Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs

1. 

   I am new to the forum, but have thoroughly enjoyed reading the messages so far! =^..^= I'm hoping someone can help with my quandry.

   I rescued a long haired cat nearly 2 years ago. She was a feral cat who presented me with her 9 kittens after she felt safe enough with me to bring them to the door. I think she is a Maine Coon. Eventually she would let me pet her, and she'd even get up into the lawn swing with me as long as I didn't try to hold her. We took her kittens to a rescue center when they were old enough, but we captured, spayed, and adopted her. She has since become and remained a house cat, and has gained an extreme amount of weight. She only eats twice a day like our other cats, but her weight just piled on! With her really long hair, she now has trouble cleaning her behind. The vet seems to think she may have suffered thyroid damage nursing that large family.

   While we were gone for 6 weeks this spring, she became really matted and nasty back there, but she will NOT allow anyone to hold her down to clean and trim her. Although she likes to jump up and lay on my lap, she has never allowed us to pick her up, and now it's even more impossible. She's certainly not afraid to use those teeth and claws......I have many scars from them just having her jump up on my lap and lose her balance, so I can imagine the damage she'd do if she feels threatened. I feel so bad because she wants up on my lap, but she smells soooooooo horrible, that I can't allow it.

   Any suggestions??? ANY will be appreciated!!! Thanks.

   Posted 3 years ago by AKat #

2. 

   you may have to take her to professional groomer or possibly a vet. they are trained to handle situations like this...

   Posted 3 years ago by CSBM #

3. 

   Hi, Akat! Welcome to the Daily Kitten! What is your cat's name?
   Bless you for having given her a safe, loving home! I've never had to deal with a matted, nasty backside on a cat, but I'm sure others here have and will pass along their ideas. I recall some saying that if there is a problem with material sticking to the backside, that clipping the fur in that area is a fix. How do you restrain her to get her claws clipped? Do you think you could wrap her up in a towel like a burrito just leaving her rear end exposed? What a predicament!

   Posted 3 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #

4. 

   I'd take her to a professional groomer (if you can get her in a carrier!) They will know how to get her cleaned up. Some vets will sedate cats and bathe them.
   I'd also recommend getting her used to brushing if you can get her to be still..
   Good luck and welcome to TDK.

   Posted 3 years ago by caroline #

5. 

   Hi AKat! I have no new ideas about your cat but I wanted to welcome you here and wish you good luck!

   Posted 3 years ago by miu #

6. 

   As Caroline mentioned, she will probably have to be sedated to be groomed. The vet would be the one to do this, since it doesn't sound like your trying to give her the sedative would be safe for either of you. This should probably be handled pretty soon; if she has such a bad odor, it really isn't healthy for her or you for the gunk to remain on her.

   Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

7. 

   Welcome AKat! I had similar problems with my Jiggs, who was a Maine Coon. In his younger days, it was relatively easy to trim the fur when an occasional poo got stuck there, although it was not without blood, sweat and tears from me! He was still grooming himself at that time. He stopped grooming when he got old. I took baby steps and got him bit by bit, using hands and a comb. Vaseline helped loosen it too. Gross - handwashing is top priority! After that, I used animal wash-wipes which really cleaned him up and made him smell nice. I also found that he relaxed when I treated him to grooming and washing the easier parts of him - his head, back and sides, before moving on to the icky spots. If she's really badly matted or if it's too gross for you, I agree with others that a professional groomer would be a good option. After that, you should be able to maintain her beautiful coat.
   PS - if you have a picture of her, you can put it up as your avatar, which will show up when you hit "member" under your name.

   Posted 3 years ago by JoanfromNewJersey #

8. 

   I just had to take Sheba to a groomer to have mats shaved off, but she's used to being handled. I think a visit to the vet is the way to go. Nala needs her nails clipped at the vet also (former feral). We used to have Missy's rear trimmed at the vet, but she didn't need sedation; it seems my cats will let someone else do things to them that they won't allow me to do!

   Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

9. 

   My Skimbleshanks was a long haired rescue kitty. When he got old, and developed dementia, he just stopped grooming. While he would let us brush his mane and his back, his backside was apparantly off limits. We did have to take him to the vet, be sedated and have that fur and yucky stuff shaved off. They can get such a build up of mats and well, for lack of a better term, petrified poop, that they can't poop!

   Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

10. 

    Thanks for all of your responses. Her name is Raggedy Ann due to the condition she was in when she adopted us. We call her Annie. She fit right in with all the other cats, which was rather surprising. I had nary a problem one with any of them accepting her. Even my "lap cat" allowed her to move in on his territory.

    I had contemplated taking her to the vet, but we are on a very limited disability income, and the vet is 30 miles away. With the $4 a gallon gas price and the cost of the vet, himself, I just haven't the funds to do so at this time. Hence, my request for some suggestions. She is a gorgeous cat, and she loves to be on my lap. I just wish she would lose her wild nature enough for me to stick her in the tub. I've tried since we got her to get her used to grooming, but she seems to have a very sensitive spot on her back, and if you get anywhere near it when brushing, she goes nuts. I don't know if she had been injured, but that's what I figure happened.

