Dogs vs. Cats: Who’s the Bigger Diva When It Comes to Grooming?

Ever wonder which pet reigns supreme when it comes to grooming drama — cats or dogs? If you have, you're not alone! It's a common debate about whether dogs or cats are the higher maintenance pets, and grooming considerations make up a large part of the argument for both sides.

Dogs often rely on regular grooming to keep their coats clean and healthy, while cats are typically self-sufficient — until they're not. In this blog, we'll cover the basics of grooming needs for dogs and cats, talk all about their specific needs, and once and for all determine who the real grooming divas are.

Grooming Dogs

The Basics

Unlike cats, who are natural self-groomers, many types of dogs rely on regular grooming from their owners or professionals to maintain a clean and healthy coat. Dogs aren't quite equipped with the right tools or anatomy to be effective at maintaining their coats or overall hygiene by themselves.

For dogs, owners will need to keep up with a number of grooming activities, including:

• Brushing, coat detangling, and de-shedding, if needed
• Bathing
• Hair trimming and styling
• Nail trimming
• Teeth brushing
• Ear cleaning
• Eye care and cleaning
• Anal gland expression
• Paw pad maintenance

Dog Coat Types

From short and tidy coats to long, luxurious locks, dogs can have a number of different coat types that influence just how brushing and hair maintenance, like cutting or de-shedding, they need. Dog coats include:

1. Smooth Coat: Dogs with smooth coats, like Beagles and Boxers, have short, close-lying fur that doesn't require much grooming.
2. Short Coat: Slightly longer than smooth coats, short coats are still low-maintenance but may need brushing. Labrador Retrievers are a great example of a breed with this coat type.
3. Long Coat: Just like the name suggests, these coats are made up of long, flowing fur that needs regular brushing to prevent tangles. Afghan Hounds and Shih Tzus show off these beautiful coats.
4. Wire Coat: Wire coats have a harsh, rough texture that often requires hand-stripping. Wire Fox Terriers and Schnauzers have this coat type.
5. Curly Coat: Poodles and Bichon Frise have these coats with dense, curly hair that needs regular trimming and brushing.
6. Double Coat: A soft undercoat with a coarser outer coat makes up the double coat. Breeds like Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds who have this coat are often seasonal shedders. These breeds tend to require more frequent bathing, whether by the owner or a professional. This can help manage the undercoat and reduce shedding.
7. Hairless: Another straightforward coat type – or lack of coat – hairless, is categorized by minimal hair, requiring skin care rather than fur grooming. Xoloitzcuintli (we prefer to just say Xolo!) and Chinese Crested dogs are most well known for their sparse fur and hairless bodies.

Now that we've covered what types of coats dogs can have, let's talk about which types of dogs can be the most high-maintenance. Generally speaking, doodles tend to be regarded as having the most high-maintenance coat among canines. The rationale for this opinion is primarily due to the amount of coat care needed between grooming sessions; however, the frequency and type of care between grooms varies depending on each doodle's coat type, lifestyle, and at home maintenance. Often, regular brushing is essential to prevent matting, and some doodles may require more frequent maintenance to keep their coat healthy and manageable.

The Challenges of Grooming Dogs

Most dogs are more than happy to sit down with their owner to be brushed, but nail maintenance is often another story. Nail trimming is often the most challenging grooming task when caring for dogs, but as many dog owners probably know, anything involving their feet can be tricky. Many dogs are sensitive about their paws, making tasks like trimming, paw pad maintenance, and handling more difficult.

If you've ever gotten a really bad haircut and have been hesitant to return to a barber shop, you'll understand the next challenge associated with dog grooming: trauma. Dogs can be traumatized after a grooming experience if whoever is completing the groom is forceful, aggressive, and generally non-responsive to indications of fear, stress, and anxiety. This can lead to increased fear and even aggression during future grooms, making grooming unnecessarily stressful for everyone involved. One of the biggest difficulties is when an owner starts grooming their dog later in life rather than as a puppy; this may cause the dog to be more resistant to the process and less comfortable handling it.

Some dogs are naturally nervous about dryers, especially the high-velocity ones used by groomers. The noise and strong airflow can be overwhelming, but for certain breeds, professional drying is essential. Double-coated dogs like Huskies and Golden Retrievers need a high-velocity dryer to break up their coat and remove trapped undercoat, while curly breeds like Poodles rely on proper drying to prevent tangles. Letting moisture sit in thick fur can lead to skin issues, so drying isn’t just about looks—it’s about health, too!

Grooming Cats

The Basics

Typically, cats are self-sufficient when it comes to grooming. A cat's anatomy makes them well-equipped for self-grooming; their rough, barbed tongue is made to remove hair, dead skin, and foreign bodies from their coat, and their natural flexibility allows them to bend and contort to get those hard-to-reach spots, like the back or the legs.

However, there are some circumstances where they can need a little extra help in the grooming department. If they become sick, obese, or elderly, they may struggle to groom themselves properly – that's where owners and groomers come in. Owners should always be on the lookout for a greasy coat, hair matting, urine or other stains on the fur, foul smell or body odor, and food particles on the face or whiskers after mealtime, as these are signs that your cat isn't grooming themself properly and needs your help to stay clean and healthy.

