My Poor Almost Naked Cat

**krazyaboutkatz** · 10-15-2011, 01:14 AM

I feel like such a bad meowmie.

My Storm has all of a sudden decided to stop grooming himself. He was getting matted and I tried to brush him the best that I could and I also cut some of his mats out. He was just getting worse so I decided to take him to the groomers for a lion cut. They called me at work and told me that he was so badly matted that they couldn't do a lion cut because they had to shave most of his fur off. He now only has the fur on the tip of his tail,part of his paws, and on his head. He does seem to feel a lot better now. I can only imagine the pain he must've been in.

Here are a few pictures of him.

Alani is thinking "Hey, what's that creature?"

Let me get closer so I can smell him.

He sure does smell good.

It was kind of funny to see the reactions of Alani & Blaze. They acted like they didn't know what kind of animal Storm was. I think they still think he's a new cat.

**Karen** · 10-15-2011, 03:14 AM

I'm sure he feels better and more comfy now! Don't feel bad, okay?

**chocolatepuppy** · 10-15-2011, 07:42 AM

You're still a beautiful boy Storm!

Don't be so hard on yourself Krazy.

My RB Sassy, who was not long haired, had to have knots shaved out by the vet twice. That doesn't include the times I worked up the courage to cut some out myself. She did not want brushed, period!

**Medusa** · 10-15-2011, 07:48 AM

The same happened w/my RB Pidge. She was 20 when I had her shaved due to so many mats. The situation w/her was that she was so old and stiff that she couldn't reach certain parts of her body in order to groom herself and she DETESTED being brushed and groomed. Like you, I kept up w/the mats as best I could until I finally relented and had her shaved. She felt so much better after that and lived almost 2 years longer. Because she was so old, her grooming/shaving was considered as surgery. She was put under anesthesia and after it was all done it cost $680.00!

Lesson learned. As soon as I notice a mat, if I can't get it out, Specs will go to the groomer since he's my only longhair kitty. So don't feel bad. It happens.

**happylabs** · 10-15-2011, 08:30 AM

Well I think he looks quite handsome. You know bald is in these days with men.

As far as the other cats not recognizing him, it isn't how he looks, it is his smell. If they bathed him, he no longer had the scent they were used to. That is actually how animals recognize each other. One of my cats, I think it was Moose, went to the vet and got a bath for some reason. When he came back none of the other cats would hang out with him until he got his scent back. Tink was funny because her tail poofed out about 10 times bigger than normal.

The other kitties will love him again soon once he gets his regular smell back.

**lizbud** · 10-15-2011, 09:04 AM

I think he looks just fine.

He probably can really feel your hand
as you caress him now.

I like his first picture. Very handsome.

**kuhio98** · 10-15-2011, 11:58 AM

Sweet Storm, you're beautiful no matter what you wear.
I bet you feel better now that those bad mats are pulling your skin.

**Scooter's Mom** · 10-15-2011, 01:07 PM

You know, he's probably happy with it. He'll be growing his hair back in and everyone else will be yakking up furballs, he can be laughing at them.

I think he's adorable.

**phesina** · 10-15-2011, 01:11 PM

I think you look wonderful, Stormie! I bet you feel SO much better now.

And I agree with everyone else: don't be hard on yourself, Tracy. You did your best for him all along. We live and learn.

**pomtzu** · 10-15-2011, 03:43 PM

I think he looks adorable. At first glance - he almost resembles as Meezer.

**kaycountrygal** · 10-15-2011, 07:40 PM

I think your Storm looks terrific. I understand about mats and cats with long hair. I take my Luke about every 3-4 months and I just love his cut. I bet your cat feels so much better; he looks good imo.

**katladyd** · 10-15-2011, 09:34 PM

Storm looks just fine and more important, he feels much better. Sometimes when they get older they do not groom themselves very well. So, you do what you have to do. Just make sure you keep brushing him as the hair grows out to prevent more mats.

**jenluckenbach** · 10-16-2011, 09:39 AM

He looks WONDERFUL~

And I bet he feels like a million bucks.

Don't be too hard on yourself, you are NOT a bad meowmie.

**cassiesmom** · 10-16-2011, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by kuhio98

Sweet Storm, you're beautiful no matter what you wear.
I bet you feel better now that those bad mats are pulling your skin.

That's what I was thinking too. Dear sweet Storm, you are beautiful, coat or no coat! I hope you feel much better without the mats. Mum will help you to take care of your coat as it grows back in.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 10-16-2011, 05:36 PM

Thanks again everyone.

Yes, Storm does like to be brushed so I'm hoping that this will never happen again in the future. Storm is feeling so much better that now he's trying to make everyone know that he's still the alpha cat. He's been terrorizing poor Ziggy and chasing poor Sky around.

He even decided to also chase Pearl which he rarely does because she's usually the aggressive one towards him. Hopefully he got the message across to them so he doesn't have to be so mean to them.