Does your cat do this? I'm concerned. *Pidge is home *pix 6/4*

[Catty1]

It may not be a struggle...if you just 'start all over' and use the glove gently, she won't have any tangles to hurt her for a long time. Hopefully she will get more used to it. And maybe, just maybe, you will be able to prevent almost all of the tangles.

[Medusa]

She's pacing so much that I can't get a really good pic of her. She looks kinda cute. At least that's what I'm choosing to tell myself. Actually, I could cry. She had such beautiful long fur, "had" being the operative word, I guess. They really couldn't even do a lion cut on her because her mats were so bad. They trimmed her tail and shaved the rest, except for her head. I can tell that she feels better, though, so that's what's important.

I spoke w/one of the other vets because Dr. Lee isn't in today. She said that Pidge probably is in early CRF but there's no medication to be given to her at this time. She recommended that I start her on KD and maybe give her subQ's once a week, at my discretion. I just don't know if I want to do that, at least right now. I'm going to give her fur a chance to grow out a little bit before I stress her w/that.

So, I've enclosed some pix. If I can catch her later when she's calmed down and stopped pacing, I'll try again. Meanwhile, Boo is following her everywhere and the rest of the cats aren't sure who she is. Boo loves her no matter what. He's her man.

The first pic was taken yesterday before her shave cut, obviously. You can see how bad the matting was; her hair is even standing up. The second two are the best pix but, as I said, I'll try to get more later. She does look cute but I want my old Pidgie Pie back.

Boo Bear is so sweet. He's grooming her right now. I tried to get a pic and he walked away.

[catfamily]

she is so beautiful mary...before and after...she must feel better without those hair tanlges.they really can hurt terribly.
some cats can't even sleep because the pain is so bad from matting...it hurts!
i need to do colby all the time.

[Medusa]

she is so beautiful mary...before and after...she must feel better without those hair tanlges.they really can hurt terribly.
some cats can't even sleep because the pain is so bad from matting...it hurts!
i need to do colby all the time.

Thank you. I guess I needed to hear that. All that's left of her pretty red hair is a little bit on the top of her head. She's still my sweet green eyed lady.

[jenluckenbach]

she looks GOOD !.. and I mean really good!!!!! You will begin to love the feel of the fur after the initial visual shock wears off.
You will not want to take your hands off her. And she will feel SOOOOOOO much better!!

As for maintaining the grooming, PREVENTION is the key. The best tool available in my book is a "shedding comb". It is a metal pet comb with alternating long and short teeth. And a small sized metal bristled slicker brush.

Don't fret about daily grooming, just use the slicker brush over her body for short lenghts of time, as she allows, to get any hair that is shedding, out. Hair that is shed but stays in the coat is what causes 99% of all mats.

When the hair becomes long enough that the shedding comb is usedful, do the same. Use it to remove as much "dead" hair as she will allow.

When you feel a small knot, even a tiny one, use the comb to remove it. Otherwise it WILL grow to the point where it can no longer be simply combed out.

Enjoy her. She looks GREAT!!!

[Medusa]

Thanx, Jen, I appreciate your kind words and your advice a lot. I can tell that she feels good, spunky even. She's kinda scampering around now. I have a bristled slicker brush and the Furminator. Is the Furminator considered a shedding comb or should I get something else? I've stopped brushing them every day because I thought maybe I was being a tad obsessive, so I do it twice a week and clip claws every other week. I also have a soft bristled brush that I thought I might use on her just to see if it feels good to her. She used to love being groomed. She'd roll over on her back and let me brush her belly and everything. Hopefully, now that she feels so much better, she'll be more cooperative.

[jenluckenbach]

A Furminator is completely different from the shedding comb I use. It might work, but I have never used one.

Pictured here

http://grooming.petedge.com/Anti-Sta...CategoryId=479

is a combination comb. The top half is the shedder. OR this one

http://grooming.petedge.com/Master-G...CategoryId=479


Slicker brush like this

http://grooming.petedge.com/-1-All-S...CategoryId=478

or this

http://grooming.petedge.com/Millers-...CategoryId=478

[Medusa]

A Furminator is completely different from the shedding comb I use. It might work, but I have never used one.

Pictured here

http://grooming.petedge.com/Anti-Sta...CategoryId=479

is a combination comb. The top half is the shedder. OR this one

http://grooming.petedge.com/Master-G...CategoryId=479


Slicker brush like this

http://grooming.petedge.com/-1-All-S...CategoryId=478

or this

http://grooming.petedge.com/Millers-...CategoryId=478

I have all but the first one but when I run errands on Friday, I'll stop at Pet Supplies Plus and get one. I don't ever want my girl to go through this again. Thank you again, Jen.

[jenluckenbach]

I have all but the first one but when I run errands on Friday, I'll stop at Pet Supplies Plus and get one. I don't ever want my girl to go through this again. Thank you again, Jen.

Just for clarification, you do not NEED a combination comb. (the first picture) I just used it to show what the teeth should look like. ANY comb with the alternating short and long teeth, will be good.

[Medusa]

Just for clarification, you do not NEED a combination comb. (the first picture) I just used it to show what the teeth should look like. ANY comb with the alternating short and long teeth, will be good.

Ok, I understand. I just figured I'd get one anyhow because the one I have apparently doesn't do the job.

[momcat]

Pidge is, as always, absolutely beautiful with her new hair-do! She must feel much better now that all those nasty mats and tangles are gone! What a sweet and lovely kitty girl she is!!!! Groucho hates to be groomed. When I groom him I use a shedding blade and comb. During the grooming process I talk softly to him saying how handsome he is and that he's going to be even more handsome once we're finished, how much I love him and what a good boy he is. I try to combine grooming with plenty of lovies and a few treats hoping to make this something positive for him. When he wants to get down I let him go.

Hey there Miss Pidgie, You look so beautiful with your lion cut! On you it looks absolutely gorgeous and I'm sure that once the other kitty girls see your hair cut they're going to want one just like it! Lots of scritchies and lovies being sent just for you, pretty girl!!!

[Catty1]

She looks lovely! Really! And how SWEET that Boo loves her, no matter what. I am sure his attention and grooming her is really helping her feel wonderful.

I also swear by the shedding blade...somehow I never used one, then I bought one at a Pet Expo.

Used it for less than two minutes on Cole and had enough fur to knit a kitten!

REALLY keeps the fur down around the house too.

[jennielynn1970]

She looks fantastic!!! Jorgie looked like the the 2nd time I had him shaved. I did the pom on his tail the first time and I thought he looked funny, but I liked the long fur on the tail.

I'm glad she feels better!!

[phesina]

Oh Pidgie, you look gorgeous! And you must feel so much better.

[columbine]

*blush* Hello, Pidge! prrr... uhh... isn't summer wonderful? All those breezes, with the windows open; interesting sounds and fresh air. Um - prrr - I'm sorry, dear, I'm a boofy old fluffmonster who gets embarrassed at the slightest bald spot. But anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better. Mats and tangles are the worst, believe me, I know! A fresh start will make having a luxurious coat so much more comfy. *blush* I'm glad you have a loving family to look after you. You're beautiful, and - uh - prrrr - I hope you're feeling happy. I wish I could share my Crustacean Crunch treats with you.

Love, Smudge