Conference misery::feline_v1

Your vet can probably help you bathe your reluctant cat...it will not
be cheap, but if you cat has long hair, regular grooming is imperative
to maintain healthy skin...regular grooming includes brushing or
combing at least once every week (long-haired cats require care on
a daily basis, in my opinion) and baths a minimum of 2 to 4 times
a year.

It will not be a pleasant experience for the cat, but find a good, gentle
groomer who will let you stay with the cat while she is trimmed and get
the worst of the hair trimmed where it is knotted and causing pain
when you attempt to comb or brush.  YOU should help hold the cat so she
does not panic quite so much.  Once that is done, then you need to
groom daily - to prevent the pulling and irritation that makes the cat
fight the combing.  You will have to hold the cat firmly, but gently
when combing, but when she realizes she is not going to be hurt, she
will get better about it over time.  While at the groomers, ask them
about combs/brushes and the correct technique to use when combing or
brushing....years ago, I got a lesson on using a comb - and discovered
I had been doing it all wrong, which was hurting my cat and making
her hate grooming!  It isn't as intuitive as we sometimes think.

If the weather is mild or the cat is an indoor-only cat, there is
really nothing wrong with getting a long-haired cat clipped to approx.
1 inch length all around.  Of course, the cat may not agree...8^}

    Try wearing a denim jacket or somesuch for awhile when grooming.
    

    It is very common for Persian breeders to "clip" down their breeding
    cats coats when they aren't being shown.  The only ill effect that
    I know of is the cat's embarrassment. :^)
    
    Jo

    
    	re .-1?
    
    	It has been my observation that the cat's embarrassment 
    	due to whatever (running into a wall, falling off something,
    	etc.) is probably a lot more serious (to the cat) than
    	the hair problem is to the person. *:^)
    	
    	I guess life is full of little tradeoffs, right?
    
    	kim
    

    
    Along with regular grooming try giving your hairball remedy every other
    day during heavy shedding seasons.  Be very careful to give it
    porperly, one hour or more before a meal or two to three hours after a
    meal.  (If you don't the hairball remedy will block the cats proper
    digestion of food, and you will have a bigger problem.  Cats will shed
    more if not getting good nutrition.)  Hopefully this will help with the
    vomiting problem.  Let us know how you make out, we care!
    
    Feline Anxious about Your Kitty,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot- who sheds and vomits too!
    
    

    Short Shaving Anecdote:
    
    I knew a cat named Luger who lived at a pet shop.  Luger was a huge,
    fat cat with long orange fur, who never seemed to get around to
    cleaning his backside.  Laurie would bath him and cut the matted
    fur and grumble.  Then one summer day, she said "I've had it.  If
    you can't do a better job of keeping yourself clean, I'm just going
    to shave you.  I don't care if you *are* embarrassed."  So she
    *really* shaved him - only left a lion's mane and the fur on his
    front legs.  Luger was *thrilled*!  It was like his true personality
    emerged - he was no fat slothful tabby, he was a *lion*!  He strutted
    and preened, and posed in the showcase window to show off to the passers
    by - that was one happy semi-naked cat.
      

    What a great story!  I think that a lion's mane, furry legs, and
    a plumed tail would be a very stylish cut, indeed.  
    
    In addition to groomers, vets can shave a cat for you too.  They
    have shavers.  Of course, the cat would probably look better if
    the groomer did it, since vet techs learn to shave cats for surgery
    rather than for looks.
    
    Jo

    re: 7
    
    Stylish cut, you say?  I've got one of those running around my
    house right now.  I gotta tell ya, he really looks FUNNY and
    WEIRD !  Every time I look at him, I still laugh.  This is
    my first experience with a shaved Persian, and I nearly choked
    with laughter when Cin finished shaving him.  Guess you can
    get used to anything!!    

Uh, I'm not a breeder, but if you intend to let the cat outside, I
don't think I'd SHAVE (a naked kitty might get a chill, you know)..maybe
a short clip?  My mother takes her Miniature Snauzer down to a nice
1 inch all over clip with the gromming clippers and the fur is just
long enough to prevent sunburn (a concern in New Mexico) and not
long enough to get tangled or anything.  She has learned to do this
herself so it isn't expensive anymore....of course, the dog doesn't
look like a snauzer anymore, but she does look comfortable!  

Sorta like the dog equivalent of shorts and tank top....

    Zip, Zip!!  As Sweetie's Grandma Mary, I'm entitled to some opinion!
    Zip!  Off with that fur!!  What's more embarrasing...a clipped bottom
    or half a ton of litter and poop hanging off your bloomers??  I keep
    Honey's bloomers clipped back quite a bit, especially when he gets into
    something and gets 'loose stools'.  I have the vet shave him back,
    which he despises, then I keep it up from there.
    
    Give my little Sweetie a hug....
    
    Mary
    
    P.S.  Julie said she'll take whatever fur you clip off!!