| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name
 | Date | Lines | 
|---|
| 2942.1 | Just my opinion | BIMINI::SPINGLER |  | Wed Oct 11 1989 15:16 | 17 | 
|  |     
    
    I'd try a groomer, for BOTH cats as the one that did not get a bath
    may react badly to the cat that did get bathed, (different smell.)
    
    The groomer may be able to do the claw clipping for you too, and
    when you pick them up you will be the KITTY HERO for taking them
    out of that awful place where torture is inflicted on cats !!!!
    Rather than the mean old Mummie or Daddy that GOT ME WET!!!
    
    Ask if your vet does grooming, so that you can incorporate it into
    a routine check up and get it all over with at once.
    
    Feline helpful,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    
 | 
| 2942.2 |  | WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JO | set home/cat_max=infinity | Wed Oct 11 1989 15:42 | 8 | 
|  |     I second the suggestion of having them bathed at the vet.  If you
    use a groomer, you will want to find out if they automatically
    tranquilize cats before bathing.  I don't like the idea of automatic
    tranquilizing, nor the idea of a groomer administering a control
    drug to my cat.  If the cats need to be tranquilized, I feel more
    comfortable having a vet do it.   
    
    Jo
 | 
| 2942.3 | Stick to the groomer | DELNI::HYER |  | Wed Oct 11 1989 16:14 | 12 | 
|  |     
    I found it to be the vet who wanted to tranquilize to groom
    and not the groomer.  We tried the baths once - that was enough
    for us.  As they say, you are the hero when you come to pick them
    up.  Mine come out complete with bows!!  Unless there is a good reason
    for a bath like fleas or mats - leave well enough alone.
    
    Nail clipping can be done with some effort.  It might take two people
    to hold 'em.  I used to do it a claw at a time as long as the cat would
    take it.  Worked good to sneak up while she was asleep.  Before she
    really came to, I'd have one paw done.  Just don't clip beyond the 
    'hook'.  Just nipping the ends off helps.
 | 
| 2942.4 |  | CRUISE::NDC | Nancy Diettrich-Cunniff-I wanted it all | Thu Oct 12 1989 09:27 | 27 | 
|  |     I'll tell you, treating a 1/2 feral cat has changed my mind about
    alot of things!  You are NOT a wimp to be worried about trying to
    bathe your kitties - you're cautious - and smart!  
    BTW - my cat book says that where restraining cats is concerned
    "less is more".  Cats HATE to be restrained and the tighter you
    hold them the more they'll try to get away.  That happened with
    Jesse this morning and I told Jack to lighten up on the restraint.
    It worked!
    
    Anyway, I would either go the groomer route or the vet route.  There
    is nothing wrong with talking to both prior to the bath and discussing
    the tranquilizer issue with them.  It may not be necessary with
    most housecats, but if these guys are 1/2 feral or were feral you
    may have a difficult situation to deal with.  
    
    I think a bath is in order and if you have no experience with bathing
    cats, I'd go with the professional.  The cats will sense your insecur-
    ity and nervousness and they'll get worse.  There's something
    reassuring to the cats about being handled by someone who knows
    what they're doing - Just watch Dundee with the Judges at a cat
    show.
    
      Good luck.  I do know a good groomer in Mansfield who comes to
    your house.  If that is at all convenient let me know.  I believe
    she is willing to travel distances, but will have to charge more.
      Nancy DC
    
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| 2942.5 | Go For It!! | FSHQA2::DCAISSIE |  | Wed Oct 25 1989 16:52 | 10 | 
|  |     I don't know about having the groomer or vet do it.  Afterall, if
    someone else does your dirty work (hee, hee), you'll miss the copious
    amounts of booze you'll have to drink before and after the bath;
    your SO will miss THE BEST show ever; you'll miss getting bitten,
    scratched, and hissed at; and you'll miss the rest cure you'll need 
    after the nervous breakdown you have.
    
    Of course, the cats will be unscathed -- cleaner but unscathed.
    
    -Donna (who gave Brat his first and last bath last year)
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