Question:
> > >Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > >try. > Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very > skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. > yngver > Fair enough. However, if you’d seen Gyda when she came to share my home, > you might’ve seen it differently. Apparently, I’m just an idiot who can’t > find a *proper* groomer. Shame on me. Please, come scoop Gyda before I do > her some serious harm.
Deanna, Why are you getting so defensive about this? No one has been attacking you in the least. I think we know if you didn’t give a shit about your cats, that you wouldn’t even be posting the question in the first place! Chill girl!
Response:
>Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a >try.
Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. yngver (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
> Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic,
Sounded? No, sorry, kiddo, it WAS sarcastic. > but it was a serious question!
No, it wasn’t. Krazee posted a *serious* question. > I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons.
But hey, lash at me for fun when you don’t know what I’m going through with my pet, for whom I have shelled out hours of time and buckets of money for in 3.5 months. Feel good? For your > girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work on her > face. That would be the best thing.
IMO, *that* would be tormenting her, or abusing her. She has been through enough. > There are special "mat combs" that can be > purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. > In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not an > option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see.
Oh, well, good. Thanks for reading that in my original post prior to hacking me. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Kelly > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > > — > > > Peace freedom & justice > > > Deanna > > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > > Is there > > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > > get to > > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > > tries > > > > > >to do? > > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > > careful > > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > > snip > > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > > against > > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > > places > > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > > causing her > > > > > enough pain. > > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > > literally > > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > > causing > > > > > even more pain. > > > > > yngver > > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
No it wasn’t sarcastic. Why are you flipping? I told you it wasn’t sarcastic… so if you read it and took it the wrong way, and won’t accept an explanation, that’s NOT my problem. Jeez……. A little sensitive are we? Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic, > Sounded? No, sorry, kiddo, it WAS sarcastic. > but it was a serious question! > No, it wasn’t. Krazee posted a *serious* question. > I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons. > But hey, lash at me for fun when you don’t know what I’m going through with > my pet, for whom I have shelled out hours of time and buckets of money for > in 3.5 months. Feel good? > For your > girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work > on her > face. That would be the best thing. > IMO, *that* would be tormenting her, or abusing her. She has been through > enough. > There are special "mat combs" that can be > purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. > In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not > an > option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see. > Oh, well, good. Thanks for reading that in my original post prior to > hacking me. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Kelly > > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. > As I > > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated > to > > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this > was > > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers > wouldn’t > > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted > sedation > > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may > imagine. > > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please > don’t > > talk to me like one. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > > > — > > > > Peace freedom & justice > > > > Deanna > > > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > > > Is there > > > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) > I > > can > > > > get to > > > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s > what > > she > > > > tries > > > > > > >to do? > > > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > > very > > > > careful > > > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended > scissors > > and > > > > snip > > > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull > quite > > hard > > > > against > > > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in > many > > > > places > > > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are > already > > > > causing her > > > > > > enough pain. > > > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they > will > > > > literally > > > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through > the > > mat, > > > > causing > > > > > > even more pain. > > > > > > yngver > > > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
>Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a >try. > Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very > skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. > yngver
Fair enough. However, if you’d seen Gyda when she came to share my home, you might’ve seen it differently. Apparently, I’m just an idiot who can’t find a *proper* groomer. Shame on me. Please, come scoop Gyda before I do her some serious harm. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic, but it was a serious question! I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons. For your girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work on her face. That would be the best thing. There are special "mat combs" that can be purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not an option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see. Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > Is there > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > get to > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > tries > > > > >to do? > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > careful > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > snip > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > against > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > places > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > causing her > > > > enough pain. > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > > even more pain. > > > > yngver > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
You know, my cat is pretty matted too. He will not let me try and get the mats out. The mats are mostly between his back legs and on his stomach. I suffered some pretty nasty scratches and bites when I tried to get some of them out. Don’t even suggest that I take him to a groomer, if I can’t get near him, a groomer most definitely won’t. I’ve taken him to my vet in the past but he is so difficult to handle, they aren’t real thrilled with it either. He’s 19, so I don’t want to try to sedate him. I really want to help him out here, but I’m at a loss as to what to do. Anyone have any suggestions? Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? 
