Conference misery::feline_v1

    I had that problem when I got Pip. The groomer shaved her down and
    suggested that every night I make a point of combing her, even though
    there was very little fur there and keep doing it while the fur
    is growing in. This makes the cat think of grooming as a pleasurable
    experience, not something painful. Also, Pip goes to the "beauty
    parlor" every 6 to 8 weeks, even though it is mostly for form's
    sake.

    By the way, I don't know where you live, but I get Pip groomed in
    Newton, MA for $7. 

    Deb

    Might be helpful to have the groomer trim the fur under the legs
    and along the belly for the winter.  Mats can start there easily
    and this would make it easier for you to maintain a mat-less cat
    after grooming.  
    
    The only real way to keep your cat mat free is to groom him daily
    so that mats have no chance to form.  There are a few other notes
    that offer grooming tips, I can't think of where they are but I
    am sure someone can point us in that direction.  There may be a
    keyword GROOM.
    
    When I bathe my long hairs I always use a conditioner on them. 
    I think it helps the after bath comb out and slicks the hair a bit
    so that it is more difficult for a mat to form.
    
    JO

    While my cat is short haired, she sheds and gets short mats just
    as though she were long haired.  She does not really like being
    groomed, but I give her a bonker AFTER grooming.  If she begs for
    one later, I might just give a couple passes through the fur with
    the comb just to let her know that she has been combed first.
    
    There is nothing wrong with her, but each and every day I get
    several combfulls of hair (actually I guess she is medium haired
    - since she had a longer outside coat that the inner layer).  Being
    as allergic as I am - this must be done daily.  If I forget, it
    is obvious.
    
    The point being to give some sort of treat that is associated with
    combing - AFTER the combing.  It seems that either the professional
    grooming to start you off or the close trimming and you maintain
    as it grows out would be best.   
    
    Good luck.  It is not much fun having a daily fight on your hands,
    but daily grooming also means lots less hair on the furniture as
    well as an unmatted cat!
    
    Cathy

    I use a 'detangler' (SP?) on my horses mane and tail , all I do
    is rub it into the hairs and comb through.  While wet w/ this stuff
    I can get out the worst tangles - for some reason he likes to roll,
    and roll ect. and he always has huge nots in his tail.  Anyways,
    after it dries, for about a week his mane and tail are no problem
    to groom and it looks shiney, but not greasy.  |Maybe it would work
    for detangling the longhaired cats.  It might be easier since you
    don't have to wash/wet them first.  my cat is short haired, so I
    wouldnt know if it would work, but it might.

    Hi--
    
    A change of diet can work wonders, too.
    
    I used to have my Billie groomed twice per year for the same
    reason--loads of mats, and she never liked me to brush her much.
    When I moved to a new town and then changed vets, the new vet had
    me try her on Feline Maintenance Science Diet, and wow!!  What a
    difference in her coat!  Grooming really does start from the inside
    out.  She hardly ever mats now, except for a few tiny ones.  Those
    I work on after I groom her (yes, she and I *both* learned to love
    it!)--get yourself a stitch-ripper at K-mart's and use that to loosen
    mats.  You put your fingers behind the mat (so that your fingers
    are protecting the cat's skin), and use the stitch-ripper to cut
    into the mat, or cut it loose.  Just start near your fingers and
    always work OUT away from the cat's body.
    
    Please let us know how you and Patrick do--it takes time to work
    with our kitties!
    
    Best of luck,
    
    Jane

    
    
    Don't use the horse "detangler", horses don't generally lick themselves

    The stuff contains silicon and probably doesn't "smooth the insides
    as well as the outsides" if you catch my drift.
    
        

    
    Kinda on the same subject...
    
    Mielikki, affectionately nicknamed Mieligrouch, becomes even more
    grouchy during the summer, especially on hot days.  She's indoor only,
    but I don't have air conditioning. I was wondering if anyone here has
    their long haired cat shaved down, maybe to an inch long, for the hot
    summer months.  Does it grow back for the winter?  Does the shaving
    process and resultant appearance cause undue stress to the cat?
    
    I have a feeling this is going to be a long hot summer and I want
    to make her as comfortable as possible and protect those who have
    to live with the grouch. ;-)
    
    Sharon
    

    Most persian breeders shave down their cats during the summer. 
    Maybe Cin Gerry can give you some info, I am not sure but I think
    she has shaved her's down on occasion.
    
    Jo

    I have a good friend who's a groomer.  I know she's told me about
    longhairs that have had to be shaved because they hadn't been groomed
    in too long. Its the only way to deal with the mats.
      Nancy DC

    The 1st of June I will be shaving Portia.  My vet will be doing
    it.  Since Portia goes outside, we have to be careful to leave enough
    hair on her so that she doesn't get sunburn or anything.  We will
    leave 1 - 1.5 inches of hair on her back and .5 - 1 inch of her
    hair everywhere else.  I don't know what we will be doing about
    her tail yet - we might just leave a pompom on the end ;^)
    
    We had to shave Portia's belly last August since she ran into a
    pickerball bush.  She looked a little funny for a couple months
    - looked like she had been spayed again.  But the hair grew back
    without problem.
    
