Cat issue

[swamp]

I have a 7 year old cat named Olaf. He is part Maine Coon so he is big (15 pounds) and super furry. He has a white undercoat like a husky with gray fur on top.

So mr Olaf is either too fat or to lazy to groom his own ass and back so his fur is super matted. I took the scissors to him yesterday and tried to get rid of the Matts. I didn’t get close to half of them and he looks like he has mange.

1. Can I shave him without any adverse consequences to him? I’m fully expecting to get shredded.

2. Other than wrestling with him to brush him, any way to stop the Matts when the fur grows back?

[andi9899]

Take him to a groomer and let them do it.

[minnesotapaintlady]

My brother had a massive Maine Coon.  Every summer he got a lion cut at the groomers.  I assume they had some great tricks because he was not a cuddly cat.

(this isn't his cat, but that's how he looked when he was done)

[empress of self-improvement]

What andi said. You can shave him yourself but it may be less painful for all involved to go to the groomer's. My mother had the same type of cat and issue. She had her shaved completely in the summer and made sure to comb her ass at least once a week the rest of the time.

[swamp]

I have no idea if the groomers around here do cats. This should be interesting

[Lizard Queen]

A long time ago, I worked with a lady who took her Himalayan to the groomer for a lion cut, because the cat was a lazy groomer.

[imawino]

Jul 13, 2021 13:48:19 GMT -5 swamp said:

I have a 7 year old cat named Olaf. He is part Maine Coon so he is big (15 pounds) and super furry. He has a white undercoat like a husky with gray fur on top.

So mr Olaf is either too fat or to lazy to groom his own ass and back so his fur is super matted. I took the scissors to him yesterday and tried to get rid of the Matts. I didn’t get close to half of them and he looks like he has mange.

1. Can I shave him without any adverse consequences to him? I’m fully expecting to get shredded.

2. Other than wrestling with him to brush him, any way to stop the Matts when the fur grows back?

How did he deal with the process of you cutting his hair with scissors?  If he was docile and mellow about it, I'd just continue down that path.  I used to cut one of my cats hair and she looked absolutely ridiculous with weird uneven chunks...but she was a cat, so she really didn't care.  I tried the clippers once and the noise of them absolutely terrified her.  Plus, I think it may be really hard to get around mats with those.  You may end up pulling the hair in a way that is painful for the cat.

If he was not okay with the scissors, I probably wouldn't try graduating to clippers on your own.  I'd leave it to a professional.  But I wouldn't have them go super short.  Going from Maine coon hair to practically bald (which is what they made my long haired cats when I took them) may be uncomfortable for him.  

[empress of self-improvement]

Jul 13, 2021 14:05:56 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My brother had a massive Maine Coon.  Every summer he got a lion cut at the groomers.  I assume they had some great tricks because he was not a cuddly cat.

(this isn't his cat, but that's how he looked when he was done)

DH had that done to our one-eyed wonder. She had an excellent death glare even with the one eye.

[flamingo]

My mom cuts the matted fur out of her cats herself. They all look like they have the mange. It's both adorable and horrifying, but they sit still for her to do it. And, as her cats are indoor/outdoor, if one of them escapes her fenced yard, it helps her neighbors know the cat is hers! 

[minnesotapaintlady]

They usually shave more of the tail than this cat has done too.  Like...most of it with just a tuft on the end.

[Tennesseer]

Jul 13, 2021 14:08:25 GMT -5 swamp said:

I have no idea if the groomers around here do cats. This should be interesting

Contact the cat's vet and see if they can clip the cat.

[myrrh]

My cat had the same problem the last couple of years we had her. I could get the top mats with scissors, but I couldn't get the ones under her legs (arm pits?) or on her belly. I agree, the groomers and then follow up with regular brushing/combing. I accidentally learned this because I took her to the vet for a checkup and asked about the mats, turns out the vet actually did grooming on the side and she gave my cat the lion cut!

