Although most cats do a credible job when it comes to keeping themselves well-groomed -- better than a great many humans, in fact -- even the most proficient can use a little help on a regular basis. For some cats, help's not really an option: Cats with long, silky coats or those who are old or ill need help to keep everything just so.

Introduce combing, brushing, claw-trimming and bathing into your cat's routine slowly, building up his tolerance over time. Watch for early signs of annoyance while you work with him, and call it a day when you see them. The tail provides the clues: Rapid flicking is the sign of a cat who has just about had enough. Don't push further: You could get scratched or bitten.

Start your cat's grooming regimen with combing and brushing. For short-haired cats, all you need is to run a fine-toothed comb through his coat to collect any stray hairs and then brush to bring out the gloss. For shorthairs, bathing is a judgment call: If someone in your home is allergic to cats, rinsing your pet weekly will help; otherwise, you can move on to nail-trimming.

Long-haired cats need a little more attention. Part the coat in sections and gently comb through all the tangles. For mats, work a little cornstarch in and tease them out. The worst mats will have to be sliced through with scissors or even cut out. If your cat is nothing but mats, the kinder course is to have a groomer shave him down. Some longhairs have problems with mats under their tails and between their legs, allowing litter, urine and feces to collect there. Keeping the coat trimmed short in these areas will solve this problem.

No matter what your cat thinks, bathing won't kill him -- or you either, for that matter. A kitchen sink with a spray nozzle is easiest on your cat and your back. Flea shampoos meant for dogs can be dangerous for your cat, so use a product designed only for cats. A towel or a small window screen in the bottom of the sink will give your cat something to sink his claws into -- besides you, that is -- and make him feel more secure.

Take a firm hold on your cat at the scruff of his neck and ease him into an empty sink. Hold the nozzle close -- cats don't like to be sprayed -- and wet him down thoroughly with warm water. Lather him up, then rinse thoroughly and follow with a cream rinse or detangler if your cat has long, silky hair. Towel him gently dry and then let your cat stalk off haughtily -- he's earned it. Keep him where it's warm until he's completely dry.

Now, what about those claws?

Trimmers come in either guillotine- or scissor-type, and it really doesn't matter which you use. You'll need one other thing, though: Kwik-Stop powder, which will stop any bleeding should you accidentally nick the vein inside the claw. Press gently on the paw to expose the claw, and look for the pink vein in the center. Cut just beyond the pink line, or, if you can't really tell where it is, cut just the hook of the claw away. As always, be aware of your cat's body language: If one claw is all he'll tolerate, try another tomorrow.

Follow every grooming session with praise, play or treats. If you're consistently positive and patient, your cat will soon learn to tolerate -- or even enjoy -- your grooming time together.

PETS ON THE WEB: Breed rescue is a national grassroots effort by responsible breeders and others fanciers of purebred dogs to give homeless purebreds another chance. If you have your heart set on a particular breed of dog, you can find some wonderful pets by contacting volunteers who work to rescue, foster and place that breed. Most dogs are spayed or neutered and current on their vaccinations when offered for adoption, and the cost is usually just enough to cover the expenses of those procedures. To find out more about breed rescue, visit the American Kennel Club's Web site (http://www.akc.org), and check out their National Breed Club Rescue Network, with the names and phone numbers of contacts for each of the AKC's nearly 150 breeds.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

You can lose yourself in the fur of a cat. Warm under your fingers, glossy-sleek to your eyes, a cat's fur can relax you, make you smile and ease the strain of a hard day. In so many lovely combinations of color and pattern, of texture and length, the coats of our cats are an inspiration to those who appreciate the gifts of nature: a supple pelt covering a body that is itself a perfect picture of symmetry, power and grace.

For a cat, a coat may seem a source of pride, but it's really much more. A healthy coat of fur can protect her from the elements and hide her from both predator and prey. Instinctively, she knows the importance of each hair and spends a great deal of her time in a ritual as old as cats themselves, pulling dead hair free along with the dust from her rambles, restoring order and shine with her marvelously adapted tongue, as rough as sandpaper and handier than any comb.

Considering how much time your cat spends grooming, do you really even need to be involved in the process? Yes! Taking care of your cat's coat -- as well as her claws -- keeps her healthier, makes her easier to live with, and strengthens the bond between you.

Although many long-haired cats must have some help with their grooming, any cat can benefit from human intervention. Even if your cat isn't a high-maintenance type with silky, long hair, helping with grooming offers some benefits to you, as well:

-- Shedding. The fur you catch on comb or brush doesn't end up on your sofa cushions, sweater, or the cream cheese on your bagel in the morning.

-- Smell. Most cats are fairly fastidious, but some cats, especially unneutered males, can be a little offensive from time to time. Longhairs can get urine and feces in their fur, which can be uncomfortable -- and unhealthy -- for you both.