    Portia did not appear to suffer any psychological trauma from the
    incident.
    
    

    I keep most of my persian cats shaved down during the summer, and
    some of them even during the winter....since they don't go outside
    I don't have to worry about them getting cold.
    
    I give them the Lion Cut, as Jo referred to.  That is, I shave down
    the entire back and belly area and most of the legs leaving little
    fuzzy feet and the ruff and tail.   Some of them get a little
    embarrassed the first day, but most of them really like it, especially
    on those hot summer days.
    
    The coat usually grows back in about 4 to 5 months.  One word of
    caution, if you have a pointed cat (siamese coloring) it is possible
    that the cat will grow back all the same color as the points.  This
    happened with a flame point of mine, and when she grew back she
    was solid red!!!  
    
    I own my own clippers and do it myself.  Most of the cats I have
    that hate to be groomed love being shaved!!!  
    
    cin
    

    My theory, she grew in solid red because the lack of fur lowered
    the body temperature across her back.  Same idea when an older pointed
    cat starts shading all over the body, poor circulation means less
    warmth across the body.
    
    BTW - maybe you could transfer her to the red class and start all
    over with her titles!
    
    Jo

    Thanks for all the info!
    
    re .11 in particular:
    
    You just leave the ruff (I assume you mean like a lion's mane) for
    looks, correct?  Do you think it adds much heat?  I know the neck
    is a sort of thermometer with humans, what about cats?
    
    I assume you have a special shaver from a grooming store, how much
    approx did it cost?  Is it difficult to learn how to do it?  I'd
    rather do it myself as Mielikki will probably eat the hands of
    the groomer and I don't need a lawsuit! 
    
    Sharon
    
    

    .. HMM.. Pookie gets groomed 3 times a day, and Happy.. wellllllll,,
    twice if she buys in.. both of them get their weekly bathes,daily
    daily stuff, face washed, eyes done, ears etc.., but every 6 weeks
    they go the groomer, and Happy believe it or not is quite
    well behaved.. according to the groomer, I had the groomer
    give her a trim last time, cuz she had been in one of those
    I WONT BE COMBED, I WILL SCREAM AND CRY MOODS, AND POUT, AND
    THEN I MAY BE EVEN GET SICK ON YOUR CARPET(most of the time we just
    look like we are going to be sick). My groomer tells me that
    she is not like Pookie , but she is well behaved, it just
    takes both of them to work with her, one to distract her , and the
    other to do the actual work.. :*))))).. Pookie gets into the
    tub all by herself, purrs the entire time, the groomer gets
    the biggest chuckle out of it...., so might want to
    try a groomer.. mine like it... and Happy has always reminded
    me of an owl.. noe with her little trim.. she looks like
    a cuddly EWOK.. Right Cin.. oh yeah before I forget..
    Pookies bow from the groomer always lasts until the next time..
    and when I groom her.. she DEMANDS that I put it back in..Happy
    well.. so far the record is 2- 2 1/2 days.. at best!!!! :*))))))
    Regards
    Kate

    I have an Oscar A5 (I think) Clipper.  It's the one that the vets
    and the groomers use.  It cost me about $80.00 wholesale from Breeders
    Pride.  That's with one #10 blade.  You can buy additional blades
    at about $12 each.  The #10 does okay, but if the cat is really
    matted, you need a different blade, either a #30 or surgical #40.
    
    It takes me about 15 minutes to shave them down.  Depending, of
    course, on their mood.  
    
    If you think you may want to keep him shaved down, buying the clipper
    might be worth the investment.  A groomer will probably charge you
    around $30 to clip one down for you depending on how matted he is.
    
    cin
    

    Mary -
    
    I took my cat to the groomers, he HATES to be groomed, and I hate to
    do it as he bites like crazy. I was very honest with the groomer
    and she said, "If we can't do him I will call you." His appointment
    was for 1pm by 2:30 I couldn't stand it any longer, so called and 
    the answer I got was, "He's been a angel." So much for Momma trying
    to groom him. He was beautiful when he came home. As matted as he
    was they did NOT shave him. Both the vet and the groomer told me if
    they shaved him it would change the color of his coat and what grew
    in would be darker. I didn't want that.
    
    Kate - you said, Happy looks like an EWOK, you must have a Himmalayian.
    That's exactly what we call our Ming, Ewok face. Some day I am going
    to put a little kerchief on her head and take a picture.
    
    Those long haired cats are lovely to look at but sometimes I wonder..!
    
    Barbara