Cat Coat Types

You may already be familiar with a number of the different cat breeds and how they have unique appearances. But did you know that different types of cats can have different types of hair that can impact their grooming needs?

Common cat coat types include:

1. Short-Haired: These common coats are sleek and low-maintenance, requiring minimal brushing. The American Shorthair is a popular short-haired cat breed.
2. Long-Haired: Unlike short-haired cats, long-haired cats have luxurious and fluffy coats that need regular grooming to prevent mats. This coat type is seen in Persian and Maine Coon cats.
3. Medium-Haired: These coats can be between short and long, needing moderate grooming to maintain cleanliness.
4. Hairless: Cats within this distinction – like Sphynxes – have no fur and require regular bathing to manage oil buildup.
5. Curly Coat: Although rare, some breeds, like the Devon Rex, can have curly fur that needs gentle grooming.
6. Double Coat: The double coat is made up of a soft undercoat and protective topcoat, often seasonal shedders. Norwegian Forest Cats are great examples of cats with this coat type.
7. Silky Coat: These coats are made up of fine, smooth hair that lies flat against the body, and can be seen in Siamese cats.
8. Wire Coat: Wiry coats are known for their coarse, springy texture. This coat type is less common in cats but can be seen in breeds like the American Wirehair.

The Challenges of Grooming Cats

While cats usually do most of the work when it comes to grooming, the few things that owners need to help with can actually be quite challenging, depending on the specific cat. To start, most cats are not fond of their owner joining in on grooming sessions, as they are naturally independent animals that prefer minimal handling. Their powerful sense of autonomy can make any type of grooming – from nail trimming to brushing – a challenge, especially if they are not accustomed to it from an early age.

Some cats have more sensitive areas of their body (think belly!) or can feel overstimulated when being brushed, making it difficult to remove tangles or matting. This makes a gradual and early introduction to grooming so important for not only your cat's health, but also your relationship with them. When they're used to you helping out with grooming and know what to expect when it comes to the feeling of brushes and nail clippers, grooming sessions can be an opportunity for bonding instead of stress and trauma.

We can't talk about the challenges of grooming cats without talking about what is likely the most obvious one: bathing. Most cats do not like water, so bathing a cat can be a stressful experience for both the cat and owner, requiring patience and careful handling to ensure a positive bathtime experience. Slowly introducing your cat to water and having all of your supplies at the ready – treats included – does require extra time and effort, but is so worth it in the long run!

The Low Down on Professional Pet Grooming

For those of us who can't get their dog to sit still for brushing or don't have the patience to bathe their cat, there are thankfully professional groomers who know exactly what our pets need and how to do it in a safe and less stressful manner.

Grooming is typically recommended every 4-6 weeks, depending on the type of coat and/or how well the coat is maintained at home. Brushing between grooming sessions is important and should be tailored to a dog or cat's lifestyle, breed, and coat type. Regular bathing between grooms may also be beneficial, or in some cases, more frequent professional grooming may be necessary to keep their coat and skin healthy.

The benefits of professional grooming include maintaining a healthy, well-kept coat. However, the downside can be increased stress for pets with known medical conditions, as stress may exacerbate their condition.

Sedation can sometimes be necessary for grooming pets, especially if they experience severe anxiety, have a history of aggression, or have medical conditions that make handling stressful or unsafe. However, sedation should always be approached carefully and under the guidance of a veterinarian, as it can create a number of risks for the pet, including respiratory depression, allergic reactions, hypotension (low blood pressure), hypothermia, and prolonged recovery periods, especially in older pets or those with underlying health conditions.

Understanding the Tools of the Trade

Most grooming tools are similar for both cats and dogs, with the primary differences being the types of blades and brushes used and the choice of shampoo and conditioner.

Dog grooming tools vary by coat type: slicker brushes are ideal for long-haired dogs, while undercoat rakes remove loose fur in double-coated breeds. Cats need softer brushes, like silicone mitts or fine-toothed combs, to gently remove loose fur without irritation.

One major point about grooming tools that owners doing grooming themselves should be aware of is the difference in what's safe for dogs vs. what's safe for cats. Cats are more sensitive to some ingredients, so it's important to ensure that the products used are specifically safe for cats, as some ingredients that are fine for canines can be harmful to them. Flea treatments with permethrin, soaps with essential oils, whitening or color-enhancing shampoos, and dry shampoos formulated for dogs that sit on top of the coat can all be harmful to cats and create a wide variety of health issues – all while doing very little to improve their grooming.

Who Takes the Crown as the Biggest Grooming Diva?

While dogs require more owner-intervention for basic grooming needs and upkeep, cats actually take the crown as the bigger divas when it comes to grooming.

Cats are the divas that want to do it themselves, but that often creates even more work for owners, as a number of cats require sedation to reduce stress, as they often dislike loud noises near their face, being handled, and/or coming into contact with water – all essentials when it comes to grooming. Coupled with the need to find cat-safe soaps and shampoos, it's clear that our feline friends are a little more high-maintenance than their canine counterparts.

If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (214) 833-9821, or you can email us at info@hpanimalhospital.com. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram.