Thread: De-mating without injury

I found the first matt in Freyja's coat, just under the front arms, at the weekend - I've not persisted with the brushing for the last two weeks - she's was cross enough with a smelly house and a small fluffy interloper and I really didn't want to push my luck. I got some good advice a couple of months ago about this very subject (distract her with a toy, get her while she's in soppy mode, get someone to help) but it takes no time at all for her to a) want to chew the comb as it's a toy that's begging to be chomped, and then b) lose her temper and get cross.

Where I come unstuck is:
1) getting OH to help should have made it easier, but he (bless his cotton socks) was hopeless; he just helped Freyja fold herself in half, successfully blocking access to the matt
2) that leaves me to 'restrain', entertain and brush at the same time, and although I'm pretty good on the multi-tasking front I still only actually have two hands; once I've dangled the toy and restrained the cat, there's no hands left for comb or scissors
3) because I have to operate on the 'one man band' system, I'm only brave enough to try scissors designed for trimming cat/dog faces and ears.
4) I can't tell where the matt stops and become skin and as I snipped away at my crumpled cat's fur I had the sickening feeling that the next chop might go through her skin

When you guys say you hold their paws, how exactly do you mean? to get under their front legs, do you get them standing on their back legs as though they're stretching upwards?

Hi Karen, I totally sympathise with your difficulties. After years of owning rescue moggies who don't take kindly to the brush, it was supposed to be much easier with a kitten, as you can 'get them used to it'. Hmm, I have found that this only goes so far, and my 2 are getting much less tolerant of the brush as they get older!

I'm nervous of using scissors for the very reason you mention - the chance you might nick their skin - ouch! When using scissors, always get a comb behind the knot, and cut up to the comb. But I don't use scissors any more - I find the cordless beard trimmers are much better. You are much less likely to nick the skin, and you don't have to pull on the knot so much, so I find the cat doesn't mind it as much, even though it makes a slight noise.

Still, you do really need a decent assistant. Any chance of training the OH??

Yes, hold them up so that they're standing on their back legs exposing the belly hair. You could hold them like this with one hand, and attack with the brush using the other hand. Obviously they won't like it, but you could at least give it a bit of a go, and hopefully keep on top of things.

I find the trickiest area is underneath the arms as this is where you would hold them whilst brushing the belly. I just wait until they're all sleepy, and then lift an arm up and get in there. Same with the back legs.

I always remember as a child, my lovely, lovely Auntie Pamela had 2 coffee Persian cats and I used to love watching her brush them. They were so docile - she got her special cat brushing apron on and plonked a cat on her lap, sprinkled a bit of talcum powder on, and brushed their neck and back, then flipped them over and brushed the belly. They would just lie there and take it. She did this every day so they never had knots! I have never known any other cat in my life be so accepting as those two.
My old Persian, Bob, was a bugger and hated the brush...

When we do a two man job we sit cat on lap with back against your body put one hand under & lock two front legs & with other hand do same with back legs,you can then stretch front up,back down,one way at a time or both together if you want them really stretched.Really hard to explain it,Shims is wondering why he is getting sat on my lap with his legs up in the air & nothing happening,its easier to do than write about .....
I never found it easy to play & do I found it better to be firm,do,they learn,then tit bits & play,but I am starting to think I am a very hard mum to my furries.....

Originally Posted by Howlinbob

Still, you do really need a decent assistant. Any chance of training the OH?.

None whatsoever. Especially because I don't actually know what I'm doing either so to be fair to him, he gets barked at in a completely foreign language. Excerpt from the last attempt:
K: Hold it up
OH: Hold what up??
K: The leg, I need to get underneath
>at this point, OH lifts cat into the air so I can literally get 'underneath'<
K: No, not underneath.. underneath the leg!!
OH: Which bloody leg?
K: The left leg.
OH: Your left of my left?
K: Your left! Hurry up, she's getting really pissed off!
OH: Which leg?
K: I've just told you, the left leg. It's not rocket science!
OH: Which left?
K: YOUR LEFT!
OH: I KNOW THAT - BUT SHE'S GOT TWO BLOODY LEFT LEGS!

You get the idea.

Originally Posted by jckkerrison

When we do a two man job we sit cat on lap with back against your body put one hand under & lock two front legs & with other hand do same with back legs,you can then stretch front up,back down,one way at a time or both together if you want them really stretched.Really hard to explain it,Shims is wondering why he is getting sat on my lap with his legs up in the air & nothing happening,its easier to do than write about .....
I never found it easy to play & do I found it better to be firm,do,they learn,then tit bits & play,but I am starting to think I am a very hard mum to my furries.....

