Cats are equipped with the perfect grooming tool—their tongue. The rough surface removes dead hair, brushes out mats and tangles, and fluffs the coat. Cats spend a considerable amount of time grooming themselves, not only to keep their coat healthy, but also to regulate body temperature. By wetting the coat and allowing the saliva to evaporate, cats are able to cool their bodies.
However, this method of grooming has some disadvantages. When a cat licks himself, he swallows hairs, which can accumulate in the stomach. From time to time, a cat regurgitates this mass in the form of a hairball. Sometimes the hair is not regurgitated and passes into the intestines creating a potentially dangerous blockage.
The best way to avoid these problems is to brush your cat regularly to remove dead hairs (so that he will not swallow them) and mats, which can cause irritation and itching. Cats also appreciate a gentle massage, which improves the coat and muscle tone.
A cat's hair is quite complex. One to six awn hairs grow out of one follicle. These crimped or rippled hairs are surrounded by longer straight (or curly in breeds such as the Devon Rex) guard hairs. An arrector pili muscle is attached to each follicle. When this muscle contracts, the primary (guard) hair stands erect. Cats raise their hair when they are afraid, angry, or are trying to intimidate an adversary. However, they may also keep warm by fluffing out their coat and creating a layer of insulating air.
The various breeds have differing grooming requirements. The same methods are not used for a Turkish Angora and an Abyssinian, or a Devon Rex and a Maine Coon Cat.
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