Okay, it looks like my husband and I have made a descision that we have never given up on a cat and we wont start now. So if I could get some expert grooming advice for persians, I would appreciate it!! I know some of the basics, but heck he sure does need a lot of extras so far. Especially the eyes, nose and the hair around his toosh. I also want to take him to a few shows, so I want to know what to do for those.
Sandie

Hi Sandie. Are you sure about this? :D

Here is what I do. Perhaps others have good suggestions as well.

1. Bathe the cat in a botanical, ( no detergent ) shampoo.

I am soooo tempted tp put that old joke in here on the 20 steps to bathe a cat!! :)

Use a shampoo that is tearless because you want to thoroughly do the face. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

2. Use a moisture rich conditioner. Comb through with a comb with rotating teeth. Rinse.

3. Towel dry.

4. Spray with a leave in coat conditioner and tangle resister. Comb through again.

5. Blow dry on low while brushing with a soft slicker or human metal brush.

If the cat has white around the eyes, there are grooming products that remove tear stains.

I trim a tiny amount of hair just around the bum. Don't take enough for anyone to notice. You can trim the hair around the top of the ears to give them that Teddy Bear look.

I don't understand what you mean around the nose? If it is just dirt, a cottonball with very little soap on it should do the trick.

An area often neglected is the chin. My persians dig right into their food and always have crumbs and stuff in their chins.

Good luck.

Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

[Edited by Harriet on 12-16-2000 at 08:39 PM]

Thank you for the good tips! I meant nose because he is peke faced and the runny eyes kind of go into the cracks where the nose is. He is a cameo and white, but around his eyes are the cream color. I have had different people tell me different things on the cleaners. SOme say to stay away from the commercial tear cleaners, others say to use boric acid????? How often do you really have to comb them to keep matts from forming??

Sandie

Hi Sandie. I comb my cats three times a week. I know some people who swear by the boric acid.

I should have mentioned that if you are bathing for an actual show, don't put the leave in detangler on. They can't have any foreign substances on them. Lots of people use shampoos with blueing in them before a show.

Good Luck.

Thank you again for the useful info. I know how to groom kitties, but persians are a whole new ball game for me. I even have a Domestic longhair, but he is nothing like Moon Shadow. I am going to try and get him into a show in January. I saw one owner this weekend who turns hers upside down and shakes it.....I just dont think the cat could possibly like it THAT much!! The only reason I show is to spend time with the cats and the people who really adore them. What is your suggestion for how often you really need to wipe the eyes to keep the staining down? He just always seems to brown eye crud everywhere!!!

Sandie

If you have the time, wipe them with a wet cottonball every day. You have probably noticed that the inside of the front paws where they clean themselves, can use a wash or wipe every few days too.

You will have to let us know what you think of showing persians. Frankly, I hate it. I just send one out every once in a while because people judge your cats by how show worthy they are instead of how healthy and wonderfully tempered they are.

I can see why you might hate showing. I have only stuck with one association. They are very friendly and none of that politic stuff goes on. I will let you know how I like showing the persian. I am more worried about the grooming than anything else. I should be taking him the 13th of January. I am taking 4 cats with me. I won a free entry at the last show. So I am taking 2 munchkins, a domestic and the persian. I think I will have my hands full. I took your advice and washed him with the tear free kitten/cat shampoo and put some leave in conditioner in. He feels so wonderful. Now if I could just get his eyes to stop running so much. How can you tell if you have an ideal peke faced persian? That and do you know of an all around wipe for cats that is safe for the eyes,ears and coat. Idealy that come in containers like baby wipes??

Sandie

Yes they do make all over wipes. I forget the company, but can find out for you tomorrow.

Peke faced persians have a very pushed in face and the nose is higher to the eyes.

Have the cat checked for Chlamydia or a streptococcis ( sp?) infection if his eyes are running so much. The rims of his eyes should be normal coloured and show no swelling or inflamation.

Let me know how it's going.

Harriet

His eyes are still pretty watery. If by next week he is not any better,(he has been on antibiotics) my vet is going to special order some liquid doxycycline to take care of a chlymidial infection. I am telling you, this poor baby has been in bad shape. I am determined to make him 100%.
I do have a kind of silly question for you. He is constantly stepping in his poop. Does this improve with age?? Today right after I cleaned his litter box, he went and got a drink only to stick his face in the litter. Is this kitten behavior, or am I going to be cleaning him every 5 minutes for the rest of his life?? I have never had a cat do this, so I am in the dark.

Thanks,
Sandie

Hi sandie. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I work in retail. Need I say more this time of year?

I haven't a clue why your kitten does this. Perhaps when he is feeling all better he won't?
I didn't quite understand what you meant when you said," he had a drink and then stuck his head in the litter box." Was he just sniffing to see if it was ' his ' litter box?

Hope you are enjoying a safe and happy holiday.

Yes, I used to work retail for 3.5 years prior to this. I sympathise with you. It is usually a busy time for everyone. Thank you, yes we had a very safe and happy day! We spent our day with our friends at the animal rescue. We all got each other cat nick nacks..hehe. I hope you got the day off and could enjoy the holiday.
As for the litter box..yes he was just curious as to what was in there I guess. He came up looking like a kitty litter cake. He is the only cat I have that steps in his poop and gets it everywhere. I wasn't sure if is was just him being a kitten or the fact that he is a persian and the long hair just gets in the way. I have read some stuff on Persians, but I always seem to read stuff on the healthy normal ones, this does not help me. I dont even know what to look for to see if he was caged or neglected. Maybe all of this stems from some kind of neglect or something. I just wish I knew how to keep him from making a mess everywhere!! Thanks for all the useful info!! I have been using it daily!!!

