Grooming long haired cat ... especially nether regions

Oh yes polyester57 that reminds me of one of our previous cats -the sadly missed Buddy- he would only drink from a running tap. It was such a nuisance. Fortunately, our current one drinks from one or other of his 2 bowls!

I am new to Gransnet. I, too, have a long-haired cat, Tito. He is very lazy about grooming (rescue cat, obviously wasn´t taught right by his cat mum), my way is to have several combs around the house and whenever I come upon him in a good mood, I have a few swipes. Hair comes out in tufts, all in, we manage to keep it manageable. He likes to drink water from the tap in the bathroom and that´s when I manage most of the grooming. But yes, hair all over the house, am thinking of investing in Cat and Dog Hoover suggested somewhere on GN..

We used to have a cat that loved being hoovered, unless he actually saw the hoover, at which point he would freak out like 'Arrrggghhhh, there's a big scary machine that's trying to suck me up!!!!' and then he'd head for the hills.

I know what you mean about that SueDonim! I can't believe there's any cat left sometimes. Its winter too yet he seems to moult all the time. Sometimes I look at our pale green carpet and wonder why its a bit grey then realise that there's a fine layer of cat fur all over it. That's despite hoovering with my special Dyson for pets. Think I'd be better hoovering Baz himself!!

Jane10 yes, I think it's the correct one. We bought it for our previous cat but she was short haired, too. It's one of these. www.furminator.net/en-eu/products/cats/deshedding

I used it on the boys today and got so much off the biggest one there was almost enough for a third cat!

Rear ends!

We also took his brother Scampy with us to the groomers. He has no mats, but they gave him what they called a poop shute, just a short trim round the bottom. It saves having to bathe their rest ends so often.

I hadn't realised that this was such a widespread problem. When we had our little cairn terrier, we had to sort him out in the garden. Bathing and drying his back end. He was clipped regularly, but still got a dirty backside. When the time came for the cleaning up operation, he would look at us, and almost sigh, as if saying " oh well, get on with it then" we do miss him.

SueDonim have you got the right furminator for your cats fur? Ours is specially for cats with triple coats and really goes through the fur not just the top loose hairs. Baz puts up with it for a while and even enjoys it but then decides he's had enough! Its like a really deep massage for him I suppose.

We took Chippy to the vet groomer yesterday. He was so good, they removed all the knots/mats with electric clippers. He didn't need any sedation, they really knew what they were doing. They have shaved him quite short round his "bits". So now, we have to keep it under control every day.

His fur is entirely different to his brother, who's fur is also long but never mats.

The vet agreed the mat splitter we were using is good for future.

I don't know how your cat owners manage to clean them up - none of the cats we've had would have allowed it? Current one is shorthaired.
Our border collie isn't too happy about it, anything to do with her back end and she gives a very offended look, as if we're being rude .

Clare1608 Furminators just seem to remove the loose hair. They're a kind of comb, I suppose, but seem to be kinder to the skin than a normal comb.

We have long haired Persian x and she is brushed every couple of days. I also search for the beginning of matts when she's on my knee and she allows me to gently tease them out with my fingers. I think the secret is to keep ahead of things and get to the matts before they're too big. We have always had long hairs and grooming hasn't been too problematic.

I had a Persian a few years ago - Toby. He was like hell on earth and totally impossible. I took him to a groomers who refused to deal with him and Toby got worse, I took him to the vets in desparation who criticised me for not trying hard enough, who then promptly gave him anaesthetic and shaved him bald all but his tail!! It was not a happy period of my life, as I spent his entire life feeling guilty and exasperated in equal measures.

Could have used that advice 16 years ago Luckygirl! Too late now, even though she's my DD's cat but, such a surprise, didn't move out with her!

Oh yuk and double yuk! - get a hamster!

I have a long haired pure white cat who has shed fur balls and fine hairs over everything for the last 16years! Rear end problems are more common now and we just tackle her it with a towel, lots of water and then scissors but I am always scared of hurting her. She's beautiful but I'm moving to a new house in 4 weeks and dread the hair getting into every corner and on every surface. I haven't tried a Furminator and it sounds like I should. Can I just check - do they cut hair or just remove the loose ones?

Ha ha Sue, sorry just realised that it's Jane that knows all about that!

Seacliff we have short haired cats now so I don't know about Furminators and hairy rear ends - sorry!

Well Chips has already been "done", but I'm sure he still wouldn't want the scissors anywhere near that area! If the Donald tried to grab scampy and chips he'd soon know about it .... Especially as they're boys! They might try to kill his wig. We are seeing the grooming Lady at the vets for trim without being knocked out. Will see how he reacts to that.

N&G !
Not quite the same , but we have a longhaired border collie and she has the same problem. Matting at her back end which is impossible to wash or brush out. I call it her cushion.
So I clip the lumps off with a pair of sharp nail scissors - she hates it but otherwise would be smelly. It does grow back.

Just don't let Donald Trump near them.
Pussies ? don't like being grabbed

I know seacliff ! We've never recovered

We couldn't use clippers on our cat , he was as terrified of them as he was of the vacuum

Oh no N&G how awful!! I won't tell my husband that, he is already worried about doing an injury. We got some blunt ended scissors, put a metal comb through the mat next to his skin, and snipped into the mat. He cried, but we hadn't cut him, he was just being a wuss, OH too worried to try that again. I know cats skin is very thin and easy to cut.

By using the comb and dematter we have cleared his armpits, but can't face bottom half!

Sue - Do you use the furminator round his bottom? It's good to have an actual recommendation. I had been looking at clippers too (actually OH needs some too lol) I never realised this problem when we kept them, but they are such lovely natured cats, part of the family now.

We have a furminator. Its a special one for long haired cats. Our Maine Coon loves being groomed with it. Expensive but its the only thing we've had that really works.