> I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your > comments as pushing. > The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t > kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her > eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to > start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it > awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former > supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was > allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew > she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be > as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, > one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no > instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only > slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The > sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled > to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure > thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t > check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get > anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the > mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some > movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be > confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough > of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine > the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get > anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory > infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at > that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, > it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone > touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. > She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little > mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the > other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. > Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually > see her. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to > help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
Aww, the poor girl must have been so sore all over being like that! Shame on the previous owner for letting her get like that. I feel bad when mine get one mat. <G> I’m so glad you were able to get her through that. What I have found is that even though I cannot groom my one red boy, he is great for the groomers. They say he seems to enjoy all but the shave. The little shit just likes to give mommy trouble. <G> Your girl may not be like that, but it is usually fear that keeps them submissive in the hands of a stranger. Good luck with her.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? > I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your > comments as pushing. > The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t > kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her > eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to > start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it > awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former > supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was > allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew > she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be > as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, > one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no > instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only > slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The > sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled > to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure > thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t > check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get > anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the > mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some > movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be > confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough > of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine > the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get > anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory > infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at > that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, > it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone > touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. > She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little > mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the > other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. > Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually > see her. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to > help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
That’s odd. Was there a specific reason the groomers wouldn’t work on her? I’ve never had a problem with someone grooming my cats.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The groomers wouldn’t touch her, and the vet techs would sedate her. I did > phone around. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > try. > > > > Is there > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get > > to > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > > tries > > > >to do? > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to > be > > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off > myself, > > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > > > I’d be very careful > > > snipping around her chin. > > I am. > > > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > > against > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > > I know. > > > Snipping them appart in many places > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing > > her > > > enough pain. > > I don’t pull on them. > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > even more pain. > > > yngver > > Ok. Thanks. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna
Response:
Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a try.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Is there > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get > to > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off myself, > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. > I am. > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > I know. > Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing > her > enough pain. > I don’t pull on them. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > even more pain. > yngver > Ok. Thanks. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna
Response:
I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to help you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > Is there > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > get to > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > tries > > > > >to do? > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > careful > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > snip > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > against > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > places > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > causing her > > > > enough pain. > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > > even more pain. > > > > yngver > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
> Aww, the poor girl must have been so sore all over being like that! Shame > on the previous owner for letting her get like that. I feel bad when mine > get one mat. <G> I’m so glad you were able to get her through that. What I > have found is that even though I cannot groom my one red boy, he is great > for the groomers. They say he seems to enjoy all but the shave. The little > shit just likes to give mommy trouble. <G> Your girl may not be like that, > but it is usually fear that keeps them submissive in the hands of a > stranger. Good luck with her.
Thanks, I’ll need it – she’s turning into a proper little menace now, as she should be. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your comments as pushing. The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually see her. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t talk to me like one. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > Is there > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get to > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > > >to do? > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very > careful > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and > snip > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > places > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing her > > > enough pain. > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > > even more pain. > > > yngver > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > Is there > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get to > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > >to do? > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very > careful > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and > snip > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > places > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing her > > enough pain. > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > even more pain. > > yngver > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
The groomers wouldn’t touch her, and the vet techs would sedate her. I did phone around. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > try. > > > Is there > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get > to > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > >to do? > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off > myself, > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > > I’d be very careful > > snipping around her chin. > I am. > > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > I know. > > Snipping them appart in many places > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing > her > > enough pain. > I don’t pull on them. > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > even more pain. > > yngver > Ok. Thanks. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna
Response:
Greetings, Cornstarch should loosen em. >Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are >pretty solid
Regards, Kate
Response:
> There are mat-rippers you can get in the pet stores – a row of sharp little > curved blades. The idea is that they cut the mat into smaller pieces so that > then each piece can be teased out separately. > Or you could just try doing the same thing with your scissors – instead of > taking all the snips necessary to cut the mat away from the skin, cut lines > through it.
I have done that, actually, but cheers! — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them.
I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off myself, and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin.
