getting cat used to grooming

Hello,

I've always used a brush with my kitten, who is now 13 months, but she mainly liked it on her face/cheeks and I would do the tuft under her neck and run it a bit down her back.  Now that's she's shedding for the first time I realize this grooming really has to be all over.  I got the furminator and I'm trying to get her used to that.  I'm also using her more wire brush too, switching between the two.

A few times a day I try to groom her and she usually walks away pretty quickly or if I go to her again she motions with a little bite move so I stop.  She let's me do it for about 30 seconds.  But then I'll try again later in the day- maybe 3 or 4 times a day.  Is this too much?

I use the same brush as I use with her 5 month old brother (not the furminator yet).  Will she not like the smell as much because it has the kitten on it?  They do get along and she cleans him and such.

I have had the most luck while she's sleeping.  I also clip a couple of nails when she's sleeping too.  She'll wake up a little and stretch, and she's swatted sleepily a couple of times  and fall back to sleep while I do it,  but that has seemed to work.  Is this going to backfire and she's going to have nightmares about how much I'm bugging her or something like that? 

I have to brush one of my cats while she's sleeping or almost asleep, too.  Otherwise she thinks the brush is a toy and is constantly swiping and biting at it!  

Is your cat long or short haired?

Here are a couple of articles about grooming and how often most cats need it to be done:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/grooming-your-cats-coat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/seven-reasons-why-you-should-regularly-groom-your-cat

Thank you betsygee.  I remember you being so supportive when I got my first cat a year ago.  I read the links, thank you.

I have a Siberian and their coat is described as: Siberians have a long, heavy triple coat, a full mane-like ruff and a medium-length tail with thick fur.  

beesto said:

 
 I remember you being so supportive when I got my first cat a year ago. 

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Thank you!  

Can you have them groomed by a professional groomer now and then?  I brush mine at home but a couple of times a year I have a professional do it, to get at the places I miss!  

Are you having a problem with shedding or hairballs or something, or just trying to get them in the habit of being brushed?  It's a smart thing to do, with the nail trimming too.  We started cutting our kitties' nails when they were little so they are used to it and don't mind me doing it now.

beesto said:

 
Hello,

I've always used a brush with my kitten, who is now 13 months, but she mainly liked it on her face/cheeks and I would do the tuft under her neck and run it a bit down her back.  Now that's she's shedding for the first time I realize this grooming really has to be all over.  I got the furminator and I'm trying to get her used to that.  I'm also using her more wire brush too, switching between the two.

A few times a day I try to groom her and she usually walks away pretty quickly or if I go to her again she motions with a little bite move so I stop.  She let's me do it for about 30 seconds.  But then I'll try again later in the day- maybe 3 or 4 times a day.  Is this too much?

I use the same brush as I use with her 5 month old brother (not the furminator yet).  Will she not like the smell as much because it has the kitten on it?  They do get along and she cleans him and such.

I have had the most luck while she's sleeping.  I also clip a couple of nails when she's sleeping too.  She'll wake up a little and stretch, and she's swatted sleepily a couple of times  and fall back to sleep while I do it,  but that has seemed to work.  Is this going to backfire and she's going to have nightmares about how much I'm bugging her or something like that? 

Click to expand...

My Lola has lots of hair and I have to brush her everyday for at least 20 minutes or so. She doesn't hate it, but sometimes she gets annoyed. I have found that with a set pattern/schedule she have become more accustom to getting brushed and has figured out it's gonna happen regardless.

She's an indoor cat so I haven't seen the need to do professional grooming, but maybe someday.  She is shedding quite a bit for the first time.  I also just want to get her used to it because I love doing it and I love seeing her brushed fur looking so pretty.  I haven't had any luck with nail trimming while awake.  I keep trying to touch paws and such but neither of them seems to be relaxing about it.  So while they're sleeping on the weekends I get what I can done and then try again the next weekend.  I'll keep trying to touch their paws and see if they eventually get used to it.  When they get older I wonder if they will mellow out and get more accepting of nail trimming?  

Also, with my Lily I tried putting purdy paws on her and I think we traumatized her.  I was a new cat owner and thought I had to be so worried about the cat scratching thing and I thought I could make it work. I really regret putting her through the application process and then being annoyed with them.  At least we only did it twice.  Lily doesn't do well with nail trimmings at the vet now and they have me giving her ativan and when 1/4 of the pill didn't work well enough they said to try 1/2 a pill- actually we were also trying to get a trim around her bottom because of hanging poops so probably that was more of an issue.  The hanging poops have stopped though thank goodness.  I wouldn't want to do ativan regularly so I'm so happy that trimming while napping seems to be working out.

beesto said:

 
Hello,

I've always used a brush with my kitten, who is now 13 months, but she mainly liked it on her face/cheeks and I would do the tuft under her neck and run it a bit down her back.  Now that's she's shedding for the first time I realize this grooming really has to be all over.  I got the furminator and I'm trying to get her used to that.  I'm also using her more wire brush too, switching between the two.

A few times a day I try to groom her and she usually walks away pretty quickly or if I go to her again she motions with a little bite move so I stop.  She let's me do it for about 30 seconds.  But then I'll try again later in the day- maybe 3 or 4 times a day.  Is this too much?

I use the same brush as I use with her 5 month old brother (not the furminator yet).  Will she not like the smell as much because it has the kitten on it?  They do get along and she cleans him and such.

I have had the most luck while she's sleeping.  I also clip a couple of nails when she's sleeping too.  She'll wake up a little and stretch, and she's swatted sleepily a couple of times  and fall back to sleep while I do it,  but that has seemed to work.  Is this going to backfire and she's going to have nightmares about how much I'm bugging her or something like that? 

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Excessive grooming causes psychogenic alopecia.cats lick the areas on their bodies ,such as skin issues and pain.cats spend about 30-40 percent of their day for grooming and much of the remaining time for snoozing.

Grooming sessions should be enjoyable both of you.So schedule accordingly .when cat is relaxed often,after exercise or eating.

thecatproblems said:

 
Excessive grooming causes psychogenic alopecia.cats lick the areas on their bodies ,such as skin issues and pain.cats spend about 30-40 percent of their day for grooming and much of the remaining time for snoozing.

Grooming sessions should be enjoyable both of you.So schedule accordingly .when cat is relaxed often,after exercise or eating.

Click to expand...

Thank you.  So do you think brushing them while they sleep is too much.  I've only been trying this once a week and my cat moves around a bit stretching and settling back in, but doesn't always wake up and when she does she doesn't seem annoyed (but maybe she is), she just always goes over to the kitten and starts licking him and then she lets me keep brushing her for a little bit while she grooms the kitten.  I wouldn't say I brush her for more than 15 minutes.  When she's awake and I try it, it's more like 3 minutes.  What do you think?