Hi everyone!
I desperately need your help. I got a cat from our local rescue center some 10 months ago and she's adorable. She has over time become a real lap cat and follows me around the house. (it's just her and me).
HOWEVER... She is medium-long hair and she needs brushing. In the beginning i went extremely easy on her as it was obvious she didn't like it. In time though i had to start giving her "proper" brushings as she would get matted fur etc. Her fur is not that bad, if i give her a long brushing once per week she's fine.
The problem is she turns into monster cat. She hisses, bites and scratches and does it BAD! My bathroom floor is covered in blood as i write this and i am at loss at what to do. For every time we do this I get a little bit more scared of her and it is becoming an evil circle. She's hurt me so bad on occasion i've had to go to the clinic to have the scratches looked at and she also bites. Deep.
We will have these arguments and then she will come lie on my lap 20 mins later as if nothing had happened.
She is a big cat, 14 lb and according to the vet perfectly fit. She is declawed on her front paws (NOT by me, before i got her) but not her back paws and for me that would not be an option as i think declawing is horrendous. She is now 6 years old. I have tried everything, treats, catnip, harnesses/leash, grabbing her by the neck, giving her quick brushes, slow brushes, soft brushes, sturdy brushes, i've tried almost every TYPE of brush there is out there.
The rescue center offered me to take her back and put her down :O
Please help!!!
Leia
HELP! Cat hates grooming
Re: HELP! Cat hates grooming
The rescue org is nuts, you wouldn't put a cat to sleep because she doesn't like grooming, that's insane! Or did you misunderstand them?
You have to make the experience a good one for her, comfortable and rewarding.
Start in slow increments. Use a soft-bristle brush first, and only brush her fur for a couple miinutes at a time. Then try again the next day. Do NOT fight with her when she is obviously trying to get away from you, biting, scratching, etc. because if you do, you will NEVER make this a good experience for her. She doesn't need a stressful experience, so this is the reason for short grooming sessions, only a few minutes at a time, and repeat when she is calmer, or the following day. Be consistent and gentle each time, and she will probably learn to accept the procedure and associate it with a good experience eventually.
Reward her with treats or a toy during and after a short grooming session (be careful with treats, choose only healthy treats and give only in moderation). You could also reward her with a special new toy or playtime sessions etc.
You have to make the experience a good one for her, comfortable and rewarding.
Start in slow increments. Use a soft-bristle brush first, and only brush her fur for a couple miinutes at a time. Then try again the next day. Do NOT fight with her when she is obviously trying to get away from you, biting, scratching, etc. because if you do, you will NEVER make this a good experience for her. She doesn't need a stressful experience, so this is the reason for short grooming sessions, only a few minutes at a time, and repeat when she is calmer, or the following day. Be consistent and gentle each time, and she will probably learn to accept the procedure and associate it with a good experience eventually.
Reward her with treats or a toy during and after a short grooming session (be careful with treats, choose only healthy treats and give only in moderation). You could also reward her with a special new toy or playtime sessions etc.
..........Traci
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Auntie Debbie
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Re: HELP! Cat hates grooming
You may want to contact the rescue agency to see if you can get in touch with the previous owner, if available. Your kitty may have some history you are not aware of where being groomed is disagreeable to her. Also, think about how you are grooming her. You may be tugging at a mat that is causing her pain.
Your vet may be able to give you something to give her that will calm her down a bit so you can periodically groom her, or look into things such as the flower essences or rescue remedy. I haven't used them, but some say they help, some say no.
Sounds like you're doing your best with her and everything else is okay. It would be so sad to have the agency put her down. You may also consider having it professionaly done. They would have the means to restrain her whule someone else did the grooming. Please just warn them first that she doesn't much care for it.
Let us know how you make out; I'm hoping for the best.
Your vet may be able to give you something to give her that will calm her down a bit so you can periodically groom her, or look into things such as the flower essences or rescue remedy. I haven't used them, but some say they help, some say no.
Sounds like you're doing your best with her and everything else is okay. It would be so sad to have the agency put her down. You may also consider having it professionaly done. They would have the means to restrain her whule someone else did the grooming. Please just warn them first that she doesn't much care for it.
Let us know how you make out; I'm hoping for the best.
Kitty kisses,
Debbie
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"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
Debbie
____________________________________
"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
Thank you Traci!
I started like you suggests, short 1-2 min brushes. Maybe i moved on to quickly (after about 6 months). She always get treats (holistic, low fat ones) etc after the brushings.
The problem is she gets matted and when i tried to get her groomed at a pet care salon they refused because of her behaviour..
The other problem is she doesn't try to get away, she will purr...for about 3 mins then all of a sudden turn around and go for me so i never know when she gets uncomfortable. She will actually purr and bite at the same time, something i've never seen in another cat.. And i don't mean the playful nibbling she can do when i pet her but the bloodshedding-kind combined with hissing. Or as my collegue asked me hearing her once; "do you have SATAN at your house or what?" I was in the other room trying to brush her.. lol
I will try to go back from the beginning again. Thanks for your reply.
