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Cats seem to do everything with a runway attitude, whether they're presenting you with a dead mouse or eating a bowl of tuna. Here's how to make your cat look even more regal.

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  Step 1: Brush coat

  Brush your cat’s coat in the direction that the fur naturally grows from head to tail. Though cats do clean themselves on a regular basis, a good brushing will help keep Kitty’s hair off your furniture and hairballs out of her stomach.

• Tip

  For short-haired cats, first brush them with a metal comb, then use your bristle or rubber brush to remove dead and loose hair.

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  Step 2: Brush legs & belly

  Brush the cat’s legs and belly, carefully untangling any knots you may find. You can use a pair of blunt scissors to cut out any difficult mats.

• Tip

  If your cat has fleas, brush her with a fine-toothed flea comb.

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  Step 3: Trim nails

  If your cat tends to scratch a lot, trim his or her nails every 2 to 6 weeks.

• Tip

  Never trim a cat’s whiskers—they’re one of the most sensitive parts of its body.

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  Step 4: Brush full body

  Now that you’ve untangled any problematic fur, give your cat another full-body brush. Then set her free and reward her with all the petting she can handle.

• Fact

  A cat’s whiskers are so sensitive that they can even detect changes in air pressure—meaning that Kitty can use them to feel her way in the dark.