need some ideas on how to contain my cat to shave it... lol

[surfergirl602]

I need to shave some hair mats from my cats back legs. He hates being groomed, and has very sharp claws. Any ideas on how I can contain him so I can shave the hair balls off without killing myself in the process? I've called to several groomers, and they want to charge me upward to 100 dollars! I want to see if I can do it myself first.

Thanks!

 

[NC State]

I have a very old cat and his hair has mats too. I would love to know also.

 

[EveDallas]

Please be very careful if you try it yourself. Cat skin is paper thin and tears very easily. One slight slip with clippers can end up costing you much more than $100 in vet bills. Believe me - I've seen it many times.

 

[RadioNate]

Pay the groomer. Does you vet have one? I don't remember it costing that much. But trust me, this is NOT something you want to do yourself.

BTDT. We had a Maine Coon that got very matty in her old age. Nightmare. Pay a professional!

 

[Crittermom]

Welders gloves help! I have used a towel to papoose wildlife in my rehab care but it is still tricky isolating a body part.

On a funny note, my MIL once brought in a huge stray tom cat that was very matted. She sat him on the floor between her legs and brushed and relaxed him. She then began using her little cuticle scissors as they were handy. Everything was going well she reported until she was working on a spot on his belly near his tail. When she snipped, he yowled, and then began to bleed. She felt so bad. So she bundled him up to rush him to a vet nearby. The vet looked at his cut and said, Lady, I don't know what you were trying to do but you almost castrated him. That is no hairball you were after!!!

Poor cat. She and I were both crying from laughing so hard at her mistake. The cat still loves her.

 

[stashbin]

Get some kitty drugs and knock him out for a little while. When he wakes up he will be freshly shaved.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We always used scissors to cut out the mats. Of course our cat Smokey growing up was a long haired good natured cat and would just sit there.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Just don't try to do it while you're driving a car!

(see other shaving post!)

 

[livinlife25]

As a former groomer, I would highly advise you to pay the money to go to a groomer or vet. Cats skin is alot different than dogs/humans etc and will gape open if you make one wrong step. Currently having a cat that needed medical work done (stitches) it ended up being 450. After the matts are cut out be very digilent and get a grooming routine to prevent it from happening again, saving alot of money in the long run.

 

[mlittig]

Good luck with that We have enough trouble giving our cats medicine and cutting their nails

 

[luvmy3]

When my cat got a mat on her back the vet took a fine toothed metal comb and combed it out, but it more or less ripped it off her That was the last time we saw that vet.
My cat is big and she can't clean that spot well so if she gets one there, I cut it out. I use the kitty wipes to keep her clean and I use a furminator, that helps keep the mats away so I really don't have to do it often, thank goodness.

 

[FergieTCat]

A huge glass of wine (for you).

I am positive that no good will come from this. Let us know what happens!!

Better you than me, that's all I gots to say ... better you than me ...

 

[Silent1CB]

I've always found that the minute you contain a cat, you are just asking for trouble. Makes sense. You trap them, they want to flee.

I used to do my cats mats when she was very groggy or asleep. Same with nail clipping.

 

[Imzadi]

Let us know what happens!!

You mean if the OP lives through it all.

I've always found that the minute you contain a cat, you are just asking for trouble. Makes sense. You trap them, they want to flee.

Yes, my vet pointed out when I asked if I needed to hold her while he was giving her an inoculation how cats don't like to be confined. If you notice, they grab the rear leg and stab the shot into it really quickly and let go before the cat goes crazy.

 

[My sister's princess]

Can I just say, I am LOL, and the DH is looking at me like I am nuts. I can so picture you chasing your cat around trying to do this

 

[bumbershoot]

To contain a cat, I would wrap the cat in a towel. That was for nail clipping, though.

When our cat got mats, I came at it like I did my own hair (which could start to go to dreadlocks in days, when it's long)...just kept brushing tiny little strokes, going further and further into the mat. I think I remember vaguely just using the very end of scissors to just get into the mat a tiny little way...that would actually get me pretty far, because mats, like (my cousin's) dreadlocks, build on themselves, and if you cut them just a bit, it can all unravel (which is why my car looked like a blonde cat exploded when my cousin cut her dreadlocks shorter on her own...they just started to unravel). Then I would just brush and brush and brush some more until it had worked its way out.

This was NOT a one-shot thing. But I suffered along with her when we had to contain her...cat dander was bad enough for me. But *stressed* cat dander was dangerous for my lungs, so I tried to avoid stressing her as much as possible.


Good luck!

 

[kacaju]

Please be very careful if you try it yourself. Cat skin is paper thin and tears very easily. One slight slip with clippers can end up costing you much more than $100 in vet bills. Believe me - I've seen it many times.

i was going to say the same

 

[handinpocket]

I had a cat with mats and the "groomer", I use that term loosely, ripped the mats and skin off! I always put the kitties between my knees, while wrapped tightly in a towel and clip any mats with scissors. I then use clippers to carefully trim the area. I would never waste money on groomers again.

 

[DVCLiz]

When our cat got mats, I came at it like I did my own hair (which could start to go to dreadlocks in days, when it's long)...

I'm so curious about this - about how long does it take to make hair into dreadlocks? (Not that I'm going to try it - I think it's a disgusting mess!) I was under the impression it took several weeks...

Also, isn't it really a matted up wad? How could it untangle?

Finally, what's the difference between cat dander and stressed cat dander? Is the cat secreting some extra hormone that is an allergen more so than regular cat dander? Sorry - I'm just feeling nosy and these are questions I want answers to...

 

[Minnie]

A huge glass of wine (for you).

I am positive that no good will come from this. Let us know what happens!!

Better you than me, that's all I gots to say ... better you than me ...

ITA!!!

OP - I'd give your vet a call.... This is not a DIY project