Edited cause i read your reply again and it dawned on me instantly what i've been doing wrong. I've been waiting. Only brushing her when she needs it and the more scared i've become over the last couple of months the longer i've waited with the excuse that she doesn't like it, meaning she WILL be a little matted and the experience will be even worse for her. The 1-2 mins everyday is the only way to get her to get used to it. Thank you. Funny how sometimes you really need an outsider to show you the obvious...
I started like you suggests, short 1-2 min brushes. Maybe i moved on to quickly (after about 6 months). She always get treats (holistic, low fat ones) etc after the brushings.
The problem is she gets matted and when i tried to get her groomed at a pet care salon they refused because of her behaviour..
The other problem is she doesn't try to get away, she will purr...for about 3 mins then all of a sudden turn around and go for me so i never know when she gets uncomfortable. She will actually purr and bite at the same time, something i've never seen in another cat.. And i don't mean the playful nibbling she can do when i pet her but the bloodshedding-kind combined with hissing. Or as my collegue asked me hearing her once; "do you have SATAN at your house or what?" I was in the other room trying to brush her.. lol
I will try to go back from the beginning again. Thanks for your reply.
Edited cause i read your reply again and it dawned on me instantly what i've been doing wrong. I've been waiting. Only brushing her when she needs it and the more scared i've become over the last couple of months the longer i've waited with the excuse that she doesn't like it, meaning she WILL be a little matted and the experience will be even worse for her. The 1-2 mins everyday is the only way to get her to get used to it. Thank you. Funny how sometimes you really need an outsider to show you the obvious...
Re: HELP! Cat hates grooming
Hi Debbie!
Thanks for your reply.
Unfortunately proffessional grooming wasn't an option..
She was unfortunately found as a stray cat so there is no way of tracing the previous owner, i can only assume she has had some bad experiences in the past...
Thanks for your reply.
Unfortunately proffessional grooming wasn't an option..
She was unfortunately found as a stray cat so there is no way of tracing the previous owner, i can only assume she has had some bad experiences in the past...
Re: HELP! Cat hates grooming
One option would be to have a vet (cats-only vet if at all possible) sedate the cat and give a body shave ... this needn't be severe shaving, just enough to remove existing mats from the body (leave head and tail alone) about half an inch. As I say, have this done professionally, by competent, understanding people... not by a groomer. Do not be present during this procedure, and do not attempt to groom or pet at first...
...But after a couple days, begin quietly to stroke the cat gently with a mitt or slightly damp warm washcloth - or just cotton garden gloves at first... and for just a couple of minutes at a time. What you will try to do is build a new relationship re the petting/grooming, as the fur grows back to its natural length (which it will do quite soon, never fear!) Have at least one short grooming/petting session every single day... not every few days. You should be able to spot a beginning mat in the fur before it gets to a problem stage: keep a comb nearby, remove the mat quickly and put the cat down before she can protest - start fresh at a later session. Be calm. Be gentle. Be patient. If you see what you're doing is upsetting your cat, let it go and don't fret about it, but start again soon afterward. Good luck to you and to your cat!
...But after a couple days, begin quietly to stroke the cat gently with a mitt or slightly damp warm washcloth - or just cotton garden gloves at first... and for just a couple of minutes at a time. What you will try to do is build a new relationship re the petting/grooming, as the fur grows back to its natural length (which it will do quite soon, never fear!) Have at least one short grooming/petting session every single day... not every few days. You should be able to spot a beginning mat in the fur before it gets to a problem stage: keep a comb nearby, remove the mat quickly and put the cat down before she can protest - start fresh at a later session. Be calm. Be gentle. Be patient. If you see what you're doing is upsetting your cat, let it go and don't fret about it, but start again soon afterward. Good luck to you and to your cat!
Re: HELP! Cat hates grooming
If she gets a matted area that cannot be brushed/combed out....use a seam ripper from the sewing department at WalMart or somewhere....
keep the rubber safety tip on it, so as not to poke her with it, grasp the matted fur and lift it slightly, without hurting her, and gently slide the ripper between the matted fur and her skin...the cutting part of the ripper will get rid of that matted fur easily and quickly....
a friend of mine who's mother showed Persians taught me this trick...she was NEVER without a seam ripper for her cats!
keep the rubber safety tip on it, so as not to poke her with it, grasp the matted fur and lift it slightly, without hurting her, and gently slide the ripper between the matted fur and her skin...the cutting part of the ripper will get rid of that matted fur easily and quickly....
a friend of mine who's mother showed Persians taught me this trick...she was NEVER without a seam ripper for her cats!