Any groomers out there able to groom a cat for me

[Snagglepuss]

Are their any groomers out there with any experience of grooming and cutting knots out of cats. My 14 year old girl stopped grooming herself properly a while ago now and although I try to brush her every now and then she is starting to not let me do it any more, and she has developed several nasty knots down the back of her legs around her neck in some places, on her upper tummy and now today just found another one on the front of her neck. Am at my wits end as to what to do and hubby is about as useful as a chocolate teapot

[Moonbird]

Are their any groomers out there with any experience of grooming and cutting knots out of cats. My 14 year old girl stopped grooming herself properly a while ago now and although I try to brush her every now and then she is starting to not let me do it any more, and she has developed several nasty knots down the back of her legs around her neck in some places, on her upper tummy and now today just found another one on the front of her neck. Am at my wits end as to what to do and hubby is about as useful as a chocolate teapot

 

I recommend Gemima on here, she was great for my long haired cat and the only person that could really groom her.

[Snagglepuss]

Thanks for that Moonbird will try her and see if she can help get her sorted. I just feel so helpless at the moment and just need to get all those knots out of her. :-(

[hodgepig66]

If she is unable to help please pm me as I groom a lot of cats.

 

To be honest a lot of groomers will not do cats at all,as they are so different to doing dogs,it's knowing how to handle them and been gentle with them.

 

As they get older they can become more lazy or can't reach anymore,they just need a helping hand...

[Moonbird]

Thanks for that Moonbird will try her and see if she can help get her sorted. I just feel so helpless at the moment and just need to get all those knots out of her. :-(

 

Its really awful when they get to that stage isn't it? they so soon look knotty and I know how bad it makes a person feel, poor old puss, looks like she will soon be sparkling again though thanks to her kind Mum

[medusa]

Once they reach the stage where they can't look after themselves I'm an advocate of cutting the lumps out and then clipping the coat length down to a more manageable length as a 'once in a few months' treatment rather than trying to get their coat back to being in a good state, especially if it upsets them to be groomed.

 

I was lucky enough that after a lifetime of massages and grooming, my really long haired girl Tiffy was tolerant enough to let me get battery powered little clippers on one lump at a time as long as I was quick. She was so bony that I daren't groom her with her normal combs as I worried about hurting her, but I don't think she cared very much about whether her coat was even by the time she was at that stage

[midgecat]

My old lad is struggling with a lot of knots on his chest and tummy too. He had some bad teeth which I think made it hard to for him to manage. The teeth are sorted now but the knots aren't. He's ok with me brushing his back, but won't tolerate me doing his tummy. I've tried to pull the knots apart with my fingers whilst he's on my lap, but he's getting fed up with that too, and there's still a long way to go

[Snagglepuss]

Thanks folks, I have come to the conclusion that I really need to have the whole of her coat clipped, not just the knots and as she is elderly and sleeps a lot I don't think she is going to care what she looks like. I just want her to be more comfortable without those blasted knots. She has done so well up to now as all through her life she has been a really good groomer herself and I've never had this problem with her before now. I used to do what Midgecat did and try to tease the smaller knots apart but she won't tolerate me doing this any more no matter how carefully I did it. Plus it's getting to the point that it is upsetting for me thinking they might start to tighten and hurt her, and I don't want that.

[medusa]

If the cat really won't put up with being groomed by a groomer then it's often worth getting your vet surgery to give them a whiff of gas and do it under sedation. It's not like a full anaesthetic so it doesn't carry the risks that are associate with that, and often it can be done much more safely and completely without the cat fighting and getting distressed.

 

Another alternative is to ask your vet for a dose of sedative (valium or similar) that you can put into their food in order to get all of the grooming done in one go without the distress. I'm all for chemical assistance with keeping them calm, if it can be done safely and will save potentially hours of stress for the animal.

[Snagglepuss]

That's a good idea Medusa and I may well have to incorporate those options too. The slight sedation would probably make it less stressful for her.