is also beneficial to your cat's health?

The science bit ...

The removal of dead hair from the coat prompts new hair growth by stimulating that part of the hair growth cycle called anagen. Anagen is the active production of the hair follicle. When one hair is taken away, another one starts to replace it straight away.

The coat is made up of different layers of hair. Guard hairs make up the outer coat. These hairs are thick, long and waterproof. Underneath are the wool hairs. These are softer, thinner and more numerous.

When winter sets in and days become shorter and darker, more of the wool hairs are grown for insulation. In the spring, it is the extra wool hairs that are shed to allow for air to circulate and for the animal to keep cool.

Ideally, animals should only shed their coat in spring and autumn, but due to both electric lighting and central heating disturbing the cycle, they can shed all year round.

The medical bit ...

Grooming can help spot skin problems. The build-up of dead hair can become uncomfortable for a cat since it starts to form mats. When this happens it is very easy for dirt to gather in the coat which can then cause irritation to the skin.

Grooming can help with the early detection of fleas, spotting areas of inflammed skin, minor skin wounds and even an abscess. Grooming a cat also reduces the risk of hairballs.

How to do it ...

Lastly, how to groom your pet. We have to try and mimic a cat's tongue, which has backward facing papillae' (these are what feels rough when a cat licks you).

There are different types of brushes you can use. A slicker brush will remove loose hairs, while a natural bristle brush will take out the dirt embedded deep in the coat. A finer comb will groom long hair and can also be used to break down small mats.

Using a variety of brush types may be the best way.

You should brush along the lie of the hair, and in the places hardest for the cat to reach such as under the chin and the back of the neck.

It is important to start grooming at an early age so that the cat gets used to it. This is especially true for longhaired breeds in which grooming should be a part of their daily care routine.

Begin the grooming process when they are still kittens, and reward them for sitting still and being calm when doing so. This will lead to fewer problems as they grow older and you will be able to groom regularly with no hassles.

In elderly and sick cats grooming is invaluable, as they may not be able to groom themselves.

As well as having a clean and healthy cat you will also build a bond between you and your pet that will last a lifetime.