I am. > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts.
I know. > Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain.
I don’t pull on them. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver
Ok. Thanks. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I agree it should be done by a professional. > > Is there > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries > >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Thanks, Kate, I’ll give that a try. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Greetings, > Cornstarch should loosen em. >Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are >pretty solid > Regards, > Kate
Response:
There are mat-rippers you can get in the pet stores – a row of sharp little curved blades. The idea is that they cut the mat into smaller pieces so that then each piece can be teased out separately. Or you could just try doing the same thing with your scissors – instead of taking all the snips necessary to cut the mat away from the skin, cut lines through it.
Response:
> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do?
A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her enough pain. You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing even more pain. yngver (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
I agree it should be done by a professional. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are pretty solid (not my fault). With her other mats, I have been able to ease them away from the skin and snip them off very carefully, but since these ones are near her head she won’t let me get at them for as long. I don’t mind taking the time to snip a bit here and there, but I’m worried she’ll pull them out all at once in the meantime and hurt herself. Is there anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries to do? The vet says she would need sedation to have them removed professionally, and doesn’t think that is a good idea because of her respiratory problems. Any ideas? Thanks. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
> > >Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > >try. > Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very > skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. > yngver > Fair enough. However, if you’d seen Gyda when she came to share my home, > you might’ve seen it differently. Apparently, I’m just an idiot who can’t > find a *proper* groomer. Shame on me. Please, come scoop Gyda before I do > her some serious harm.
Deanna, Why are you getting so defensive about this? No one has been attacking you in the least. I think we know if you didn’t give a shit about your cats, that you wouldn’t even be posting the question in the first place! Chill girl!
Response:
>Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a >try.
Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. yngver (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
> Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic,
Sounded? No, sorry, kiddo, it WAS sarcastic. > but it was a serious question!
No, it wasn’t. Krazee posted a *serious* question. > I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons.
But hey, lash at me for fun when you don’t know what I’m going through with my pet, for whom I have shelled out hours of time and buckets of money for in 3.5 months. Feel good? For your > girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work on her > face. That would be the best thing.
IMO, *that* would be tormenting her, or abusing her. She has been through enough. > There are special "mat combs" that can be > purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. > In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not an > option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see.
Oh, well, good. Thanks for reading that in my original post prior to hacking me. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Kelly > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > > — > > > Peace freedom & justice > > > Deanna > > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > > Is there > > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > > get to > > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > > tries > > > > > >to do? > > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > > careful > > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > > snip > > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > > against > > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > > places > > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > > causing her > > > > > enough pain. > > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > > literally > > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > > causing > > > > > even more pain. > > > > > yngver > > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
No it wasn’t sarcastic. Why are you flipping? I told you it wasn’t sarcastic… so if you read it and took it the wrong way, and won’t accept an explanation, that’s NOT my problem. Jeez……. A little sensitive are we? Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic, > Sounded? No, sorry, kiddo, it WAS sarcastic. > but it was a serious question! > No, it wasn’t. Krazee posted a *serious* question. > I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons. > But hey, lash at me for fun when you don’t know what I’m going through with > my pet, for whom I have shelled out hours of time and buckets of money for > in 3.5 months. Feel good? > For your > girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work > on her > face. That would be the best thing. > IMO, *that* would be tormenting her, or abusing her. She has been through > enough. > There are special "mat combs" that can be > purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. > In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not > an > option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see. > Oh, well, good. Thanks for reading that in my original post prior to > hacking me. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Kelly > > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. > As I > > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated > to > > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this > was > > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers > wouldn’t > > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted > sedation > > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may > imagine. > > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please > don’t > > talk to me like one. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > > > — > > > > Peace freedom & justice > > > > Deanna > > > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > > > Is there > > > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) > I > > can > > > > get to > > > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s > what > > she > > > > tries > > > > > > >to do? > > > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > > very > > > > careful > > > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended > scissors > > and > > > > snip > > > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull > quite > > hard > > > > against > > > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in > many > > > > places > > > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are > already > > > > causing her > > > > > > enough pain. > > > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they > will > > > > literally > > > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through > the > > mat, > > > > causing > > > > > > even more pain. > > > > > > yngver > > > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
>Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a >try. > Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very > skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. > yngver
Fair enough. However, if you’d seen Gyda when she came to share my home, you might’ve seen it differently. Apparently, I’m just an idiot who can’t find a *proper* groomer. Shame on me. Please, come scoop Gyda before I do her some serious harm. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic, but it was a serious question! I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons. For your girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work on her face. That would be the best thing. There are special "mat combs" that can be purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not an option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see. Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > Is there > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > get to > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > tries > > > > >to do? > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > careful > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > snip > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > against > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > places > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > causing her > > > > enough pain. > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > > even more pain. > > > > yngver > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
