Old cat has gone weird

[hiddenhome]

She had her entire back shaved a good few weeks ago now. She was badly matted. I had tried to get the vet nurse to do it a few months ago and she'd refused, saying it didn't need doing

Anyway, since it was done Old Cat is just so much happier. She's usually vicious and antisocial, but is now really friendly and had me up at 2am this morning giving her kisses and cheek rubs.

She's been playing with her soft toy and running around as well

She is usually a deranged killer

[thecatneuterer]

. I can understand that. Having a bad hair day makes me feel vicious too ...

[favouritewasteoftime]

That's interesting. Do you think the knots in her fur were hurting her?

[hiddenhome]

They might have been hurting her, yes she did used to flinch if you touched her back.

Lol at bad hair day TCN

[favouritewasteoftime]

Glad she's feeling better!

[jaspercat2002]

How did she cope with the actual shaving? My older cat has a few matts I am trying to get on top of but am wondering if it might just be better to get them cut out. She has arthritis and is finding it hard to keep her harder to reach parts clean. She is stoical about the brushing but obviously finds it uncomfortable.

[Lurkedforever1]

One of mine originally turned up in a right mess, the least of which I thought was her awful coat, and extremely nervous. The first time I got to properly stroke her I decided to try cutting the worst of the matts that had brambles attached off. I swear that above weeks of feeding, antibiotics and painkillers for her abcesses, a warm dry safe place to sleep etc, it was chopping those brambles off that made her happy and trusting. Within 5 minutes of that first proper stroke she was purring away and let me chop most of the matts off, and within 24hrs went from trembling in a corner of the garden and bolting food, to living in the house, loving being brushed, and with us anyway acting like a well loved friendly cat. It was like she immediately latched on to the fact I was making her comfortable, therefore could be trusted.
The other though, that we've had since being a well cared for kitten, it's hide the scissors and trim without her noticing or expect some serious damage. Even if you're actually trying to remove thorns that are visibly pulling her hair and skin. No gratitude whatsoever!

[hiddenhome]

Yeah, she managed really well jaspercat I was surprised really, but I think she kind of knew it was helping her and making her feel better. Sort of like taking your bra off at the end of the day perhaps

It much easier just to shave the coat off than repeatedly brushing. It grows in nice and no more tats. I'll have her done again when the time comes as her entire back is left un groomed and she won't tolerate being brushed at all.

[hiddenhome]

Sounds like you did a good job Lurked I think they know when you're trying to help even if they're not happy about it.