Sandie

Hi,

I do not use clumping litter with persians because it is so powdery and stays in their fur. When they walk around, they deposit it everywhere. There is also the chance that it can clump in their stomachs when they groom themselves because so much of it is in the long fur. As you have already discovered, after they drink, the litter sticks to their face!!!

Happy New Year everyone!

Well, I am not sure if you mean clumping like the regular clumping. I am using just the regular big granular clay litter right now. I would switch, but eventually he is going to come out and this is what everyone in the house is used to. I am hoping his messiness is associated with him being a kitten. He doesnt cover his mess and then steps in it.
New question though...any thoughts on how to keep him from biting and playing when combing him? If you comb under his chin he purrs and falls asleep, when you go to do his belly or back..his back feet start kicking and he wants to play. He is still in the biting stage..so it is hard to get this grooming done without marks. If you have any suggestions (since this has to be done once a day) I would really appreciate it!!! He is getting neutered tomorrow...wish him luck!!!

Sandie

Hi Sandie, I see you have found a way to get even with him! :D

I don't have any fool proof methods to get the cats to sit still. I use bribery when they are young. I give them a Pounce treat when I am finished so they look forward to my getting the job done. I also don't do a really thorough job each time so that they don't get p!$$&d off.

I guess I would try to just get one or two strokes in on the belly etc. at a grooming. Then go back to his chin.

Good Luck.

Thank you, I am going to try that. He is just the funniest thing I have ever seen. He went with me to work and got neutered. My vet never liked Persians until he met Moon Shadow. He was up and playing within about 2 hours. This cat has such an effect on everyone who meets him. Do you find that most persians are very playful and like to be loved?? I am so glad I have someone to help me with figuring out this grooming stuff. My Munchkins are much easier!!!!:)

Thanks again
Sandie

Well bred persians are the suckiest cats in the world. They have to have good tempernment so you can do all the neccesary grooming! My 13 lbs. tom cat thinks everyone adores him lying across their chest and lap :)

One of my retired breeding queens went to a new home today. She has never been anywhere in her life. I even have my vet come to my home so she has never left the house at all.

The new owner called to say she loved the car ride and was now purring and inspecting the new house with out a bit of trouble.

That's good tempernment!!!

So esentially they are very good lovable cats if bred right? I have always heard that they are very unsocial and now that I have one I had a shock. He is very people, cat and dog friendly for now. I tried what you said about taking a break, it seems to work so far. He does hate baths though. I am hoping he eventually gets used to it!! What made you decide to breed persians? Oh....someone told me that neutering him at 6 months would hamper his growth and make him and undesirable Persian. Is this true???
I am happy your kitty is adjusting to retirement well. I know it is something as a breeder I worry about!

From what I've heard, eary spay/neuter makes the cats larger. Something about sexual maturity halting the growth of the bones (where if you spay/neuter before they reach that age, they keep growing for a few more months).

My two cats were spayed/neutered respectively when they were 4 months old. They're huge (some people get a bit scared when they see our tigers for the first time :D).

Yeah, I can see your point. I cant really say because I have had all of my cats done at around 6 months and I have all different sizes. My biggest is 22lbs. The breeder I got this persian from said that I should wait until he's like 8 or 9 months or his head wont get to normal size. Sounds a little silly to me, but I am not a persian breeder. Irregardless, I neutered him just before 6 months. I didn't want any opps kitties in the house.

Harriett,

Moon Shadow is going to a show on the 13th and 14th. I would like your opinion on what you would use for tear stains. I know theres a lot of products on the market and I would like a good one.
Thanks

Diamond eye and Crystal eye are good products. I think Diamond eyes is better. Wash the face in a tearless shampoo a few times also before the show. Don't forget the front paws if they are light coloured.

Let me know how it goes.

Thank you so much, I was at the pet store with a lost look on my face...saying...which one???? I will let you know how the show goes. I do want to say though that he has not been as messy in his box. I think maybe it was just a kitten thing. It seems all is getting better with him. I suspect he may have been taken to soon from mom and caged quite a bit. This last few months at our house I think has helped. He is such a cutie!!!! I think I may have told you that he is on my web site under who we are if you want to see him.
Thanks again

Hi Sandie. I went and looked at Moonshadow. He looks like a real cutie! Good luck at the show! We may get you hooked on persians yet!

Moon Shadow is doing very well now days, he is such a good kitten. I was wondering if you had any tricks for knots. We brush him every night and he seems to still get at least one or two knots. Is there something I am not doing or putting on him? Baby poweder, conditioner?? You mentioned the leave in conditioner when he is not being shown, which kind would you recomend? Thanks harriet, you have been a bunch of help with this little guy!!

Hi Sandie, I use a supposedly all natural dog product called, " Essentials." It's their detangling spray. Bathe the cat. Towel dry and spray this stuff in and rub through. Wait a couple of minutes and comb and dry. You can use it on dry coats as well. It smells great because it is made of lemon, tangarine and grapefruit. Essentials makes a great no tear kitten shampoo as well!

I can hardly wait to hear how Moon Shadow does at the show! :)

Good article, with some good advice.

http://www.chocolatecats.com/cat_eye_stains_tips.htm

This is an article submitted by a breeder of white persians. Other great tips also available on this site.


Also, to reduce the curly hair under your persians chin, there is a company named "Bottlebabies" at www.bottlebabies.com, great water feeders that won't ruin their gruff!

Thanks for the link. That is a good article.