-- Hairballs. This is more of a problem in long-haired cats than short, but no one likes listening to a gagging cat, and stepping on a coughed-up mass in bare feet is even less appealing. Regular grooming by you keeps the volume of fur swallowed by your cat to the utmost minimum, and that means fewer hairballs on your rugs.

-- Bonding. Although your cat may not like you getting involved in grooming at first, if you're persistent, especially with the praise, your cat eventually comes to enjoy the time you spend together at this important task.

-- Destructiveness. Keeping your cat's claws trimmed reduces the need to scratch, because one of the reasons cats claw is to remove the worn outer casings of the nails.

-- Money. Good grooming saves you money in more than one way. By reducing your cat's need to scratch by keeping claws in good shape, you save money on replacing or repairing things. Grooming is also part of a preventive-care regimen: Paying attention to your pet's body not only helps avoid some health problems, but it also helps you detect signs of illness early, which is better for both your wallet and your pet.

-- Allergies. Studies have shown that good grooming, including regular baths, can help allergy sufferers cope with their pets. Some cats have allergies, too, such as to flea bites, and your attention to grooming makes your cat's life more comfortable.

Convinced? Next week I'll offer tips on combing, brushing, nail-trimming and even bathing -- yes, bathing! -- your cat.

CYBERLINKS: Border collies are the undisputed geniuses of the canine world, dogs so smart they could practically do your taxes. Many longtime border collie fanciers think the intelligent, active breed is too high-powered for most families, though, and in the last few years they've fought popularization, fearing an eventual "dumbing down" of the breed will result. The U.S. Border Collie Club's site (http://www.bordercollie.org) is packed with information on this honest working dog. The best part: a collection of excerpts from books by Donald McCaig, one of the best writers on dogs and country living around.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

Open your wallet: It's time for a pet-friendly pop quiz.

Driver's license, credit cards, pictures, money, an appointment card from your dentist, a dry-cleaning receipt, a frequent buyer card or two -- do you know what's missing?

Mary Randolph does.

You should have something in your wallet detailing who's to care for your pets if you suddenly cannot, says the attorney and author of "Dog Law" (Nolo Press; $14.95), a modestly priced book now in its third revision and still one of the best additions to any pet-lover's library.

"It's like a Medic Alert card," she says of the importance of having information on your pets in your wallet at all times. "It should say: 'Attention: I have these animals at home. Please call this person to take care of them.'"

Randolph points out that if you were in an accident or became suddenly and seriously ill, no one may even realize you have pets. "Your pets may be alone for who knows how long," she says. "Maybe your neighbors don't know where you are, maybe your family lives far away. And if you should die and you haven't lined up care, your pets may end up in the shelter after they're found."

Which brings up the point of whose name should be in your wallet. How do you set up care for your pets, especially after you're gone?

"What I tell people is not to worry so much about the legal part but instead concentrate on the practical part," says Randolph. "Think of the person, not the animal. Prepare that person to care for your pet, let them know who your veterinarian is, what your animals eat, what kind of medicines they take. Write it all down beforehand and go over it. You do not want this to be a surprise."

Many people think they can leave money to their pets, but Randolph says the law really offers very little protection for animals after their owners die. "Animals can't own property," she says, explaining that in the eyes of the law animals are little more than property themselves. "A few states allow honorary trusts for pets, and allow you to appoint a trustee who will be in charge of the money.

"The problem with that is that it might give the person a false sense of security, even though a dog can't go to court to enforce the trust."

Trust of another variety is the key. "Pick the person, leave them the animals and enough money to provide for care, and then trust them to take care of your animals."

And what if you haven't anyone who can take on this important job for you? Check with local humane society, says Randolph.

"Shelters are trying to address this real need." The San Francisco SPCA, she says, has a policy that no member's pet will lack for a home after an owner dies. A couple of veterinary schools -- the one at Purdue among them -- offer lifelong care, although the suggested $25,000 donation puts the program out of reach for many.

Randolph finds the changes encouraging, and believes they're indicative of a more pet-friendly legal environment. "There used to be only one or two states that allowed trusts, and now there are more. It shows some concern: Someone had to lobby for these bills to go through.

"As the population ages, this is a more common concern for people," she adds.

Providing for pets in case of illness, accident or death is just one small part of this important book, which also covers animal-control regulations, landlord-tenant law, wrongful death of a pet, cruelty statutes, veterinary malpractice, and problems with other people's dogs, such as noise and aggression. Although it focuses on dogs, much of the information applies to other animals as well.

CYBERLINKS: The Nolo Press Web site (http://www.nolo.com) offers a taste of what's in "Dog Law," with articles written by Mary Randolph that cover many aspects of the law as it applies to animals. If you're thinking of getting a puppy, "When a Dog Is a Lemon" is a must-read, covering your legal recourse if you end up with a sick dog and offering solid advice on how to avoid problems in the first place.

Gina Spadafori, the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," is affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600