Mumsnet Talk

Hello, dhusband has a Maine Coon (sorry - I'm a dog person, she is his cat!). Cat came from local rescue; she has a lovely temperament generally but will NOT let her belly or bum be brushed. She feels very strongly about this!!!!

She gets steadily more and more tangled. DH managed to sneakily (but carefully) cut a few tangles out, one scissor cut a night (!!) but it eventually got beyond what he could do. Cat needed a dental anyway so had a good grooming under anaesthetic.

The vets have no suggestions, and refused to shave Cat's belly. Dh was simply told he would just have to brush her - he does brush her, daily, but she is instantly outraged if he goes anywhere near her bum/belly.

Is there any answers? How do other people cope?

I have a scruffy moggy. She is known as Evil Cat generally, so to go near her with a brush would lead to imminent death

If she is in a good mood she will let you groom her back and the back of her neck - but not underneath her neck/her scruff where she stores old food and bits of dead things

In the end I called a cat groomer, explained that she was a nasty bugger and would they give her a go? They said no problem - £30. Bit steep but she was in such discomfort I had to try something.

Left her at the groomer's in the morning, almost bowing out of the door in pre-apology mode Picked her up that afternoon, she sat looking pristine and very much at home. Groomer said (and I quote) "she is a delight, such an affectionate cat"

So it's just me she hates then

I take her once a year - she is due now actually. £30 is less than £3 a month, I personally think that is worth it plus I don't end up hospitilised

Oooh, that sounds promising. Will happily pay good money instead of blood - not sure once a year would be enough, mind. Will try phoning some groomers.

I find that the one-off keeps her going in all honesty, they brush out so much that she looks like she's been clipped (she hasn't, just brushed).

Even if not, twice a year - summer and winter, still only works out minimal for the fact all your limbs remain intact

my long haired cat is like this hates me when i groom him, i use a comb though as brushes dont touch his fur, what i do is grab hold of him put him belly up on my lap, wedge his head between my knees, grab his front paws and comb his belly as fast as i can before he either eats me or gets one paw loose to kill me, sounds worse than it is, just undignified and one very sweary cat, but it takes me about 45 seconds due to five years of practice but then again i have 5kgs of cat not 11kgs which is the average maine coone

I love hearing about evil cat Brian. She's obviously very discerning in who she hates.

She can't hate you that much, she hasn't left home.

Fluffy - she must have some kind of affection for me/us or yes, she would have buggered off long ago. The ultimate in affection is if she sits on the TV unit and stares at you, that's her way of saying "you're not that bad"

Maine Coones weigh how much?? That's a LOT of cat.

I love that you also have a cat who may eat you issey, it is a genuine worry isn't it