Any grooming tips

I have always had short haired cats until last year when a friends cat had kittens I ended up with 2 beautiful cats both long haired the female on the whole is ok about being groomed but the male will attack my hands while I groom him. Actually he will attack my hands any chance he gets
He seems better if I pin him by his shoulders to the bed while I groom him as he actually purrs when I do that but I can only do one side if i do this and not get near his tummy or chest any ideas please?

I hope you are using combs to groom the longhair. You have to establish a routine grooming session. Try setting up a card table for that and putting him on the table. If you have to "scruff" him and hold him still while you do his entire body.

Start with around the neck/ruff and work back along the back/sides. Tail and tummy should be last. YOU decide when to end things - not the cat. If he learns that you will stop when he gets too active, he will shorten the session more and more.

Kinda be firm - tell him to "stand still" and then after give him a little treat for good behavior. I find that with longhairs the earlier you start the rountine the better. Also it works for tummy combing to hold the front 2 feet off the table so they only can stand on the back two.

Originally Posted by Gemma

I have always had short haired cats until last year when a friends cat had kittens I ended up with 2 beautiful cats both long haired the female on the whole is ok about being groomed but the male will attack my hands while I groom him. Actually he will attack my hands any chance he gets

He seems better if I pin him by his shoulders to the bed while I groom him as he actually purrs when I do that but I can only do one side if i do this and not get near his tummy or chest any ideas please?

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I hold Persi straight up vertically to get to all his underparts. I do pin him down to the top of the dryer and do one side and then physically turn him over to do the other side. I am quite vigorous in my approach and he lets me know if I am getting to rough with a small bite but not one that is meant to be mean. I think the main reason I have had luck with grooming him is that I started the very day I brought him home as a kitten and he was (too young) only seven weeks but in this manner I was able to get him used to the whole idea.

Thanks for advice Wheatums is a great cat but finds quite a lot of enjoyment in playing rough I have combed him since we got him but mostly as with anything Wheatums related it is on his terms to be honest I can get away with a lot more than my Husband as I can pick him up for cuddles when I want I hope he will calm down a bit after he is neutered.

Often, I have to comb/groom my cats a little at a time. I just do it often enough that it happens to work. Every once in awhile one of them will lay down for a long grooming session.