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Clipping kitty

post #1 of 15
10/20/11 at 2:45pm
Thread Starter 
I clipped Meuzette in a loin clip last week. She is a long hair cat that had mats hanging on her.
The older she gets, the less she takes care of herself. Have you witnessed this?
I hated to clip her, but she is more comfortable. She hated the bath most. She thought the clippers were being nice purring all over her body.
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post #2 of 15
10/21/11 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MeuzettesMom View Post
I clipped Meuzette in a loin clip last week. She is a long hair cat that had mats hanging on her.
The older she gets, the less she takes care of herself. Have you witnessed this?
I hated to clip her, but she is more comfortable. She hated the bath most. She thought the clippers were being nice purring all over her body.
I can say having worked in Humane Societies across the United States, that I have witnessed what you described above.

I only have two suggestions for you. The first is brush the cat frequently, if it will allow you to do so. That will help the hair from matting. If the cat does not like to be brushed, then you could cut the mats out individually.

I am sorry I can not offer much more help .
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post #3 of 15
10/21/11 at 2:49pm
Thread Starter 
Meuzette would knot up her hair faster than I could brush. I took off one by one, the mats. But they took her over and I was up against a mess. I had to take the chance. She is cold but its still better than in winter time.As soon as I can take pictures I will show you. She is busy right now.
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post #4 of 15
10/22/11 at 12:11pm
I think keeping her clipped would be a great option for the both of you, in that case. However funny it might look, if she's more comfortable and it prevents mats, then go for it!

Ooh, I bet if you wanted to keep her warm in the winter, you could put a kitty sweater on her like they do with those hairless Sphynx kitties...
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post #5 of 15
10/23/11 at 1:24am
I see this all the time. Cats get arthritis or just aren't as flexible. More oil is usually produced or the skin may become drier. Since kitty doesn't self groom as much, oil doesn't get distributed, so tangled clumps start forming.

Use a metal comb to remove undercoat & untangle fur. A winter alternative to a Lion shave is a comb clip or Teddy Bear. This involves a special comb attached to the correct clipper blade, then combed through the fur. Depending on attached comb, fur left will be anywhere from 1/8 to 7/8 long, and have a plush, stuffed teddy bear appearance.

Having a bit of undercoat and guard fur left will help keep kitty warmer in winter than a shave.
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post #6 of 15
10/24/11 at 2:09am
Thread Starter 
I admit she must be cold with the cold weather setting in. She is in the bed almost all day. I will go look of a sweater. I seen some cute ones at Walmart. She isn't down to the skin She has some fluff. Not as much as with a comb blade. I didn't have that option. But I will.
There will be pictures one I can get the sun and her out at the same time
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post #7 of 15
10/24/11 at 5:46pm
I think she will look adorable in a little kitty sweater. I'm looking forward to see some pictures of her new hair cut
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post #8 of 15
10/25/11 at 2:24am
Thread Starter 
If all goes well I should have pictures today or tomorrow.
Busy day today.
Work. Turn in camera. Go get cat food. check on my dying brother. try to cheer him. If he is still here. I am getting a morning ribbon one of these days.
good thing I am much experienced with death having so many animals in my life. What dread though.
Wish I could give him a lion clip and help him be more comfortable. Cancer is a one big ouch.
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post #9 of 15
10/25/11 at 7:44am
Sorry to hear about your brother....

I used to have to clip my long-haired senior kitty, Winky every year. I had a few of those padded fleece kitty houses for her around the house with a blanket inside. She loved to curl up in those, toasy warm. Be careful with the sweater. Most cats will not wear a sweater or even comfortably walk around, let alone use the litter box. But surely give it a try !!!!!
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post #10 of 15
10/26/11 at 1:51am
Thread Starter 
I am at my brothers now. Standing guard. He wants to walk. Trouble is...he is out of his mind. I let him. Heck he is dying who cares... their going to move this topic
I will post the pix of my clipped kitty when I get home again.
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post #11 of 15
11/2/11 at 12:12am
Thread Starter 

Some examples of a cold cat

Meuzette the lionMeuzettes clipping

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post #12 of 15
11/4/11 at 1:26am
Thread Starter 

How long does it take before her hair is back to a desent length? We're coming on to our winter months. She had tangles that looked like rocks and needed the clipping. But I do feel sorry for her. We cuddle a lot.

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post #13 of 15
11/6/11 at 2:04pm

Aw, poor forcibly short-haired cat! :P

 

As for how long it takes to grow back: About a month to get back to average length. Maybe a bit more than that.

 

You can tell a cat is conserving warmth if it sits with all its paws tucked under and tail curled around, if it seeks out warm, soft spots exclusively, and if it cuddles with you more than it usually does. A cat which is feeling chilly will generally have cold ear tips; but that doesn't mean it's dangerously cold. Cats will shiver when they're really cold, just like humans do; and just like for humans, a shivering cat will be fine if it gets access to warmth, because shivering means its body temperature is still being controlled.

 

Your kitty looks pretty relaxed despite the funny look of the short fur. She doesn't seem to be bunching up as though she's really cold--she's still sitting up, and her paws are on the ground, not tucked under. Bet she's more comfortable now, with those mats gone.

 

Have you tried one of those "self-heating" cat beds? It's really just a cat bed with a thermal blanket inside--you know, the shiny foil emergency blanket type thing you keep in your car in case you break down in winter? That kind of thing. It reflects the cat's body heat back to the cat, and many cats find it quite comfortable. Don't know where to find one, but they're not that uncommon.

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post #14 of 15
11/10/11 at 10:49pm
Thread Starter 

I had one of those self heating pads for her. Because she was always on her screened in deck in the winter, I figure if she sits out in the cold, she should have some help.

Her hair is longer now that its been three weeks, going on four.

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post #15 of 15
11/15/11 at 2:37pm
Thread Starter 

I was watching Meuzette sitting in the sun today. She glistened. Between the grain free diet, the clipping. Your advise has helped so much. You all have made the difference in her insides as well as her outside. Thank you for this site. You made one old kitty healthier.

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