rescue mc, vet, groomer or home for mats?

As posted in my intro have a mc in need of some tlc. He has one really large knot of fur by his hip and he won't let me touch it. He let me snip all the little ones and this is the only remaining one. He gets really distressed if I attempt to touch it and it is obviously causing him a great deal of pain. Those big paws pack some power!!!!!!!:winkwink:

Think I know the answer, but would I be best letting a groomer look at it or should I just book him in vets for a general and let them deal with fur and have a good check over him? He needs vacs etc.

I feel like a child asking this kinda question but I need to do best for my now 3 days in very beloved cat xxxx

Personally, I'd make a Vet appointment. Like you said, it would be a good idea for a physical anyway.
How about the name "Mattie".
Usually I can catch the matts when they are new, and I just tear them apart and then comb or brush, works good so that I am not cutting off too much good fur.

Oh, I'm still learning too, even though Paris has lived with us for 3 years now. It's a new day, everyday!!!

Hi
My Fred is a total cotton coat and knots so easily. I use a special knot cutter, looks a bit like a hook with a blade. You have to be so careful when you cut knots out as their skin isnt like ours and if you catch them its a vet visit!

Because he was so bad between his back legs and never let me go there, I got the vet to shave him when he had a recent anaesthetic for something else.

You can get all sorts of detangle lotions but if its that bad I would get the vet to deal or go see the vets nurses who are trained in this and they may be able to get it out for you without putting him under.

I try and comb Fred every day and we are making it a routine, I get a towel out, put it on the table and put him on the towel, he is getting better, but if yours is a rescue he may never have been groomed properly and you will need to get him used to it.

I have bathed mine as well, 2 pairs of hands are firmly needed but it helps.

Well done you for taking in a rescue, he will love you forever for it!!!

Ruth
x

Hello catslave! We also have a rescue maine coon boy - Mufasa who is now 21 months, In my first ever post I copied a photo from the rescue of how he looked when he came in (scroll down until you find the extremely sorry looking mangled cat!):

http://http://www.maine-coon-forum.i....html#post9253

Apparently he was full of knots and it took the owner of the rescue (also a professional groomer) two weeks to remove them! So it can be done if you decide to go down the groomer route and I expect your lovely new boy isn't as bad as Moofie was. A vet check is always a good idea. I find we have to brush the fur around Moofie's legs every couple of days or the knots just miraculously appear even if he has a few of days of mostly sleeping. I must admit I have had to cut a few out, usually I try and tease them out with a comb and fingers but when he starts swearing and swiping I tend to get some scissors and gently snip the knot away!

Thank you for your advice, and putting my mind at ease that his fur is not that bad.

The still un named Furball is booked into groomers on Tuesday, he needs a pedicure and he does pong a bit. ..... well a lot! Vets booked for Weds for check up and if groomer has no luck to sort his fur.

I wish them both the best of luck as when I tried introducing a brush today the Furball seemed to have an extra dozen paws appear. Tub of cotton buds and a sardine bribe and did manage to keep some skin on my hands while getting half a bag of old fur off him.

I think it's vital to condition our cats to being combed and groomed, especially on the belly and the britches.
My Samantha loved to be combed almost every night on the top side but she didn't like her belly and britches combed.
I used detangler comb with roller tines and they do a really good job of stripping the loose fur on top but the softer finer fur underneath tangles so easily and I'm sure it hurts when you try to comb it.
The mats especially on the britches grow so fast that if you don't catch them early they get tight against the skin.
My ex used to hold her by the scruff under her arm while I'd cut the mats out and perform a butt shave, needless to say kitty didn't enjoy the experience and when my ex left and it was just me it was impossible.
I could sneak up and snip off some of the smaller mats but if they got big I had to take her to the groomer.
Luckily I found a place very close and the lady that ran it would schedule me when there were no dog present, the girls there loved Samanth and they give her a bath, demat her and also thin out the excess belly fur.
She was very well behave there but once she knew dad was there to pick her up she'd start to cry.
After these visits I'd try to keep those areas combed and mat free but to no avail, once they started she wouldn't let me comb those spot and the mats would grow again.
Going to the groomer was about 2-3 times a year and she was extra pretty and sweet smell when she cam back that it was well worth the expense.