You know, my cat is pretty matted too. He will not let me try and get the mats out. The mats are mostly between his back legs and on his stomach. I suffered some pretty nasty scratches and bites when I tried to get some of them out. Don’t even suggest that I take him to a groomer, if I can’t get near him, a groomer most definitely won’t. I’ve taken him to my vet in the past but he is so difficult to handle, they aren’t real thrilled with it either. He’s 19, so I don’t want to try to sedate him. I really want to help him out here, but I’m at a loss as to what to do. Anyone have any suggestions? Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? > I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your > comments as pushing. > The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t > kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her > eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to > start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it > awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former > supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was > allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew > she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be > as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, > one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no > instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only > slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The > sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled > to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure > thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t > check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get > anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the > mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some > movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be > confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough > of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine > the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get > anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory > infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at > that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, > it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone > touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. > She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little > mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the > other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. > Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually > see her. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to > help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
Aww, the poor girl must have been so sore all over being like that! Shame on the previous owner for letting her get like that. I feel bad when mine get one mat. <G> I’m so glad you were able to get her through that. What I have found is that even though I cannot groom my one red boy, he is great for the groomers. They say he seems to enjoy all but the shave. The little shit just likes to give mommy trouble. <G> Your girl may not be like that, but it is usually fear that keeps them submissive in the hands of a stranger. Good luck with her.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? > I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your > comments as pushing. > The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t > kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her > eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to > start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it > awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former > supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was > allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew > she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be > as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, > one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no > instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only > slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The > sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled > to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure > thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t > check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get > anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the > mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some > movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be > confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough > of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine > the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get > anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory > infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at > that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, > it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone > touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. > She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little > mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the > other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. > Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually > see her. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to > help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
That’s odd. Was there a specific reason the groomers wouldn’t work on her? I’ve never had a problem with someone grooming my cats.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The groomers wouldn’t touch her, and the vet techs would sedate her. I did > phone around. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > try. > > > > Is there > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get > > to > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > > tries > > > >to do? > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to > be > > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off > myself, > > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > > > I’d be very careful > > > snipping around her chin. > > I am. > > > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > > against > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > > I know. > > > Snipping them appart in many places > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing > > her > > > enough pain. > > I don’t pull on them. > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > even more pain. > > > yngver > > Ok. Thanks. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna
Response:
Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a try.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Is there > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get > to > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off myself, > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. > I am. > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > I know. > Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing > her > enough pain. > I don’t pull on them. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > even more pain. > yngver > Ok. Thanks. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna
Response:
I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to help you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > Is there > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > get to > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > tries > > > > >to do? > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > careful > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > snip > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > against > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > places > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > causing her > > > > enough pain. > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > > even more pain. > > > > yngver > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
> Aww, the poor girl must have been so sore all over being like that! Shame > on the previous owner for letting her get like that. I feel bad when mine > get one mat. <G> I’m so glad you were able to get her through that. What I > have found is that even though I cannot groom my one red boy, he is great > for the groomers. They say he seems to enjoy all but the shave. The little > shit just likes to give mommy trouble. <G> Your girl may not be like that, > but it is usually fear that keeps them submissive in the hands of a > stranger. Good luck with her.
