Comments on: Cat question

By: Maxnnr

Maxnnr — Mon, 08 May 2006 23:25:19 +0000

try a tiny bit of hair conditioner…

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Mon, 08 May 2006 15:38:42 +0000

Jay, if Tig ever has to go under for another reason, he’s getting his claws clipped.

Jeannie, yeah, it’d take two people. I could hold Tig if someone else could clip him. But of course, having the someone else there would make his attitude much, much worse.

I think I’m going to try to brush it out and see what happens.

(You’re still there? I thought they were replacing you. Same old, same old, huh?)

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Mon, 08 May 2006 14:37:21 +0000

Hi Meryl!

I have a set of clippers I keep specifically for my pets. Whenever Chinouk gets a mat I just pull out the clippers. I just hold her kinda tight and it takes all of about 3 seconds. Now Tig seems as though he might possibly give you a rough go of it, but clippers are definately the way to go.

BTW – Hope you are feeling better! Miss you here!

By: Jay Tea

Jay Tea — Mon, 08 May 2006 09:16:48 +0000

Have you considered general anaesthesia? For Tig, that is?

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Mon, 08 May 2006 04:03:21 +0000

I guess it’s going to have to work its way out, then. I can’t clip Tig. He won’t let me so much as touch his paws.

Maybe next time I take him to the vet I can get it done.

By: Sandee

Sandee — Mon, 08 May 2006 02:15:57 +0000

I agree with Paul M – shaving is the best solution. We had an older cat who stopped grooming herself when she turned 20. She developed mats all along her spine, and we had to take her to the vet to have her shaved. Poor thing looked like heck for a while, but the mats were gone, and she was much more comfortable. Good luck to you and Tig!

By: Paul M

Paul M — Mon, 08 May 2006 00:20:34 +0000

Clipping mats with scissors is a really easy way to get skin laceration – in Tig, not you. The mats always start close to the skin, and when you lift them to cut under them you tent up the skin, which you can’t see. It’s an invitation to disaster.

If it’s a recurring problem, invest in a set of decent, quiet electric clippers. Oster, Andis and Wahl are the best-known brands. They’re much safer than scissors, and much quicker. Be aware that if you are careless with the pointy end you can give Tig clipper burn (which is still better than lacerations) and that if you use them for too long at one sitting they will overheat.

By: Li'l Mamzer

Li'l Mamzer — Sun, 07 May 2006 22:47:20 +0000

I would imagine that with summer coming on, Tig will start shedding like crazy. Soe gentle brushing close-in may encourage the entire hair-mat entourage to come free.

Or you could try stealthy mini-snips when or if Tig is in a spread-eagled belly-rub trance. After a couple of days you could get it all.