static shock

[izabelle24]

i know this is probably going to sound really silly but does anyone else have problems with static shock quite often when i pet my cats they will get a static shock off me they sort of jump back and give me a what did you do that for look does anyone know how i can avoid these

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

This doesn't sound silly at all! I have this problem too!! The weird thig is that it only happens with Maya, not with Inka :confused: . I think that it is caused by the comb I use for Maya. It is a metalic one. No need to use it on Inka, as she doesn't shed!
I hate it when it happens: both Maya and me always jump up :eek:

[tortuga55]

I always shock Sandy usually on the ears, which she hates. Once she went to lick my nose and we got shocked it hurt! I dont brush Sandy she is just staticy. Meemee is not though. Weird!

[RICHARD]

cat-tricity: noun- (kat tris i tee) The random discharge of electrons when a cat, carrying a positive charge, jumps onto your negatively charged lap.


From the Furminology Dictionary.....


http://www.petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?threadid=59839&highlight=furminology

;)

[catmandu]

The only electricity,between,The Foundv Cats,and I,is how much,we love each other!

[mruffruff]

Definitely not silly!

I've been trying to convince some of my semi-ferals that I won't hurt them. Just about the time one lets me touch them, zap! Static electricity is NOT my friend.

I try to put lotion on my hands before I touch them, but I'm not sure if that's any help. A humidifier is the only real solution.

I'll wait for some muggy South Carolina weather. Should be here any time now.

Mary

[carole]

This happens to me all the time, but no so much with the kitties thank goodness, it is usually supermarket trolleys and car doors, they give me the shock though.:eek:

[smokey the elder]

When we had that sub-zero (F) weather in January, static was a HUGE problem! A spark I got off Bubba burnt my skin, or at least felt like it!

[QueenScoopalot]

The best way to avoid those nasty shocks from static is to keep the humidity levels high. I simmer water on the stove, and use a few humidifiers when the cats start getting ~zapped~! ;) And love your answer Gary! :)

[catnapper]

Goodness yes! I keep fabric softener sheets around. Its a tip I got from a women's magazine for flyaway hair, works great on cats -- soimply run the softener sheet down the cat's back before brushing, and viola! no static on kitty.

Just make sure to read all labels and ingredients before you use them. Some softeners might not be good to rub on the kitties... but you also only deposit such a small amount of softener. Still, better safe than sorry.

[iloverat]

Sprinkling just a few drops of water on kitty's brush or comb before you groom them will help cut down the static during their comb-out. ;)

[christa]

LOL . . . lots of static here!

Last night, Brodie and I touched noses . . . SHOCK! :eek:

And Josie is super shocking!!! And now she flenches whenever I pet her because she knows it's coming!

[RedHedd]

Originally posted by catnapper
Goodness yes! I keep fabric softener sheets around. Its a tip I got from a women's magazine for flyaway hair, works great on cats -- simply run the softener sheet down the cat's back before brushing, and viola! no static on kitty. Also makes them smell spring-time fresh :)

[BigB_Kittys]

Snowball I find has a lot of static. At night when he comes in my room and I scratch his head it will look like a thunderstorm with all the sparks. Looks kind of neat;) in the dark.

As for Rocky, I find that he tends not to build static up to the degree as Snowball does, but then he never comes into my room at night. Strictly a momma's boy:D .

Brian,

Ontario, Canada

[moosmom]

Red-Hedd's right. Dryer sheets work wonders on static electricity. I rub my cats down with them all the time. 'Cept for Moo. He never gets static. No furr!!! :p

[IRescue452]

A constant problem with Sonny. I rubbed him with a anti-static dryer sheet once so that I could pet him in peace. He gets so mad at me when I shock him, but its ok if he walks up to me, sniffs my hand, and shocks me, so long as I'm on the receiving end of the shock.

[catland]

holding a key or a paper clip and then touching a metal object like a doorknob can sometimes help discharge the static before getting to the kitty.

If the mere act if petting is causiing the shock, then I try to keep contact - its the breaking contact and re-touching that seems to cause the shock.

I'll also touch something with my knuckle since it isn't as sensitive as a finger tip. :)

[kaoK'okung]

funny as it sounds touch a metal lamp or something metal prior to touching cats will help...

[Jayna78]

We also have that static problem around here too - it happens with all the cats, but most of the time with Claudia and Leo b/c they have the longer fur. Car doors and everything else have been shocking us extra hard lately as it's been so very dry, which is different b/c we've had lots of rain this winter. I am getting really sick of the static hair, and I had forgotten the dryer sheet trick - I'll have to try it again on them and on my own hair - it's hard to style when it's so nasty static-y! :)