Thanks, I’ll need it – she’s turning into a proper little menace now, as she should be. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your comments as pushing. The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually see her. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t talk to me like one. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > Is there > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get to > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > > >to do? > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very > careful > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and > snip > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > places > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing her > > > enough pain. > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > > even more pain. > > > yngver > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > Is there > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get to > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > >to do? > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very > careful > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and > snip > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > places > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing her > > enough pain. > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > even more pain. > > yngver > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
The groomers wouldn’t touch her, and the vet techs would sedate her. I did phone around. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > try. > > > Is there > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get > to > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > >to do? > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off > myself, > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > > I’d be very careful > > snipping around her chin. > I am. > > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > I know. > > Snipping them appart in many places > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing > her > > enough pain. > I don’t pull on them. > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > even more pain. > > yngver > Ok. Thanks. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna
Response:
Greetings, Cornstarch should loosen em. >Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are >pretty solid
Regards, Kate
Response:
> There are mat-rippers you can get in the pet stores – a row of sharp little > curved blades. The idea is that they cut the mat into smaller pieces so that > then each piece can be teased out separately. > Or you could just try doing the same thing with your scissors – instead of > taking all the snips necessary to cut the mat away from the skin, cut lines > through it.
I have done that, actually, but cheers! — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them.
I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off myself, and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin.
I am. > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts.
I know. > Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain.
I don’t pull on them. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver
Ok. Thanks. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I agree it should be done by a professional. > > Is there > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries > >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Thanks, Kate, I’ll give that a try. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Greetings, > Cornstarch should loosen em. >Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are >pretty solid > Regards, > Kate
Response:
There are mat-rippers you can get in the pet stores – a row of sharp little curved blades. The idea is that they cut the mat into smaller pieces so that then each piece can be teased out separately. Or you could just try doing the same thing with your scissors – instead of taking all the snips necessary to cut the mat away from the skin, cut lines through it.
Response:
> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do?
A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her enough pain. You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing even more pain. yngver (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
I agree it should be done by a professional. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are pretty solid (not my fault). With her other mats, I have been able to ease them away from the skin and snip them off very carefully, but since these ones are near her head she won’t let me get at them for as long. I don’t mind taking the time to snip a bit here and there, but I’m worried she’ll pull them out all at once in the meantime and hurt herself. Is there anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries to do? The vet says she would need sedation to have them removed professionally, and doesn’t think that is a good idea because of her respiratory problems. Any ideas? Thanks. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
> > >Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > >try. > Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very > skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. > yngver > Fair enough. However, if you’d seen Gyda when she came to share my home, > you might’ve seen it differently. Apparently, I’m just an idiot who can’t > find a *proper* groomer. Shame on me. Please, come scoop Gyda before I do > her some serious harm.
Deanna, Why are you getting so defensive about this? No one has been attacking you in the least. I think we know if you didn’t give a shit about your cats, that you wouldn’t even be posting the question in the first place! Chill girl!
Response:
>Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a >try.
Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. yngver (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
> Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic,
Sounded? No, sorry, kiddo, it WAS sarcastic. > but it was a serious question!
No, it wasn’t. Krazee posted a *serious* question. > I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons.
But hey, lash at me for fun when you don’t know what I’m going through with my pet, for whom I have shelled out hours of time and buckets of money for in 3.5 months. Feel good? For your > girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work on her > face. That would be the best thing.
IMO, *that* would be tormenting her, or abusing her. She has been through enough. > There are special "mat combs" that can be > purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. > In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not an > option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see.
