Long haired moggy with matting problem

GlynD

We have a 10 year old long haired tortie. She has been at the vets in April for matt removal under anasthetic. They didn't do a very good job and I'm reluctant to bring her back again because I don't like the use of anasthetic at her age. She's typically tortie in that every touch of her beautiful persian fur is rationed and she'll have the hand of anyone who touches her when she doesn't want it. She needs to have these matts removed however. They're getting worse and I'm worried about the effect it'll be having on her skin.

Has anyone else had this problem and, if so, how did you deal with it?

Should I just take her and hold her firmly and shave the matts off and risk the resultant huffing?

That's her in my avatar btw.

paddypaws101

Is there a professional cat groomer in you area at all? They are normally far better than a vet at dealing with these situations.

GlynD

Can't find one Paddy. We have looked. One of our main criteria is reducing the stress she feels at being put in the pet carrier and transported miles (we live rurally). She hates the pet carrier and she hates the car and gets very distressed. My thinking was that a bit of anger and huffing at home was less of a distress to her than putting her through the car/vet ordeal.

bagginslover

Can she be bribed to allow you to groom her? She really needs to get used to being groomed, fast as she needs it daily really. Personally I'd just hold her down and get on with it, have her favorite treat ready ready for straight afterwards, and start with just a few minutes at a time, building up til she is Matt free, and can be maintained daily.

I suppose your other option is to keep her hair short, it would upset her less, and would need less grooming.

GlynD

bagginslover wrote: »

Can she be bribed to allow you to groom her? She really needs to get used to being groomed, fast as she needs it daily really. Personally I'd just hold her down and get on with it, have her favorite treat ready ready for straight afterwards, and start with just a few minutes at a time, building up til she is Matt free, and can be maintained daily.

I suppose your other option is to keep her hair short, it would upset her less, and would need less grooming.

No chance of bribing her. This is a girl who is set in her ways. She'll be a right crosspatch. Grooming is out to be honest, this is a job for an electric clipper. A shorter experience and less stressful that going at her with a matt-buster.

I have considered having her fur clipped shorter but she is so beautiful as you can see, it wouldn't be fair.

peachyprice

Can you just cut the clumps out yourself a little at a time? We had to do this to our short haired ginger when he stopped cleaning his haunches. I used to just cut a little bit every day until the matts were gone.

GlynD

I've tried that Peachy, wearing a pair of heavy gloves. It's so bad now that it's not worth continually putting her through the same stress. She's the type of cat that if you annoy her in her favourite resting place of the moment she'll not go back to it. At the moment she kips on a high shelf in a wardrobe. Hence we'll have to manhandle her if we want to groom her.

peachyprice

Ah, that's a shame, don't know what else to suggest.

My aunt has THE most beautiful longhaired silver tabby, she is also THE most spiteful little madam I've ever met. She has to take her to the vet to have her clipped, they do it really short but leave the feet, head and tail, you can't help but laugh at the poor thing, she really looks awful.

Maybe there's another vet in your area with better experience of dealing with long haireds?

GlynD

peachyprice wrote: »

Ah, that's a shame, don't know what else to suggest.

My aunt has THE most beautiful longhaired silver tabby, she is also THE most spiteful little madam I've ever met. She has to take her to the vet to have her clipped, they do it really short but leave the feet, head and tail, you can't help but laugh at the poor thing, she really looks awful.

Maybe there's another vet in your area with better experience of dealing with long haireds?

The vet made a mistake last time. They were told to clip out the matts and comb her through completely. Somehow those intructions got convoluted into "minimal clipping and no comb through". In fairness to them they did not charge us but the opportunity has been missed in my opinion. I don't want to put her through that again so soon after.

bagginslover

You say it wouldn't be fair to clip her, but honestly, it's not fair to leave her as she is. If you don't want to put her through anaesthetic (and I don't blame you for that at all) and she cannot be groomed, clipping, and keeping it short is really your only option. Will you love her less with short fur? No, I'm sure you won't, and she'll be much happier.

GlynD

Baggins I'm 90% mind made up that I will get a neighbour to scruff her whilst I clip the matts off with an electric clipper. I was seeking opinions here as to whether or not I was being cruel or kind.