That's easier to visualise than you might think, including the confused look on Shims face. I'll give that a go, might be easier than the potential divorce that the other route might cause!
Hard mum... don't think so, missus.

I would luv to have been a fly on the wall with that conversation going on,lefts & rights are never going to mean the same again,thanks for sending me off to feed the furries with a smile.....
She has two left legs,great,not so good that OH was right !!!

Originally Posted by FreyjaRoMaine

K: Hold it up
OH: Hold what up??
K: The leg, I need to get underneath
>at this point, OH lifts cat into the air so I can literally get 'underneath'<
K: No, not underneath.. underneath the leg!!
OH: Which bloody leg?
K: The left leg.
OH: Your left of my left?
K: Your left! Hurry up, she's getting really pissed off!
OH: Which leg?
K: I've just told you, the left leg. It's not rocket science!
OH: Which left?
K: YOUR LEFT!
OH: I KNOW THAT - BUT SHE'S GOT TWO BLOODY LEFT LEGS!

You get the idea.

Hahaha, that really made us chuckle, Karen! Good luck with it - you'll need it, hahaha!

Originally Posted by FreyjaRoMaine

4) I can't tell where the matt stops and become skin and as I snipped away at my crumpled cat's fur I had the sickening feeling that the next chop might go through her skin

When you guys say you hold their paws, how exactly do you mean? to get under their front legs, do you get them standing on their back legs as though they're stretching upwards?

I am worried about cutting his skin too - it is so difficult to tell where the mat ends and skin begins it makes me very nervous using scissors.
I also have to work on my own and I hold his front legs with one hand while he is lying on his back on my lap, head towards me. I manage to comb then under his arms but when it comes to getting the scissors on it you need to hands so I have to let go of his legs. I then get a two second window before he realises he is free. Also while I'm holding his front legs he bits my hands or brings his back legs up to fight me.

I am going to look into those welders gloves!!!

Thanks for all the great advice. I had another go last night, just a short burst and I stopped before he got too mad. It started with him on my lap and ended with him and me on the floor - me playing with him and giving him treats with a brush or two inbetween. It seemed to go a lot better - me less stressed and Simba less cross and I managed to get another mat out.

Karen - that's conversation sounds very familiar

Howlinbob
'I'm nervous of using scissors for the very reason you mention - the chance you might nick their skin - ouch! When using scissors, always get a comb behind the knot, and cut up to the comb. But I don't use scissors any more - I find the cordless beard trimmers are much better. You are much less likely to nick the skin, and you don't have to pull on the knot so much, so I find the cat doesn't mind it as much, even though it makes a slight noise' - I tried to put the comb behind the mat last night but Simba kept knocking it out - however does make sense and felt more comfortable with something between scissors and the skin.

Candes - I think you are right about the pointy scissors - mine are rounded end ones and it's very difficult to get in to the mat but I did manage a few snips and got the mat out by pulling it apart like you suggested - which worked well - thank you.

I'm going to do a bit each night and try and make it fun and relaxing so maybe inthe end he will start to enjoy it - here's hoping. Did get a few more bite marks on my hand last night though

My top gadget for mats/knots is a seam ripper. It is small enough to hide in your hand, just need to be careful not to 'jab' the cat (or more likely - yourself!) with it. I hold the mat gently and just 'rip' through it, working away from the skin. You can also use it to 'saw' through if you can see the sking clearly. I have never injured any of the cats with it, much safer than trying to cut anything with scissors and quite often they dont even realise what I'm doing till I've done it

Originally Posted by Wendy1969

My top gadget for mats/knots is a seam ripper. It is small enough to hide in your hand, just need to be careful not to 'jab' the cat (or more likely - yourself!) with it. I hold the mat gently and just 'rip' through it, working away from the skin. You can also use it to 'saw' through if you can see the sking clearly. I have never injured any of the cats with it, much safer than trying to cut anything with scissors and quite often they dont even realise what I'm doing till I've done it

I've seen a gadget in Pets At Home that does the same thing - it's the same principle as the gizmo Jackie mentioned but this one is small enough you can hide it in your hand. Might invest in one.

I now feel a rejuvinated sense of purpose and will set about Freyja at the weekend - as suggested, short bursts. And I like Jackie and Howlinbob's ideas for cat positions so if I relegate OH to toy dangling and treat supply, we might just get somewhere!