Oh, well, good. Thanks for reading that in my original post prior to hacking me. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Kelly > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > > — > > > Peace freedom & justice > > > Deanna > > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > > Is there > > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > > get to > > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > > tries > > > > > >to do? > > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > > careful > > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > > snip > > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > > against > > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > > places > > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > > causing her > > > > > enough pain. > > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > > literally > > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > > causing > > > > > even more pain. > > > > > yngver > > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
No it wasn’t sarcastic. Why are you flipping? I told you it wasn’t sarcastic… so if you read it and took it the wrong way, and won’t accept an explanation, that’s NOT my problem. Jeez……. A little sensitive are we? Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic, > Sounded? No, sorry, kiddo, it WAS sarcastic. > but it was a serious question! > No, it wasn’t. Krazee posted a *serious* question. > I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons. > But hey, lash at me for fun when you don’t know what I’m going through with > my pet, for whom I have shelled out hours of time and buckets of money for > in 3.5 months. Feel good? > For your > girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work > on her > face. That would be the best thing. > IMO, *that* would be tormenting her, or abusing her. She has been through > enough. > There are special "mat combs" that can be > purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. > In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not > an > option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see. > Oh, well, good. Thanks for reading that in my original post prior to > hacking me. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Kelly > > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. > As I > > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated > to > > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this > was > > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers > wouldn’t > > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted > sedation > > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may > imagine. > > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please > don’t > > talk to me like one. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > > > — > > > > Peace freedom & justice > > > > Deanna > > > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > > > Is there > > > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) > I > > can > > > > get to > > > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s > what > > she > > > > tries > > > > > > >to do? > > > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > > very > > > > careful > > > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended > scissors > > and > > > > snip > > > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull > quite > > hard > > > > against > > > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in > many > > > > places > > > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are > already > > > > causing her > > > > > > enough pain. > > > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they > will > > > > literally > > > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through > the > > mat, > > > > causing > > > > > > even more pain. > > > > > > yngver > > > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
>Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a >try. > Agreed. Any groomer who had to sedate the pets he/she grooms is not very > skilled and I wouldn’t go to him/her. > yngver
Fair enough. However, if you’d seen Gyda when she came to share my home, you might’ve seen it differently. Apparently, I’m just an idiot who can’t find a *proper* groomer. Shame on me. Please, come scoop Gyda before I do her some serious harm. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
Sorry I know my reply sounded sort of sarcastic, but it was a serious question! I know some cats cannot be taken to groomers for various reasons. For your girl, I would just see if you can get someone to hold her while you work on her face. That would be the best thing. There are special "mat combs" that can be purchased from the groomers or the vets. They should help. In normal cases I would suggest the sedation and groom… but this is not an option for your girl because of her respiratory problems, I see. Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > Is there > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > get to > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > tries > > > > >to do? > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > careful > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > snip > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > against > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > places > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > causing her > > > > enough pain. > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > > even more pain. > > > > yngver > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
You know, my cat is pretty matted too. He will not let me try and get the mats out. The mats are mostly between his back legs and on his stomach. I suffered some pretty nasty scratches and bites when I tried to get some of them out. Don’t even suggest that I take him to a groomer, if I can’t get near him, a groomer most definitely won’t. I’ve taken him to my vet in the past but he is so difficult to handle, they aren’t real thrilled with it either. He’s 19, so I don’t want to try to sedate him. I really want to help him out here, but I’m at a loss as to what to do. Anyone have any suggestions? Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? > I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your > comments as pushing. > The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t > kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her > eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to > start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it > awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former > supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was > allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew > she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be > as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, > one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no > instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only > slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The > sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled > to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure > thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t > check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get > anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the > mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some > movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be > confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough > of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine > the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get > anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory > infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at > that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, > it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone > touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. > She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little > mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the > other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. > Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually > see her. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to > help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
