Not properly grooming?

Hi all, I've a question...Gemma seems to be unable to properly groom 'down there.' I've watched her and I've only seen her do it once or twice, but that was a few weeks ago, when she was a LOT smaller. She will groom the rest of her body quite often, especially her sides, but I remember watching her grooming her tummy, but not being able to go down very far.

I've also noticed she does NOT like being touched back there. Every now and then I will try and see if I see any discharge, but she'll either glare at me with disgust and run to the other side of the room, or growl at me. Earlier my dad and I trimmed her backside (she's fairly long haired) to get soiled and crusty (from poop) hair off, and it make it a little easier for her when the kittens are born. She was NOT happy. I know cats don't generally like to be trimmed (though we did have two that loved the electric razor...we used scissors tonight, though), but she just REALLY hated it.

I've been thinking about washing her behind for her, but I know she'd hate me for it. Her 'girl area' has dark stuff around it, which looks a little crusty, as well as the colon. I don't really want to stress her out, but I think it needs to be done...do you all think so?

I just had the same problem with my pregnant cat, she had dark stuff around there it was pretty gross, she also had what looked like flea dirt (i don't think it was, it just looked like it) around her nipples. I am not advising this to be done, but I just gave her a bath. Not with soap or really washed her, but set her in the water and let her butt and belly soak, then I used a rag and scrubbed her belly, I got most of it off her belly and got her bottom area clean so I can see if she is having discharge at all. I don't know if it should be done with pregnant cats due to stress. I only did it because my cat is used to baths and being handled without being stressed out. If you think a bath will stress her probley don't give one, but take a warm wash cloth and clean her bottom area (or as you said "her girl area") some times they get too big and clean them selves good and it needs to be done for them.

I also notice flea dirt around her nipples...I don't think that's what it is, though, since she doesn't have any fleas. I think what I'll do is see how she reacts to water in the sink, before I do anything else. If it stresses her, I'll go get a wash cloth and do it that way.

Thanks! I'm just glad it's nothing really serious, then...I was slightly worried.

As long as it's not greenish discharge or looks really wrong it is probley just a little discharge dirt and mabey even a little poop since she can't reach her area to clean it it just got dirty.

I did read that at times we might have to clean the Queens back side because her belly wont let her. I figured it was easier said then done, but it might make deleivery easier to or like you did trim it down.

Originally Posted by momof3rugratz

I did read that at times we might have to clean the Queens back side because her belly wont let her. I figured it was easier said then done, but it might make deleivery easier to or like you did trim it down.

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I think that is probably a good idea with extra furry cats. (if you can trim them without causing them alot of stress) Probably would keep the area more sanitary too.

But, it might look kind of funny, too

Funny true but if Skittles is like me during the last stretch I did not care what I wore as long as it would just fit. I looked like rainbow brite a few times LOL am sure a little less fur on her behind is fine.

Haha! Yes, it does look a little funny. I'm going to have to trim it down a bit more, later, so all of her hiney is short haired, not just around the 'area.' That DOES look silly

Oh oh! Good news! Last night I saw milk in one (or two, possibly) of the nipples! I didn't see any in the other four, but they're kind of dry (I guess because she hasn't been able to lick them) so I'm moistureizing them with water...works fine The only thing is that they're not very pink-ish...they're big! especially the bottom two, but none of them are very pink...more like a pastel whitish pink.

I am not sure, and some one I hope will come and correct me if im wrong, but I think that with-in the first two or three weeks their nipples get pink (some times called pinking up) it's like when a woman get pregnant, at first the breast are more sensitive I don't think they stay real pink through the whole pregnancy, just when they are starting to swell they become pinker. Then they go back to be normal color. I hope that's right, my pregnant cat (don't know when she is due, soon I hope) does not have pink teats, they look normal, just real big and they are filled with milk now and pretty baggy. (I don't know which word seems weirder to say, nipples or teats, lol!)

LOL I agree.

Skittles has so much fur I have never seen her teats except when she was 3 or 5 weeks old. Was a found stray. Right now she is so darn lovable I want to say she is pregnant but no clue. She is starting to eat this morning so I do feel better. He last day outside will be 2 weeks on Thursday and she has not wanted to go out. I hope in a week to know so I can prepare.

She's a very beautiful cat, momof3rugratz!

Goodness, I hate not knowing when to expect the kittens! Gemma was a stray and you could already tell she was very pregnant when I found her, but gosh! That was four weeks ago this wenesday (coincidentally I found her the same day my grandfather died), and we had taken her to the vet the very next day...he estimated she had a month left...yowzers, for her sake, I hope it's SOON. She looks like she swallowed a volleyball!

Originally Posted by timestreason

She's a very beautiful cat, momof3rugratz!

Goodness, I hate not knowing when to expect the kittens! Gemma was a stray and you could already tell she was very pregnant when I found her, but gosh! That was four weeks ago this wenesday (coincidentally I found her the same day my grandfather died), and we had taken her to the vet the very next day...he estimated she had a month left...yowzers, for her sake, I hope it's SOON. She looks like she swallowed a volleyball!

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Really on Skittles I only notice she is super loving wants all my attention and has to sleep with me. She sits in the window but does not want out. She is so furry I can not even feel a nipple I wonder if the persian people can tell me if they see there cats nipples. I know she has to have them LOL. I just dont see them.

You can't really see Gemma's nipples, either, I have to push fur around until I can find them. Skittles' nipples are prolly still very small and normal, so you might have to hunt around a lot.

Yay! Mission:Impossible: Completed! Well, mostly. I didn't give her a full bath, but I did wash her butt and her belly. Right now she seems more concerned about her dainty paws

Originally Posted by timestreason

Yay! Mission:Impossible: Completed! Well, mostly. I didn't give her a full bath, but I did wash her butt and her belly. Right now she seems more concerned about her dainty paws

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I didn't give mine a full bath either, I didn't want her to get cold. I just got her bottom cleaned so I can keep it clean and watch for any kind of discharge. Now her teats are clean too, she really has a hard time cleaning them and cleaning her bottom area has been a problem for her for a while now.

I shave the belly of my pregger girls. With so much fur the kittens would never find a nipple. I also shave away as much fur from her "delivery area" as she will allow. I try to do it at least a week befor the kittens come so they will not get stubble burn. LOL

LOL! Stubble burn!

Lol!! Stubble burn...haha *chuckles* that's awesome.

I think I might have the vet do that with skittles because I think she is the top of a cutip she is so furry. I think alot of it is we live in Utah it is below 5 at night sometimes so she has to have a thick winter coat.