Post Your Pets

He was really good throughout and the groomer was fantastic. Really good and patient with him and only cost £20.

The only problem is that his sister doesn't recognise him and is a bit off

Oh my gosh, poor Mogget! I am not surprised his sis doesn't recognise him!

So, Mogget needed a pretty much full shave due to his Matt's being so close to the skin. Feel really bad but glad they're all gone.

He was really good throughout and the groomer was fantastic. Really good and patient with him and only cost £20.

The only problem is that his sister doesn't recognise him and is a bit off

I've just shown this to mrs nerdz and her reaction was, that cat needs a knited jumper. If you need one she's more than happy to knit one!

yeahnerdz, does she do commissions?

He like an inverse feather duster, with the fat bit smooth and the thin bit furry.

I'm upset but relieved at the same time and annoyed at not keeping on top of the Matt's. The only way I explain the situation is that he isn't much of a lap cat so I didn't think it was so bad. I'm sure jelly will come round. Mogget seems very happy on the other hand, just confused with jelly's hissing.

Btw, my phone is autocorrecting "Matt's"

neu, I can't believe you used a 'feather duster' simile!

Btw, my phone is autocorrecting "Matt's"

What do you mean, mites?

No, he means his Mogget had basically become a big dreadlock.

One cool cat in that case

neu, I can't believe you used a 'feather duster' simile!

why not?

Mrs_com is slowly trying to make the two cats friends again by alternately stroking them with the same sock to confuse the smells.

You inspired me to groom Higgs, I got off lightly I think- 3 neat parallel scratches down my ribs but nothing else.

I had to cut away quite a lot round her back legs, the "velcro" seeds had made some quite exciting dreadlock type matts.

There were a couple of hanging matts that weren't so close to the skin that probably could've just been nipped out without shaving but the close ones definitely needed shaved and it would have left him with really big bald patches. Plus the groomer reckons the coat comes back even better. If anyone needs one let me know, he's near KCH on Denmark hill. It's his full time job and he does it out of his front room. Really good with the clients and the animals. Not rushed at all, was there for 2 hours and it was still only £20 (tipped him a fiver on top of that). Plus he has two awesome rabbits in the next room.

I thought only dogs could become dread

I'm upset but relieved at the same time and annoyed at not keeping on top of the Matt's.

It can be very difficult to comb cats once they're already matted. Now would be a great opportunity to get Mogget used to being brushed with a soft brush, so they learn that grooming isn't painful. As the fur gets longer, progress to a stiffer brush or comb & they may even start to enjoy it.

This type of comb, with the spinning teeth works great on knotted bits that haven't quite reached the scissor stage.

http://www.mikkipet.com/?mikki_grooming=anti-tangle-comb-for-coarse-coats

You inspired me to groom Higgs, I got off lightly I think- 3 neat parallel scratches down my ribs but nothing else.

I had to cut away quite a lot round her back legs, the "velcro" seeds had made some quite exciting dreadlock type matts.
Ron has the same problem - seeds stick on his haunches, and matted lumps seem to nucleate.

He's really wary of us going near them with a comb / scissors / carving knife. But he's oddly ok if you grab one & yank it off.

Slag cat doesn't seem to suffer at all, even though she's the one that rolls around in whatever piles of ordure she can find.

Bad cat owner story time - I was cutting out Roo's clumps with the Scaredy Cut ® Silent Clipper (as used by celebrity cat groomer, TW2), and managed even then to slice her leg. The poor little thing didn't even fuss, and it wasn't until after that I saw her leg pissing blood.

RSPCA abuse line >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

They get worse nicks fighting with other cats and/or falling off stuff

And knife fights.

^ I struggle to imagine a cat sitting on a bike holding a polo mallet...

It can be very difficult to comb cats once they're already matted. Now would be a great opportunity to get Mogget used to being brushed with a soft brush, so they learn that grooming isn't painful. As the fur gets longer, progress to a stiffer brush or comb & they may even start to enjoy it.

This type of comb, with the spinning teeth works great on knotted bits that haven't quite reached the scissor stage.

http://www.mikkipet.com/?mikki_grooming=anti-tangle-comb-for-coarse-coats

We had quite a densely furred cat who used to get quite matted. I found that breaking up the matts by hand (just pulling them apart in different directions) really helped. Apparently sprinkling a little bit of talc on the coat prior to grooming, concentrated on the matted areas, also helps get them out.

Thought it was about time I posted up some photos of our newest furry family members. They are absolute superstars as are our existing animals. Pamela, the (slightly autistic) oldest cat, usually takes to hiding under the bed when anything different happens, only emerging to piss on our shoes and bags. She hasn't been under the bed at all and has been doing lots of kitten face-sniffing with only a few growls when they over-step the mark. William, the Jack Russell, has been so sensitive around them. They are really quite freaked by him so he lies down whenever they come near him and lets them sniff at their leisure. Smudge, our youngest cat (18 months) is having a bit of a tough time. We had expected him to be the most welcoming, being a male (kittens are female) and being rather young. He is rather devastated as it happens. He is terrified by them, despite being about 3x the size, and I think a little put out that he is no longer the baby. He's still doing amazingly well though and has been doing little bits of face sniffing here and there.

Here's the bold adventurer, TigerLily. She is pretty much fearless, apart from when she's around the dog. Such a beautiful coat - perfect ginger tabby markings overlayed with black splodges.

This is Little Bee. Not quite so bold as her sister but incredibly affectionate. Loves face fuss and likes snuggling up for a cuddle. More black and white than tabby but still gorgeous.

Just putting this one in for scale - Smudge and Little Bee eating together. He's an absolute monster by comparison. He wasn't much bigger than them this time last year.

We're hypothesising that Daddy was a ginger tabby and Mummy was black and white. They are a perfect mix of both.

Sorry pics are a bit blurry, mob phone clearly still a bit toilety. Humph!

breaking up the matts by hand (just pulling them apart in different directions) really helped.

Ah yes, that is a great way to do it, especially if you're concerned about sudden movements when holding something sharp near their skin. I find that method works best if the Cat's asleep or someone else will hold on to the wriggly little sod for you :-)

Not tried using talc. I may add it to the massive box of cat grooming products in the kitchen.

^^ Lovely looking girls!

Still on grooming, I use three thickness of comb on Chester. Despite him being short haired, he has a soft underfluff that tangles & a hairier top coat that can get scurfy near the base of his tail.
The scurf seems to have died down since he lost weight & he can now wash all the way down his back. About 10 minutes once every 4-5 weeks keeps him in good condition.

Somebody appears to appreciate it :-)