Hello.... My cat won't let me brush him.... and he needs it DANGIT!

     My Cat is a MANIAC and WON'T let me brush him, FOR ANYTHING.

     My cat WILL NOT let me brush him, and I just realized he sheds like crazy. Before I didn't think the issue was too bad because I just couldn't see it in the carpet. I bought a pet high suction Dyson vacuum. It was so bad my allergic itchy eyes(due to cat hair) could tell the difference IMMEDIATELY, after vacuuming. I vacuum every other day and it ASTONISHES me HOW MUCH CAT HAIR comes up. I need to brush this cat and help control the situation but when I say it's impossible, it's impossible. I got so fed up once, I tried to hold him down a little BUT HE WIGGLED SO MUCH I COULDN'T EVEN BRUSH HIM ONCE. Besides that, it isn't option, I don't want him to hate me over this! (Please don't lecture me, I know what it can do and you're not supposed to.Not the point of  my question, it just shows how crazy he goes.) I pretty much gave up because I figured all cats just hated being brushed. Then one day, I saw several video's of cats being brushed and the cat would be JUST SITTING THERE,  not even moving. In one the cat  moved a little and the owner acted as if he was the most out of control cat in the world... this made me realize it isn't normal. I don't know if he thinks it's a game or just doesn't like it... Or both? He thinks everything is a game... me typing on the computer, reaching for a glass of water, or even using the TV remote is, in his mind, me playing a game messing with him. Plus, I KNOW, he hates it because his back twitches if I even pet it a little.

     Okay, first of all... I AM BEGGING YOU, PLEASE, don't tell me he will get use to it... or just give him a treat before, so, he associates treats with being groomed. I even tried every typical answer, and as I suspected, nothing worked.  LASTLY, calming him down and then brushing him while he's calm won't work either... he goes from -5 to 10000 in half a stroke of the brush. Sorry for listing all the things NOT to suggest, it's just that, I've been looking for answers for a while and only heard these, or close to these time after time. I have never posted on this website before though, I was reading other threads and this website seems to be ACTUAL people who are giving ACTUAL answers. Opposed to people who don't even have cats and just googled it... thinking my crazy playful kitty will let me just cause he's calm during that moment, as if THAT'S really the answer here.  I just need a more UNIQUE answer on what to do because the typical answers don't work.  Maybe something from someone who had the same issue? I WOULD APPRECIATE IT SOO MUCH !!  Thanks guys! Again, sorry if this might sound somewhat rude? Not my intention, just wanting to get an answer that can help.

Sounds like he may Feline Hyperesthesia syndrome. I have never had to deal with it so really don't have any advice except to talk to the vet about it. If this is the problem,he isn't being bad,he is in distress.

The thing with cats who don't like brushing, and trying out a bunch of solutions and deciding that none of them work, is that it isnt something that has a quick fix magic solution.  I don't know how long you have tried at a system of acclimatisation,  but to give perspective from someone who has a highly energetic, don't touch me much cat (me!), it took me a good two years of steadily and calmly and oh, so, slowly, working with him to eventually be able to do a successful grooming task (in my case, trimming nails - we don't need brushing).   So, in case you didn't have a 'how slow this has to go' scale, now you do! And maybe some of those solutions can be harnessed to better (eventual) success.

This is a great article on a methodology for enjoyable grooming (and the same type of methodology I used for nail trimming): http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/grooming-the-cat/202

It doesn't sound as though he is traumatised and terrified; just high energy and can't settle as everything is a toy/game?  If so, you WILL get there.  Most of all, be calm and patient yourself, with the feelings that this i sgoing to be a good bonding time (even if it is only for 2 seconds! And he just wants to chew the brush!).  Stress on the humans part, or exasperation, works badly with these type of cats - it amps it all up even more.

I'm not sure also if he tolerates other types of touching, and it is just the brushing he doesn't want?  Could be the tools in that case; buy a few and see which he likes.  Here's a guide, and there's some pretty interesting stuff!: http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/sy...ative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=&tag=thecatsite

Luckily for me, I have a short haired one coated cat (two cats actually), so I can get by with a good diet (reduces hair fall and improves coat), stroking them outside with wet hands or a wet paper towel in molting season, and I also shower them once a month.  We have a pleasant working relationship for all of these - but neither like brushing.  It has taken 4 years, and my boy finally sees the brush as NOT something to chew, but something he actually does like ONLY ON HIS CHEEKS AND CHIN!  So maybe there are other tools/methods that might work even if your cat still can't get used to brushing

Oh, and one more, more drastic measure...some people in hot climates get their long haired cats 'shaved' (a 'lion cut') by the vet - I think it is done under anaesthetic??.  My neighbour just had this done (cat looks GREAT, and much happier with both hairballs and heat).  If you opt for this, maybe it would work well as part of your overall methodology for establishing pleasant grooming; the shave will eliminate all the snags that might be there and hurting him when you try to brush, so start a more pleasant association...

Here's some rather ridiculous pictures of the 'lion cut' - some people obviously arent doing it to help the cat!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/sy...ative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=&tag=thecatsite