Grooming Tips

Grooming Tips: American Curl

After 15 years of experimenting with every shampoo and grooming regime, endeavoring to enhance the silkiness and shine indicative of the Curl coat, the following procedure has proven very successful on every color.

MUST Products needed:
1. E-Z GROOM CRYSTAL WHITE Shampoo-Use CRYSTAL GOLD for red or brown coats- Order from: E-Z GROOM.com  800-777-5899 
2. GOOP hand cleaner in a plastic tub from grocery store.
3. SHOWER TO SHOWER talc or Corn Starch powder to sprinkle liberally on tail fur packing it down to the skin the night before bath.
4. For ear cleaning prior and after bath, use Epi-otic non-oily ear cleaner. Put on Q-Tips first and then gently clean the outer ear canal and furrows. Very important since the ears get scrutinized so closely. DO NOT PULL ON EAR CARTILAGE or put any liquids into the ears and avoid getting water into them. Item #86-013   $7.49  www.revivalanimal.com
5. Q-Tips and pointy-ended make-up applicators called Eye Tees by Fran Wilson.       CosmeticMall.com
6. Oil of Orchid A MUST conditioning cream rinse from  www.cherrybrook.com item #03-367 ph 800-423-8211
7. Waterpik Shower Massage to use on powerful spray as Curlie will tolerate it. Get an extra long hose if bathing in tub.
8. DAWN blue dish washing liquid.
9. Toothbrush
10. Bio-Groom Super White Shampoo for whitening white areas the step before Crystal White Shampoo application   Item#700211 $4.49 www.KVVet.com
11. Johnson's Baby Shampoo (diluted for face washing)
12. 12 oz. Plastic Tumbler
13.  SUPER DUCK DRYER www.dog.com  #191701   $49.97

Bathe where the best water pressure is in the house. If you don't have a large sink with a sprayer hose, use the bathtub with a Waterpic adjustable nozzle and an eight-foot long hose. Put Curlie on a small wooden secure stool or carrier (when on the road.) Prior to bath, clean ears, clip nails. Trim any protruding long hairs from the chin; trim outer corners of top eyelashes to enhance walnut shape with short straight nose-hair scissors. Not curved.  KV Vet Item #82835 $5.49

READY TO BEGIN

On dry coat, use Goop working it well into the body coat, especially the tail and behind the ears. Use the toothbrush for the paws, behind ears and tail getting all the way down to the skin. Adding more water, Goop through entire cat and underneath belly. RINSE OUT WELL until squeaky. Squeeze Dawn directly on coat and tail using toothbrush behind ears and down to skin deep on the tail. Lather. RINSE OUT WELL. REPEAT the Dawn bath and rinse... Now pour 2 inches of Crystal White into tumbler and add VERY HOT water to half fill the tumbler. Mix. IMPORTANT to use as hot as possible. Slowly pour onto coat. Work into lather. Let stay on for 3-5 minutes. RINSE FOREVER AND UNTIL SQUEAKY. Now, use a TEENINCY SMUDGE of Oil of Orchid Conditioning Treatment rubbed onto your palms just so palms feel slippery. Work into back and sides so fur sits up spiky. NOT TOO MUCH. NEVER put conditioner on the tail, head or behind the ears.  Count to 50 while working into coat. Makes the coat very silky with minimal static. RINSE LIKE FOREVER UNTIL SQUEAKY. End of bath. Ready for grooming table.

Squeeze out excess water with big clean towels. Dry in an area free of other cats and no drafts. Place a towel on a grooming table. Hand dry using a Super Duck blow dryer on medium heat, hi blowing. Use fingers to separate fur for a few minutes. Using a medium metal comb, blow dry tail first. The tail gets blow dried with a medium fine comb gently separating the fine fur in opposite direction. Never pull. This all takes about 30 minutes from towel to dry. Then play with Curlie 5 minutes in a clean dry area to air dry. This “sets” the coat and helps prevent licking in hair licks or lying on the coat funny right after the bath. Then cage Curlie to keep out of trouble until the next morning, giving only dry food and water to prevent wet food mishaps. Give another bath on Saturday night if Curlie doesn't look perfect in the ring. Also the more you give a show shampoo the better they look. Give a Goop and Dawn bath a week before the Friday show bath when not shown for a while.

TOOLS FOR SHOW HALL PRESENTATION:

SATURDAY and SUNDAY before ring call, spray DAILY CARE  leave in detangler by Joico (formerly INTEGRITY) available from beauty supply houses or some drug stores. Mist over body, stomach and tail. One spray each. Leave in 3 minutes and let dry. Then comb.

Fine metal comb around head and chest Medium metal comb body, tail and belly fur. Small natural bristle brush for tail optional. Use a clean, dampened washcloth for face cleaning prior to EVERY ring. Water dish filled with water to moisten Q-Tips for eyes, nose and face cleaning prior to EVERY ring. NEVER use your fingernail to clean eyes or nose.... Blow on the fur in the opposite direction when combing to separate fur.

 For quick help on stud tails in the hotel room use Shower to Shower powder. Brush out with bristle brush and a blow dryer prior to leaving for show hall Sunday. NEVER put powder on coat anywhere else on body, it just makes it worse. Use white grooming powder on a Q-Tip gently on chin and across nose if white areas. Pink the nose with a wet Q-Tip for that healthy glow just before going to the ring. Now you should be ready to compete with confidence. GOOD LUCK! Curlie will look great! Always reward with baby food on a spoon before and after show ring. Stay calm as Curls will pick up on stress--- and have fun!!

By Caroline Scott
CFA American Curl Breed Council Secretary

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