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Always the brushing conundrum at my house

post #1 of 14
2/4/11 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 
Maybe that's the right word. But it is always a hassle.

This is what happens. I start brushing or combing one, and another one hears it and comes over. Pretty soon they are vying for the attention. Though I can brush two at once, that's not good enough. Claude tries to push Harlow away. And Lily smacks anyone else who gets close (except Ariel who she loves).

Just now, Ariel was in the mood to let me brush her. I started, and Lily started purring loudly and rubbing against me asking for her share. Ariel has long hair, but Lily likes it the most, so we proceed. But soon Harlow is here, crowding the space looking for his turn. And then Claude is moving in. Soon it is just too much. I can't brush 4 cats at once! So I give up. And Ariel, who needs the brushing the most, isn't brushed.

The only one who is not a pain about the whole thing is Tonya, and that's because she is in her room at the other end of the house.

I'm just venting. Thanks for "listening!"

Robin
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post #2 of 14
2/4/11 at 7:16pm
Wessie doesn't enjoy being brushed. Wish he did. Maybe you should lock yourself all alone in a room with Ariel when it's brushing time. Then you'll just hear all the kitties at the door!
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post #3 of 14
2/4/11 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by catbehaviors View Post
Wessie doesn't enjoy being brushed. Wish he did. Maybe you should lock yourself all alone in a room with Ariel when it's brushing time. Then you'll just hear all the kitties at the door!
Locking Ariel in a room would seem logical. However, Ariel is completely nutso, and closing a door with her and me in a room would most likely set off a panic attack in her which would not be pretty. She would then not allow me near her (growling, hissing, yowling, scratching - you get the picture).

Just finding her in the mood to accept being brushed doesn't happen every day. Lots of the time she complains loudly if I even get near her. Other times she comes over to me, yowling (no sweet little mews from this one) asking to be petted. But then it's like it hurts so good and she can't stand it. She moves in for me to touch her, then complains and moves away. Then over again. She's a pistol!

The others, love, love, love brushing and combing, as much as I'm willing. Except, Harlow doesn't like it if it pulls, but then he usually tries to bite the comb or brush, not me. And he doesn't want me to stop, even so.


Robin
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post #4 of 14
2/4/11 at 7:50pm
I have no idea how this happened, but our kitties are willing to sit and take turns. I can imagine what a nightmare it could be if they kept vyying for the "brushing spot." Even Chum is starting to really enjoy being brushed (as opposed to just tolerating it LOL). But I can give 2-3 brushes on each cheek, move to the next cat, and just keep going around in a circle as they collect. Truly lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've learned to play with both hands - but using two brushes is not a skill I've developed.
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post #5 of 14
2/4/11 at 8:18pm
OMG, I'm a bad meowmy. I haven't brushed Trout since she was a wee kitten
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post #6 of 14
2/4/11 at 10:05pm
Hey at least your cats like being brushed. You should see what we go through here trying to brush Luna and Midnight!
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post #7 of 14
2/5/11 at 5:55am
It is a good thing your cats like brushing!!! Pipsqueak comes running as soon as he hears the cabinet doors open where I keep the grooming supplies. The kittens still are deciding if they like brushing. Perla seems to enjoy it. I try to brush them a little bit each day to get them used to it. Magilla LOVES to be brushed which is a good thing since she is long-haired
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post #8 of 14
2/5/11 at 6:25am
Shut the others up and leave Ariel out for her brushing?

I have a couple that both love being groomed, but not to the extent that they start fussing with each other.
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post #9 of 14
2/5/11 at 8:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Shut the others up and leave Ariel out for her brushing?
That would set her off, too. She is very wary of anything out of the ordinary. Seeing me pick up the others and shut them away - she'd think she was next. And that would NOT be acceptable to her.

Having a neurotic cat, who is also smart, is challenging.

Robin
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post #10 of 14
2/5/11 at 8:37am
I was thinking more of catch them sleeping when she's out in another room and quietly shutting the door. If you make it obvious a cat will notice.

I have one here that hates the bedroom door being shut, it really doesn't matter what side of it she's on. She'll insist the door be opened if she's in the room, then once it is doesn't show any interest it going through. But if she's out occupied somewhere on the other side of the house I can sneak that door shut. It's probably mean of us, but sometimes we'll shut the door just so she'll find it and come yell at us - see she's normally quiet and reserved, unless she really wants something then she'll march you in whatever direction said thing she wants is.