Aww, the poor girl must have been so sore all over being like that! Shame on the previous owner for letting her get like that. I feel bad when mine get one mat. <G> I’m so glad you were able to get her through that. What I have found is that even though I cannot groom my one red boy, he is great for the groomers. They say he seems to enjoy all but the shave. The little shit just likes to give mommy trouble. <G> Your girl may not be like that, but it is usually fear that keeps them submissive in the hands of a stranger. Good luck with her.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? > I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your > comments as pushing. > The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t > kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her > eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to > start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it > awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former > supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was > allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew > she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be > as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, > one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no > instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only > slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The > sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled > to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure > thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t > check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get > anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the > mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some > movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be > confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough > of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine > the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get > anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory > infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at > that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, > it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone > touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. > She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little > mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the > other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. > Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually > see her. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to > help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
That’s odd. Was there a specific reason the groomers wouldn’t work on her? I’ve never had a problem with someone grooming my cats.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The groomers wouldn’t touch her, and the vet techs would sedate her. I did > phone around. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > try. > > > > Is there > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get > > to > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > > tries > > > >to do? > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to > be > > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off > myself, > > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > > > I’d be very careful > > > snipping around her chin. > > I am. > > > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > > against > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > > I know. > > > Snipping them appart in many places > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing > > her > > > enough pain. > > I don’t pull on them. > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > even more pain. > > > yngver > > Ok. Thanks. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna
Response:
Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a try.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Is there > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get > to > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off myself, > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. > I am. > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > I know. > Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing > her > enough pain. > I don’t pull on them. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > even more pain. > yngver > Ok. Thanks. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna
Response:
I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to help you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I > stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to > have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was > because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t > go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a > tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation > because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. > She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing > everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people > that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t > talk to me like one. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > > — > > Peace freedom & justice > > Deanna > > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > > Is there > > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I > can > > get to > > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what > she > > tries > > > > >to do? > > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be > very > > careful > > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors > and > > snip > > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite > hard > > against > > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > > places > > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > > causing her > > > > enough pain. > > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > > literally > > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the > mat, > > causing > > > > even more pain. > > > > yngver > > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
> Aww, the poor girl must have been so sore all over being like that! Shame > on the previous owner for letting her get like that. I feel bad when mine > get one mat. <G> I’m so glad you were able to get her through that. What I > have found is that even though I cannot groom my one red boy, he is great > for the groomers. They say he seems to enjoy all but the shave. The little > shit just likes to give mommy trouble. <G> Your girl may not be like that, > but it is usually fear that keeps them submissive in the hands of a > stranger. Good luck with her.
Thanks, I’ll need it – she’s turning into a proper little menace now, as she should be. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
I’ll use this as a response to both your posts, k? I don’t think we have Petsmart here, I’ll have to check. I don’t take your comments as pushing. The thing is, when I said she was like a brick in another post, I wasn’t kidding. A brick. You couldn’t get at her skin anywhere, except near her eyes and her, erm, other sensitive parts. Obviously, even if you wanted to start shaving from either of those areas, she wouldn’t have tolerated it awake. I cried when she first got here, it was so sad. My former supervisor called and asked me to take her, saying her friend’s kid was allergic. I debated it (very briefly) because she is Himalayan and I knew she would require more care than my previous cats, and probably wouldn’t be as healthy. When the sup showed up with the cat, she brought her carrier, one can of food, a brush (oh, the irony), and Gyda. No toys, no litter, no instructions, comments, etc., just this poor little thing that could only slightly walk and couldn’t jump, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t anything. The sup apologized profusely. She didn’t play, she didn’t move, she struggled to eat, had no interest in catnip or tuna or anything that’s usually a sure thing. I got her in to the vet as soon as I could, and the vet couldn’t check her lungs through the mats and I tried several places but couldn’t get anything done about them. I brought her home and spent weeks massaging the mats, and snipping them about 10 hairs at a time, just to give her some movement. I made steps for her all around the house so she wouldn’t be confined to the floor and I upgraded her food. I managed to remove enough of the mats for a proper checkup and took her back. I gave her the medicine the vet recommended, and she was a little livelier, but I still couldn’t get anyone to groom her without sedation. Since she already had a respiratory infection and was on medication, sedation wasn’t even close to an option at that point. I kept working on her myself. Now that the infection is clear, it turns out she still doesn’t breathe very well, and she won’t let anyone touch her head except me, so I’m afraid the ball remains firmly in my court. She has improved so much in every other way, that these two small little mats have been breaking my heart. (Although, it’s only one now, we got the other one off last night, hurrah!) So that’s the story. Thanks for your concern, I know how it must sound when you can’t actually see her. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve had a badly matted cat shaved by a groomer with no sedation and no > problems. Do you have a petsmart near you with grooming facilities? They > do animals in this condition. (I’m not trying to push, just trying to help > you out here. I know how frustrating it can be when they get like this.)
