glossy coats

Ever since Slinky first became my cat, her fur became nicer and deliciously smooth to stroke, which was one of the visible benefits of her diet; prior to that she was basically eating regular stray cat food.

Apart from grooming them once a week (or fortnightly if we are busy) we try to stroke them often, as shorthair cats benefit from what is called 'hand grooming'. This removes dead fur as well as buffs the coat, much the way our leather wallets get more shiny with use. We don't bathe our cats too often, perhaps once in a month on average, since they don't get very dirty.

Our two main shampoos are Avoderm and Hobo.

Avoderm Natural Skin and Coat Shampoo for both cats and dogs

AvoDerm Natural Skin & Coat Shampoo for dogs and cats is a penetrating therapeutic shampoo formulated to help relieve scratching and itching caused by dry skin. AvoDerm Natural Skin & Coat Shampoo is formulated with real avocado oil, nature's own remedy for dry irritated skin. AvoDerm Natural Skin & Coat Shampoo helps renew the oils your dog's coat needs to stay shiny and healthy year-round.

I actually bought this in a pinch because there was no cat shampoo in the shop I passed by (along Upper East Coast Road near Siglap) so this one was the only one I could get at the time.

I like the fact that it contains avocado oil; oils are good for coat health and shine. It smells like regular shampoo, nothing exceptionally fragrant.

The other shampoo we use whenever we need to safeguard against fleas - for any of our cats that come into contact with stray cats, or for stray cats that we sometimes shower when they are dirty: Hobo Flea and Tick Shampoo for all cats.

It uses pyrethrins, which is a herbal insecticide harvested from a particular breed of chrysanthemum flowers. I like the fact that it is organic and it does not use chemicals, meaning it is safe for your hands when you are showering your cats. For intensive flea treatments we soak our cats in a tub of water filled with the shampoo. After that when we drain the tub we will find the dead fleas and scabs in the water. It is not as effective as Frontline for flea treatment but it is a good in-between treatment since Frontline is an intensive, and expensive, treatment for fleas and ticks.

Besides shampooing and brushing their coats, I have also been thinking about other ways to buff their lovely coats into shiny glossy salon standards. Apart from buying a conditioner for them, there are other homemade solutions for buffing short haired cats, using items you can find around the house or bought from various non-pet-shop stores.

• Leather
• Silk cloth
• Coconut husks
• Olive oil
• Baby oil

So far, the only item I have tried on them is olive oil, which I already have in the house for cooking. It really makes their coats shine and it is non-toxic. I used a few drops of olive oil, rubbed it between my hands and stroked their backs, and then tissued off excess. I probably won't use it too often though, to prevent oily paw prints around the house.

Our Avoderm is finishing soon, we will probably need to shop for another shampoo after the cats' next shower. The pets at Angels Pet Shop use mainly Earthbath, which smells really good - and they also have a creme conditioner. That will probably be our next buy.