    Anyhow, that is the gist of my problem and the reason that I asked if someone would have a "home remedy". I may have to try the towel suggestion, but as heavy as she is, it probably won't work.... Actually, I am thinking that I may have to construct some type of harness to restrain her "slicing devices"! :oD

    Thank again. I appreciate all of the replies.
    Paxie =^..^=

    Posted 3 years ago by AKat #

11. 

    My Turkish Van, Rocky has had that same problem. Awhile back his fur got matted on his behind and when he went to the bathroom, his waste would stick to his fur from his matting situation. The only way to do this was to shave the fur off of his behind by taking him to my local vet, it helps! Before I took him I gave him a bath. (It wasn't the most pleasent thing in the World. ^^')

    Posted 3 years ago by Catfancier #

12. 

    Before attempting any of this, buy a big box of latex disposable gloves! :-)

    Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

13. 

    Wearing heavy clothing and gardening gloves would be a good idea, so that, when she resists, the cloth and not your skin will get the teeth and claws. It would also be best if one person can restrain her while another cuts away the matted and soiled hair.

    Restraint devices for cat grooming can be purchased, but if Annie is very large, it might be difficult to find one into which she'd fit--and getting her into it could be a challenge, too.

    Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

14. 

    Akat, welcome. Your baby sounds wonderful. I had a feral that I adored for 19 years. It took 11 years before I could touch him, but then he became my baby and lived on my lap. Eventhouh he was a shorthair, because of age , he stopped grooming. He got terribly matted. He would cry if I tried to brush him. I consulted the vet who told me that as the matts tighten they actully pinch the skin and give them pain. From then on, I had him trimmed to a "lioncut". I understand your predicatment, but do you think that you could at least start by trimming the mats with scissors. Once they get really tight, from what I was told, thet cannot be brushed because it is too painful. Maybe once you trim it down maybe you can use a grooming shaver (maybe rent it from the pet store's grooming salon).I wish you well with Annie, she sounds really special.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

15. 

    Do you think your feral liked the "Lioncut", Tigerlilly? I read about it in the Cat Fancy magaizine before, but that would of been my last resort for Rocky.

    Posted 3 years ago by Catfancier #

16. 

    Take a couple of old pillow cases and make a neck opening with a drawstring sizer to tighten it enough to hold in one so you can put on her "armless sweater" also have a drawstring waist on this inner case. to snug it down so the fore limbs are restrained. Then rebag her with the second like a duffel (drawstring in bottom) expose her tail enough to clip and clean.

    So it is an acute cliche'.

    Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #

17. 

    CF my brother's cat just had her yearly lion cut. He said she was so embarassed she wouldn't let her butt touch the ground. But he has to do it because her hair is soooooo long.

    Posted 3 years ago by HuddysMama #

18. 

    Catfancier, he did not mind the lion cut at all, in fact I think he felt better without the matts. He did look really cute and funny at the same time. He was the best boy ever.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

19. 

    AM, I wish there were some way you could post a sketch of that. It sounds like it would be useful for my Buttercup.

    Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

20. 

    I was first introduced to the "Lion Cut" with this tale.

    http://www.mandm.ws/cat.html

    Most cats are simply shaved under the stomach and the breeches area.

    Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #

21. 

    Oh ailuromaniac, thanks for posting this photo...it so reminded me of my Melissa (who by the way was a boy....long story...) Really Leeny, my kitty did not mind it one bit.

    Posted 3 years ago by Tigerlilly #

22. 

    Actually, I was thinking of the pillowcase restraint rather than the lion cut. Buttercup has almost lost enough weight to groom under her tail again, but I still have to help her.

    Posted 3 years ago by Leeny #

23. 

    here are a couple of commercial products.

    http://www.klaw-kontrol.com/

    http://www.iacuc.arizona.edu/training/cats/restrain.html

    The pillow case varient is something I came up with as a low/no cost substitute.

    Not as elegant as the commercial products but functional.

    The joke is "The Cat's in the Bag!"

    Posted 3 years ago by ailuromaniac #

24. 

    Tigerlily: Thats good that he liked it better!
    Huddy's Mama: Lol!!

    Posted 3 years ago by Catfancier #

25. 

    AKat, I know that gas and a vet visit is expensive... but given what you've mentioned about a sensitivity in her hindquarters, that may be made worse by her current matted condition... I would still take Annie to the vet.

    If she's had a past injury to her back, and she starts to struggle while you try to help undo the worst of the matter, I dread to think that she might injure herself further by her struggle.

    I'd call the vet's office and arrange to pay off the bill over time. Even if all you can manage is $10 or $20 per month, that will keep you in good standing with the vet, and it will ensure that Annie gets her matting problem taken care of.

    And it's definitely important to get this issue taken care of. Untreated mats, over time, especially if they're also complicated by urine or fecal matter, can do pretty bad things to cats. The mat can pull so tight as to tear open the skin. Once the skin is open, fecal matter or urine will infect the open wound in short order. Even if the skin isn't open, feces or urine that lies wet on the skin long enough can burn the sensitive skin tissues.

    Please, make some sort of arrangement with your vet. Chances are good that Annie will need to be sedated, shaved & bathed. Be sure to ask your vet what he or she would recommend doing to prevent future recurrences. A wide-toothed metal comb might do wonders to help keep down mats, while not triggering back sensitivity.

    Good luck!

    Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #

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