If your cat is more cooperative than most you might get away with buying a cat grooming clipper, but yeah. Groomers. Definitely worth the money.

[andi9899]

Jul 13, 2021 14:08:24 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

What andi said. You can shave him yourself but it may be less painful for all involved to go to the groomer's. My mother had the same type of cat and issue. She had her shaved completely in the summer and made sure to comb her ass at least once a week the rest of the time.

🤢 One of the many reasons I will never own a cat.

[andi9899]

This reminds me that I need to make an appointment at the groomer. Unless someone here would be so kind as to wrestle Jackson to cut his nails.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jul 13, 2021 14:23:02 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Jul 13, 2021 14:08:24 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

What andi said. You can shave him yourself but it may be less painful for all involved to go to the groomer's. My mother had the same type of cat and issue. She had her shaved completely in the summer and made sure to comb her ass at least once a week the rest of the time.

🤢 One of the many reasons I will never own a cat.

Long-haired dogs have the same issue, especially when they get older.  My Sheltie had to have his butt trimmed/groomed often.

[swamp]

Jul 13, 2021 14:09:26 GMT -5 imawino said:

Jul 13, 2021 13:48:19 GMT -5 swamp said:

I have a 7 year old cat named Olaf. He is part Maine Coon so he is big (15 pounds) and super furry. He has a white undercoat like a husky with gray fur on top.

So mr Olaf is either too fat or to lazy to groom his own ass and back so his fur is super matted. I took the scissors to him yesterday and tried to get rid of the Matts. I didn’t get close to half of them and he looks like he has mange.

1. Can I shave him without any adverse consequences to him? I’m fully expecting to get shredded.

2. Other than wrestling with him to brush him, any way to stop the Matts when the fur grows back?

How did he deal with the process of you cutting his hair with scissors?  If he was docile and mellow about it, I'd just continue down that path.  I used to cut one of my cats hair and she looked absolutely ridiculous with weird uneven chunks...but she was a cat, so she really didn't care.  I tried the clippers once and the noise of them absolutely terrified her.  Plus, I think it may be really hard to get around mats with those.  You may end up pulling the hair in a way that is painful for the cat.

If he was not okay with the scissors, I probably wouldn't try graduating to clippers on your own.  I'd leave it to a professional.  But I wouldn't have them go super short.  Going from Maine coon hair to practically bald (which is what they made my long haired cats when I took them) may be uncomfortable for him.  

He was pretty chill about the scissors to a point.

We have used clippers on him before so we can get flea/tick treatment on his skin. He has too much hair for the liquid to get to his skin. He tolerates the clippers for a short period of time. Less than scissors.

[swamp]

Jul 13, 2021 14:34:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jul 13, 2021 14:23:02 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

🤢 One of the many reasons I will never own a cat.

Long-haired dogs have the same issue, especially when they get older.  My Sheltie had to have his butt trimmed/groomed often.

I have to bring my golden/lab mix to the groomer regularly for that issue. She also stinks.

[swamp]

My dog groomer knows someone who sometimes grooms cats. I left a message. We will see how this goes.

[Deleted]

Olaf is positively dainty. Maggiecat weighs 20+ lbs. Maggiecat isn't dainty. Maggiecat isn't a Maine coon cat, either. She's just a garden-variety kitty that happens to be a special needs kitty. She can't groom her back end because she has a deformity that caused her to not have a tail so can't bend herself like regular kitties can.

When she goes to the groomer to get her nails trimmed, she also gets a butt trim. 

[andi9899]

Jul 13, 2021 14:34:16 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jul 13, 2021 14:23:02 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

🤢 One of the many reasons I will never own a cat.

Long-haired dogs have the same issue, especially when they get older.  My Sheltie had to have his butt trimmed/groomed often.

Yeah, T1 has an aussie and he goes to the groomer several times a year to get beutified.

