Anyone know how to remove a cat's dreadlock?

[Washersaurus]

Hi

I have an 8 yr old fat blind cat (approximately the size of a medium dog) who has fairly long fur. Unfortunately, despite our grooming, every now and then he develops really tight dreadlocks on his sides near his tail which we find difficult to remove.

He hates having this area touched at the best of times, and the tangles are making him even more grumpy than usual.

I would appreciate any advice on how to remove the dreadlocks - is there something I can put on them to loosen them up?

[akaJamiesMum]

Hi,

My cat (sadly no longer with us) was like this too. A really hard one - I can only suggest thick gauntlet type gloves and a pair of scissors if you want to avoid drugging him.

My cat went in one year for a general anaesthetic and they shaved the really problem areas for me. Wasn't cheap though....

[NomDePlume]

cut them out, ime that's the only way to deal with them as they get so tightly mangled that combing them out is an unholy 'mare for all involved.

Brushing your long haired cat once a day with a proper cat brush (looks like a felt carding brush) should help keep his knots under control and it needn't take more than a few minutes

[winestein]

Thirding the cutting, but make sure you use some extremely sharp little nail scissors to do the job - no good hacking at it with anything else.

[fryalot]

our cat (again, sadly no longer here) used to get them all the time, and in her 26 years, we never found an answer.

We used to cut them off when we could pin her down for long enough.

[NomDePlume]

26 !


WOW

I thought our 21 year old was impressive

[Washersaurus]

He has been sedated and shaved by the vets before as he HATES having this area touched, but it cost about £60/70 and we don't have that sort of cash to spare at the moment (although if it comes to it obviously we'll have to).

Even when we groom him he won't let us get near this bit...hence the dreadlocks. DH has tried scissors to cut it out tonight without much success. I think it is very close to his skin which makes it more difficult.

[NomDePlume]

do you have the fine pointed hair scissors or are you going at him with kitchen scissors?

The fine ended ones are much easier to direct

[NomDePlume]

will be looking out for a dreadlocked cat now (we are in the same city)

[Washersaurus]

We have a designated pair of little pointy scissors that we use, but maybe they are past their best.

Sadly my cat has been blind since birth so doesn't go outside (unless he makes a bid for freedom). We sometimes let him out in the garden supervised to eat some grass and roll around in the dirt . That is why he is soooo enormously fat!

[NomDePlume]

awwww


[soppy cat person emoticon]

[whomovedmychocolate]

I have a long haired white poo monster, she's too fat to wash her bum properly and gets mats. We shower her and then use a hair clipper we bought specially for the job. It only takes five seconds and its much more hygienic than having to use the kitchen scissors.

[NomDePlume]

n.b. I do not, and have never used the kitchen scissors to clear cat's clinkers.....

[Washersaurus]

No I wouldn't use my kitchen scissors either after seeing the cling-ons around my cat's butt sometimes..

Am interested in the clippers though - pray tell, where might I purchase some from?

[whomovedmychocolate]

Mine are Charles Worthington (posh for a cats bum I know but they were on offer in Argos when I went past one day and I was lured by the chavtastic bargain). You want to go for a 3mm comb. BTW the cat really doesn't mind the noise.

[winestein]

Absolutely hooting at

By NomDePlume on Sat 26-May-07 21:31:23
n.b. I do not, and have never used the kitchen scissors to clear cat's clinkers.....

Roffle

Get some new razor sharp scissors - have you considered wrapping the cat in an old towel for the task?

[whomovedmychocolate]

This one is pretty good (and cheap too) www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4406758.htm

[winestein]

or towel and clipper combo?

[whomovedmychocolate]

I'd rather wrap myself in a towel to cut down on the transference of stink.

Oh what a happening social life we lead to be here at nearly 10 on a Saturday discussing how to groom our cats' arses!

[winestein]

I'm only here because I don't have a cat's arse to groom anymore...

[Washersaurus]

[Washersaurus]

Oooh so you just use 'normal' clippers then....

Not being funny but my cat is sooo gigantically enormous it takes 2 (possibly 3) people to hold him down - he is a bit past being wrapped in a towel these days.

[winestein]

you can remember?

[whomovedmychocolate]

Washersaurus - both my cats are enormous. One is often mistaken for a black dog!

The white one is a turkish angora and she is pure white, but normally with a large turd hanging off her bum. She likes to jump on the bed in the morning. My DH thought I had morning sickness for ages before he realised the cat was making me heave!

Yep, normal clippers.

the best ones are actually the ones designed for fanjo hair trimming because they have a smaller head and I've nicked DHs nosehair clippers a few times when I couldn't find the right attachment for the big ones

[winestein]

You are stuffed then

This might not be the best suggestion by a long chalk, but I have a bottle of ACP for my dog which came in handy when he had a medical problem a few years ago (was supposed to be for fireworks night but did not end up happy about using it and now go to the Peak District for a week instead YAY!)

Is there a cat version sedative?

[winestein]

This thread is too much