Brushing is very important to help keep your cat's coat healthy and
to limit the amount of hairballs due to self-grooming. Cats have very
sensitive skin, though, so it's not unusual for them to react
negatively to being brushed.
First, make sure you're using the right type of brush for your cat.
If you have any doubts, ask your veterinarian or a professional
groomer. Then, go over your grooming technique. There are parts of a
cat's body that are very sensitive, such as the flanks, across the
backbone, and the stomach. Don't start out brushing in a sensitive
area. Begin by gently brushing in a spot that the cat enjoys, such as
right behind the ears. Make your brushing technique an extension of
petting. Just do a couple of strokes, offer your cat a treat or some
praise, and then end the session.
Make each grooming session very short so it ends before the cat has
time to realize what you've been doing. Gradually you can increase the
time of the sessions as your kitty gets used to the procedure, but
still keep them short. Whenever you have to brush in a more sensitive
area, do one or two strokes, and then go back to a favorite spot, such
as behind the head.
It's also important to watch your cat's body language. Before she
tries to bite the brush, she may be giving off other signals to
indicate that she's reaching her tolerance threshold. Signs of
increased agitation can include tail-lashing, skin twitching, looking
back at the brush, ears rotated back and shifting body position. When
you see these signs, stop the grooming session.