[TheOtherMe]

Jul 13, 2021 15:08:49 GMT -5 @missrigby said:

When she goes to the groomer to get her nails trimmed, she also gets a butt trim. 

I am thinking I will have to take these two cats to the vet or groomer to get their nails trimmed.  I've never done it before.

The last two cats I adopted as adults were declawed.

The others I just didn't bother with the nails.  The vet trimmed them at their annual appointment.

Guess I am taking a wait and see attitude.

[crazycat]

One of ours is part Maine Coon , I always just trim her with scissors. But she can be very anxious, she was abused before we adopted her. No clippers , they scare her .  She is also getting up there in age (14) , so I won’t do anything that will cause her distress . 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Jul 13, 2021 15:17:12 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jul 13, 2021 15:08:49 GMT -5 @missrigby said:

When she goes to the groomer to get her nails trimmed, she also gets a butt trim. 

I am thinking I will have to take these two cats to the vet or groomer to get their nails trimmed.  I've never done it before.

Mine never get it done and they look fine.  I think they keep them down on their own with the scratching posts.

[Cookies Galore]

You need us to tell you to take him to a groomer?! Come on, woman! Let a pro handle his beautiful fluffy butt.

[dannylion]

Olaf is an excellent name for a cat.  

[sesfw]

Our Hunter boy is a full Persian kitty (7 lbs, 13 yrs) and extremely un co-operative when it comes to haircuts.  He was 4 yrs when we got him and I don't know what his kitten-hood was like but I'm thinking not the best.

I bought a men's grooming set and he will let me cut the hair on his back and sides .... and that's it.  After about 10 minutes of the clippers he has had it.  Think he likes the vibration on his back.

To get to his little backside, DH has to hold his front end so I can work on the back end.  After a few clips and ruffling his dignity, he has had it.  We let go of him quickly and get out of the way of claws.

When we take him to vet for a check-up and nail trim, a lot of times the nail trim is half finished.  He stresses out, and lashes out.

Otherwise he is a very sweet Hunter boy.

[TheOtherMe]

Jul 13, 2021 15:42:49 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jul 13, 2021 15:17:12 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I am thinking I will have to take these two cats to the vet or groomer to get their nails trimmed.  I've never done it before.

Mine never get it done and they look fine.  I think they keep them down on their own with the scratching posts.

I'm trying to get them to use something besides my furniture as a scratching post.  I have found cat nails on the floor, so they are probably taking care of it themselves.

I know I never trimmed the nails of any of my previous casts.  

[swamp]

Jul 13, 2021 16:10:11 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

You need us to tell you to take him to a groomer?! Come on, woman! Let a pro handle his beautiful fluffy butt.

I honestly never considered taking him to a groomer. I don’t know anyone who takes their cat to be groomed !!!

[swamp]

Jul 13, 2021 16:20:58 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Olaf is an excellent name for a cat.  

Thank you.  DD named him when she was 6.  Frozen was all the rage at the time. 

[Opti]

Jul 13, 2021 15:42:49 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jul 13, 2021 15:17:12 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I am thinking I will have to take these two cats to the vet or groomer to get their nails trimmed.  I've never done it before.

Mine never get it done and they look fine.  I think they keep them down on their own with the scratching posts.

I put a rough rock in with my bearded dragon and he did whittle down his nails. I had to remember to take it out once in awhile as he sometimes would wear a nail or two down too much. Still need a plan for skinny pig although he will probably get an appointment at the vets very soon for that and issues caused by those nails.

Anyone have a suggestion for hydrating stuff for a skinny pig's skin? He's not very tractable when it comes to me grooming him at all. I've gotten him to tolerate wipes that I usually use for my face to remove dead skin at least once a week in the summer. I tried a recommended baby lotion, which he does not like and licks off at the earliest opportunity. I've used Udder Balm a little more successfully, but still hit or miss because he tries to remove it. Since he's hairless I'm noticing he's gouging himself and causing issues with his nails, because his skin is dry, and he does not approve of my current methods to help.