Response:
Oh, for pete’s sake, of course she is able to be taken to a groomers. As I stated in the original post, the vet said she would need to be sedated to have them removed professionally. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer, but this was because her mats were SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I got her that groomers wouldn’t go near her with a ten foot pole, so I would have to have them done by a tech. The techs at my vet, and the other techs I called all wanted sedation because at this point, she is not a happy little animal, as you may imagine. She was very, very poorly cared for by her previous owner and I am doing everything in my power to make her better. I am not one of those people that denies my cats care because I am lazy, cheap, whatever, so please don’t talk to me like one. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > > Is there > > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get to > > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > > >to do? > > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very > careful > > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and > snip > > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > places > > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing her > > > enough pain. > > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > > even more pain. > > > yngver > > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Is your cat unable to be taken to a groomers? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna > I agree it should be done by a professional. > > > Is there > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get to > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > >to do? > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very > careful > > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and > snip > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many > places > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing her > > enough pain. > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > even more pain. > > yngver > > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
The groomers wouldn’t touch her, and the vet techs would sedate her. I did phone around. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Most groomers don’t sedate cats to groom them. You may want to give it a > try. > > > Is there > > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can > get > to > > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she > tries > > >to do? > > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. > I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be > sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off > myself, > and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid > having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > > I’d be very careful > > snipping around her chin. > I am. > > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard > against > > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. > I know. > > Snipping them appart in many places > > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already > causing > her > > enough pain. > I don’t pull on them. > > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will > literally > > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, > causing > > even more pain. > > yngver > Ok. Thanks. > — > Peace freedom & justice > Deanna
Response:
Greetings, Cornstarch should loosen em. >Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are >pretty solid
Regards, Kate
Response:
> There are mat-rippers you can get in the pet stores – a row of sharp little > curved blades. The idea is that they cut the mat into smaller pieces so that > then each piece can be teased out separately. > Or you could just try doing the same thing with your scissors – instead of > taking all the snips necessary to cut the mat away from the skin, cut lines > through it.
I have done that, actually, but cheers! — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them.
I understand that, but as I’ve said, the vet thought she would need to be sedated and didn’t recommend it. I’ve taken all her other mats off myself, and she was like a brick when I got her. After all that work to avoid having her sedated, I’m not going to do so for the last few. > I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin.
I am. > You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts.
I know. > Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain.
I don’t pull on them. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver
Ok. Thanks. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
Response:
And believe me, Kelly, I wish that were a viable option. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I agree it should be done by a professional. > > Is there > >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to > >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries > >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Thanks, Kate, I’ll give that a try. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Greetings, > Cornstarch should loosen em. >Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are >pretty solid > Regards, > Kate
Response:
There are mat-rippers you can get in the pet stores – a row of sharp little curved blades. The idea is that they cut the mat into smaller pieces so that then each piece can be teased out separately. Or you could just try doing the same thing with your scissors – instead of taking all the snips necessary to cut the mat away from the skin, cut lines through it.
Response:
> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do?
A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her enough pain. You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing even more pain. yngver (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
I agree it should be done by a professional. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is there >anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to >them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries >to do? > A professinal groomer may have better luck removing them. I’d be very careful > snipping around her chin. You could try using blunt ended scissors and snip > through the mats in a few places, to loosen them. Mats pull quite hard against > the cat’s skin, which naturally hurts. Snipping them appart in many places > releases some of the tension. Don’t pull on them; they are already causing her > enough pain. > You do need to have them removed, however; if left alone they will literally > pull the hair out by its roots–very slowly. > I do not recommend mat splitters–they work by pulling through the mat, causing > even more pain. > yngver > (delete "nojunk" to e-mail)
Response:
Gyda has a couple of mats around her chin, one on either side, that are pretty solid (not my fault). With her other mats, I have been able to ease them away from the skin and snip them off very carefully, but since these ones are near her head she won’t let me get at them for as long. I don’t mind taking the time to snip a bit here and there, but I’m worried she’ll pull them out all at once in the meantime and hurt herself. Is there anything I could use to loosen them up a bit so that either a) I can get to them quicker or b) she pulls out a smaller chunk, if that’s what she tries to do? The vet says she would need sedation to have them removed professionally, and doesn’t think that is a good idea because of her respiratory problems. Any ideas? Thanks. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
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