Hm, what are some other things that really distract the other two? Can you tire them out into a deep afternoon nap?
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post #11 of 14
2/5/11 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 
It's the other 3 who come running when I brush or comb 1. The main problem, with all those good ideas, strange wings, is that, in the first place, Ariel has to be in the right frame of mind to allow me to brush her. Sigh.

She is isolated from all but Harlow during the dinner time wet food meal. I may try to brush her then. I can only sort of do it anyway, as she won't allow two hands near her, nor brushing on the back of the legs (where there are mats) nor underneath.

But just to show how difficult she is, many a night she won't come to the kitchen to eat this wet meal. She's just not interested. All my other cats are eager for it. Often I take the bowl to wherever she is (under desk, piano bench, or in favorite round bed) and put it by her to try to get her to eat some of it. Sometimes she does. Sometimes not. And when she was at the shelter, the workers all there said that canned food was the key to Ariel's heart. Not anymore. And I feed all different kinds that the other cats love. And some nights she is eagerly waiting for it like the others, and digs right in.

She's hard to figure out. I keep working on her. I'm probably going to have to get the cat groomer to come over to tackle her. I think I'll leave when those fireworks go off.


Robin
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post #12 of 14
2/5/11 at 9:07am
I know you said three, but I understood that as Lily isn't as big of problem with Ariel - that Harlow and Claude are.

You can certainly try sneaking in brushing whenever you can. I'd maybe try towards her finishing her food so if she decides to run off she doesn't miss a whole meal. I've taken to keeping the grooming tools out sometimes on the coffee table making them easy to reach and less likely to tip the others off than if they where in a drawer or cabinet.

I also have a couple that are odd about eating. Their problem is my BIL - he's a bit loud and that spooks them, sometimes - it's not even consistant.
I think with wet food it's because we give it to them daily. It's no longer a special treat if they expect it. And around here if I deviate from their scheduled wet meal in anyway I have mad kitties.

Speaking of expecting.. Blann's howling for an early lunch and BIL is sleeping so I'm off to feed the furballs.
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post #13 of 14
2/5/11 at 9:21am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I have the combs and brushes out (several of them - cheap ones, though) in several places in the house so I can sneak in a few licks before others come running (and I hate clutter!). And especially to try to catch Ariel "in the mood" wherever that is.

Lily is a problem with the brushing because she wants it all to herself and gets in the way. She just doesn't smack Ariel like she does the boys when they butt in. Claudio absolutely will not allow me to brush/comb Harlow unless he is comatose somewhere else in the house. But Claudio is constantly jealous of Harlow and there are minor altercations between them about this every day. Sometimes I am just fed up with all the cattiness around here!

You're probably right about the food not being a treat anymore. Ariel's spoiled.


Robin
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post #14 of 14
2/5/11 at 9:31am
You have to just continue trying to be creative and sneaky. Such is the problem with a multicat household where every cat thinks they need to be the center or attention. (or at least demands quite a bit of it)

You should see me try to manage play sessions without setting off a fight (not a true fight - just fussing) or upsetting anyone. 6 of them love the laser pointer with Tanna being very pushy and hogging it. I have to sneak it to the opposite side of the room where Siri sits alone just to give her a little time with the laser dot. Wand and string toys quickly accumulate 3 or 4 cats who all want to play at once and definitely do not want to share.
Thankfully Siri is often awake in the afternoon when the others are asleep otherwise she'd never get to play for everyone butting in. (again, Siri does not really like other cats and has minimum of 3 1/2'-4' personal space zone that she hates to have invaded unless she's the one initiating.)
Like you, I wish they'd all just get along and settle down.
(The dynamic in my house sort of go like this. Sho really dislikes Siri, Sherman loves to antagonize Siri - she really detests him. Siri is also guilty of antagonizing Sho at times. Sho doesn't quite trust bigger Sherman in play and thus misunderstands and fusses over nothing, yet is usually fine with him and will even forget and initiate play. Tomas is clever and uses that to subtly manipulate/push the others around, but doesn't really physically resort to anything and can get along with Siri most of the time. He does on occasional pick at Sherman by pinching one of his ears to listen to Sherman whine - then grooms him. Kittens want to be everyone's friend and even have a great deal of immunity with Siri. She'll play with Blann a little if the mood strikes her. Despite that it's usually not too bad around here, but I find myself verbally correcting someone daily - either telling Siri to back off/be nice or one of the boys to leave her be. )
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