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Original poster

Should we shave our ill cat

17 replies

FabiantheFish · 30/01/2018 16:28

Our cat has cancer and is not going to get better Sad, he stopped grooming himself a few months ago. He is a long haired cat and his fur is now matted and he is getting a bit smelly. Should we get him shaved?
He is already very thin and will only get thinner, I worry that he will be too cold without his fur.
Feeling very sad and don't know what is in his best interests.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 30/01/2018 16:32

Oh no. What have the vet said? Is the fur a bit tangled or is it so bad the skin underneath could get damaged?

Darcychu · 30/01/2018 16:35

honestly even though its a hard choice i would have to let him sleep, It must be quite painful x

NoMoreUsernames · 30/01/2018 16:36

If he has the right temperament you could ask the vet nurse to shave out the worst of the matts and then use a brush daily to prevent more. Totally dependent on whether he would tolerate this though. Most cats have to have some sedation which may not be possible if he's sick. I've came across quite a few chilled elderly cats who tolerate it quite well though.

Wolfiefan · 30/01/2018 16:37

My old girl needed twice daily grooming in her later years.

Original poster
FabiantheFish · 30/01/2018 16:43

It's DH who takes him to the vet's, he said that they haven't commented on it at all which I am surprised at as the matting seems bad to me. We definitely would not be able to remove them ourselves.
Would it be best to ask the vet's to do it - I thought we would have to ask a groomer.
He is quite a relaxed cat so I think he would allow it.
He does not seem to be in pain yet but he is very thin which will be a lot more obvious with less fur surrounding him.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 30/01/2018 16:44

I hate to ask but what's his prognosis? Are they thinking he won't be with you before the matting becomes a problem?
Vets could help with grooming.

Original poster
FabiantheFish · 30/01/2018 16:46

Can't have him pts yet, he is not ill enough - it does not feel right and vet's have not suggest that it is necessary yet but that will be the eventual outcome.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 30/01/2018 16:49

I wasn't suggesting he should be PTS. Not at all. Just maybe the vets aren't thinking the fur will be a huge issue in the time he has left.
You have my sympathy. Our old boy had cancer and we faced the weekly decision of what to do for the best. Sad

Original poster
FabiantheFish · 30/01/2018 16:50

He has stomach cancer, he is still eating but has frequent diarrhea, vet's say he will deteriorate and we will have to decide to have him pts when we think he is in distress. I don't think they have said how long this will be - will check with DH when I get home.

OP posts:
Original poster
FabiantheFish · 30/01/2018 16:51

I have been cross posting with you Wolfie

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 30/01/2018 16:53

Oh no. That's what boy cat had. Sad
It wasn't one lump we could remove but rather spread through his gut. Awful. Horrid upset tum and very skinny. We had him on low dose chemo and steroids that improved his quality of life.

NoMoreUsernames · 30/01/2018 16:57

Yeah ask your vet, the nurse will probably do it though you may have to leave him there for the morning. Tbh the vet is probably focussed on the illness at visits, it's usually the nurses who notice things like matted fur or overgrown claws! He will feel more comfortable having them shaved off as they can restrict movement if they're large. It won't be cheap though as it's very time consuming especially on a moving target! If he's not got too many the vet might be happy to shave a few off during a normal check up.

Jassmells · 30/01/2018 21:59

I have a long haired boy and often ask the vet to clip his rear end because he can get himself in a mess down there. The vet won't mind at all x

AlexaAmbidextra · 31/01/2018 00:29

Fabian. I ask this gently. Why must you wait until he is 'ill enough'? Isn't it kinder to have him pts before he actually becomes ill? He's thin, he has diarrhoea and he is unable to groom himself. Stomach cancer can be painful and cats are very good at hiding pain. Please think carefully. Flowers

Original poster
FabiantheFish · 01/02/2018 20:09

Alexa it would feel like murder to have him pts now.
He is currently curled up on DHs lap, having his head stroked and looking like the world's most contented cat.
The vet was clear that we should come back when he gets worse not that we should do it now.
I gave him a good brush on Tuesday night, which he seemed to enjoy and I managed to cut some of the big lumps out. If I keep doing it regularly I should be able to stop it getting any worse. The main problem is around the top of his back legs so I might just get those bits shaved. He was happy to let me brush him but I think he would be scared by the sound of clippers so I want to do as little as possible, only where it is really necessary.

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 01/02/2018 20:14

We clippered our old girl regularly and she wore a little woollen jumper to keep her warm; old/I'll cats with less body fat struggle to stay warm. She was a much happier cat. I think the matted fur was painfully pulling her skin as she moved around. The vet recommended the jumpers; she didn't half look ridiculous adorable.

RatRolyPoly · 01/02/2018 20:15

Oh yeah, and we were told to wrap her completely in a towel to clipper her to keep her calm and still. She tolerated it well enough.

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