Big time update-- bathing a cat?

"phenotyp" (phenotyp) 04/15/2019 at 22:47 • Filed to: SPIRIT ANIMALS, Petlopnik, Catlopnik

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She is a survivor, a warrior, a saint, and a lovey-dovey killer . After some !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , she’s starting to eat again, and she just sat on my lap while I was working and asked for some attention.

Which she got.

But here’s the thing— I need to give her a good bath, she’s got some matted fur, and I haven’t tried dunk her in water since she was like 6 months old. So, like, 14 years ago.

Anyone here ever washed a cat, and come away without scars?

AestheticsInMotion > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:05

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Elbow length gloves, heavy shirt, protective face mask

phenotyp > AestheticsInMotion 04/15/2019 at 23:09

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We trust each other. More like looking for pet-friendly-shampoo recs :)

But, yeah, she’s got talons and is not afraid to use them.

TheRealBicycleBuck > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:17

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Lots of treats. Introduce to water a little bit at a time. Even if you force the issue and make her mad, she will forgive you... eventually. And with lots of treats.

phenotyp > TheRealBicycleBuck 04/15/2019 at 23:20

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She gets all the treats, right now. Getting her to remember how to eat was a huge hurdle.

But yeah. All the treats. 

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:23

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Waterless shampoo according to some people but then there is this:

http://nationalcatgroomers.com/waterless-shampoo/

Ours loves water on her terms but will slice me up if I try and give her a bath. If the cat is okay with brushing and such activities this should help.

Alternatively turn on shower, turn off water to bathroom, place cat in glass shower surround shower and close door, turn on water, wait....... and hope...... (I do not advocate actually trying this)

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:24

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I have no advise for you, but I’m glad to hear that she is doing well.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:27

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Don’t. Bathing cats is only a last-resort and only based on a vet’s recommendations .

If she has matted fur, she’s not grooming properly, and that needs looked into if it hasn’t already been addressed. NEVER ATTEMPT TO SUBMERGE A CAT. If the cat likes water, they will go in water on their own . Trust me. I have an asshole that sticks his head under the faucet and then rips your arm to shreds if you splash him.

To resolve matting, you need to start with a calm and content cat. That is the most important step. Locate all of the mats. Very large mats or mats in sensitive areas should be left to a professional groomer (they will need to be cut.) Attempt to detangle with fingers first. Then use a soft bristle brush to further loosen them. Stubborn mats may be addressed with a mat rake or mat breaker, but don’t yank fur out by the roots. This is worse than cutting out mats. When cutting out mats, ALWAYS ensure you have a comb or fingers between the scissors and skin. Do NOT use hair clippers ever, do NOT use razor combs with cats that are NOT used to them. NEVER USE SCISSORS AROUND PAWPAD FUR OR CLAWS. Contact your vet for recommendations for matting in these areas.

After a reasonable amount of matting has been removed (preferably all of it), use a cheap plastic comb or preferably a flea comb (coarse side) - whichever your cat prefers - combing along the pattern of the fur to achieve further deshedding. Clean frequently. Repeat until the comb removes very little hair. Then monitor for hairballs and to ensure proper grooming. I strongly encourage getting your cat used to the comb before starting any of this, because they will generally enjoy it. Just hold it out and let them rub it with their cheeks and head to scent mark it and feel it. Back-and-forth vertical scratching anywhere the cat likes is fine. You want to get them associated to the idea that the comb feels good, because they will then stick around after the comb hits a snag.

This advice is Fatass Approved:

d15b > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:29

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Withhold the treats for now and only introduce during bath time?

smobgirl > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:32

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Would some of those pet wipes (baby wipe type things) do the trick?

If you need to cut out any of the mats, I’d suggest cuticle scissors. Especially if she’s squirmy. It takes a bit longer but it’s safer.

I’m no help with cat baths though. Ellie jumps  right in the tub with me.

phenotyp > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/15/2019 at 23:32

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That pretty much sums it up. I’m not gonna go trying to dunk her. She has a couple of persistent mats at her shoulders and hips, and we both know they need to get resolved without scissors. The brush hasn’t been enough, and, frankly, neither have I, hence the mats.

We’re gonna work it out.

phenotyp > smobgirl 04/15/2019 at 23:43

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Lucky. Alice loves me and calls out out-of-the-ordinary-shit when I’m under stress, which is were she was when I took her in as a baby, and where we are now, which is why we are what we are.

Scissors are a bad idea. Alice kinda paces around the shower. The droplets are annoying, but she needs the full soak, at this point.

We’re trying.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/15/2019 at 23:45

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Now, let’s talk mat detanglers, becuase HOLY FUCK ugh.

The #1 cause of mats is that the cat is sick, old, overweight, dental problems, arthritis, or nausea.

Step One: DRY DRY DRY!! You cannot work mats when they are wet. That just makes them WORSE.

Step Two: first attempt with wide tooth comb. Grip the mat forward of the root, comb to the back with wide tooth, do NOT pull on roots. If the mat comes apart cleanly, continue to do this in stages, reducing till you reach a coarse flea comb size. ALWAYS avoid pulling on the cat’s skin. This can do significant damage.

Work your way up and away, always.

Any position or move that agitates the cat is to be stopped immediately. You will lose trust, things will go to hell. Don’t risk it.

This video shows you a professional doing the part that you should start with, explaining and showing you how and where to comb, lift, pick, and work the mat through.

The spray is ‘coat handler’ - https://www.groomerschoice.com/The-Coat-Handler-Detangler-Spray-8-oz/productinfo/CHDE8/

Cat grooming is not something you want to be in the room for unless requested . Professionals don’t do it because it is extremely dangerous. It is dangerous to the groomer, it is dangerous to the cat, and bathing had made it even worse.

Notice how the clippers are not clippers, and they work very very hard to not damage the skin. Damaging the skin can result in severe bleeding and worse. It can kill the cat. That’s why you leave it to the professionals. Also notice how they are keeping the cat as calm as possible, but the tail is going. She’s not happy. The mats will pull on skin, which hurts the cat, which makes them react. Watch how she uses the comb to block the clipper, to break up the mat somewhat.

This is a game of slow and steady, steady and slow.

smobgirl > phenotyp 04/15/2019 at 23:47

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Best of luck.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > phenotyp 04/16/2019 at 00:16

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Follow the videos I posted very closely.

If the mats are in a specific location and recurring, you need to discuss this with your vet, because this is a symptom of another condition. There’s a lot of medications to help with various pain conditions that may be causing the problem. If not, combing more frequently (your cat will love you for it, guaranteed) should prevent matting.

However at this point, first pass, a professional would be well-advised.

phenotyp > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/16/2019 at 01:54

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Anyone here ever tell you that you know what you’re talkin about, and you’re right-on awesome?

Bro-fist.

Alice is my baby. I’m her mom. She does trust me when shit goes down, and the older she gets, the more kitten-like she’s become.

Thanks for the advice. We’ll update when we can. 

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > phenotyp 04/16/2019 at 02:48

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I do try, and I am most decidedly a cat guy. (Big ol’ 14lbs tabby with torn ACL, and a bengal that never outgrew kitten phase. And another two before that. I’m the guy that makes friends with the cats everyone hates. ; ) But be tween them and cars, I’m gonna end up bankrupt. ;P

Good luck with things.. hopefully the grooming thing is just because of the mats and not an actual grooming thing. It usually is. But also could be arthritis or a sprain , so it’s usually best to talk to the vet. Usually it’s enough in those situations to ‘assist’ with grooming with just a comb to get out all the loose fur. (Also cuts down on hairballs and makes cats love you more.)