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Hello ebrandon! I have an elderly friend on a low fixed income and she has a kitty cat who is covered in matts. The poor kitty can barely walk properly because her fur pulls so bad on her skin when she walks. I have tried to shave her for my friend but thecatwont let me near her when I start the clippers up! And I don't want to get clawed or traumatize the cat by holding her down! My friend says the vet had to sedate the cat once to have matts shaved off, but she simply can't afford the $165 to have it done at the vet again. Does anyone out there on ebrandon who knows how to groom/shave a cat properly who would be willing to help give this poor sweet kitty a shave? I have the proper clippers, I just need some help. Please send me a PM if you can help this kitty out, seeing this kitty try to walk today was heartbreaking, the poor thing only walked a few steps then sits down cause it obviously painful. I've tried to cut them but they are so close to the skin that cutting doesn't work.....thanking anyone who can in advance!

Stephanie at Sola Salon & Daycare.  
204-727-3344

Regular grooming can help reduce matted fur. Just keep a good pet brush nearby and groom whenever you have the cat in your lap, watching TV, whatever.  
 
https://www.petful.com/grooming/how-remove-mats-long-haired-cat/  
 
https://pets.thenest.com/treat-seriously-matted-fur-cat-4214.html  
 
I hope this cat gets the help it needs!  
 
Edited by 881188, 2018-07-22 11:18:32

First ask if she can afford about $30.00 for a calming agent, second can she afford another $25.00 for detangler. If she can only afford one than go for the calming agents found at Pet Value or Pet lovers warehouse. And than try and have her towel coddle the cat and do sections at time. If not than it maybe a couple weeks and get the kitty used to clippers turn them on and give her a treat, do this a few times before moving it close to kitty until the kitty is more interested in food than the noise

Hopefully you can have your friend hold the cut and you put gloves on and cut what you can get, then gently comb or brush. We brushed are cats since they were kittens and they love it. If she has not brushed, just start slowly and gently, kitty will get used to it.  
 
Google has lots of tips: If this is your only option, because of mobility or finances, please use a comb and never place the scissors directly on the cat. Use a comb to lift the hair from the skin and cut only the edges of the mat on the outside of the comb to loosen the fur. Detangle what's left of the mat with a brush or comb.

I will give the girls at Sola a call. I take my own pet there and actually had my dog there yesterday for a nail trim! The lady who has the cat is looking aftwr it for her elderly brother and the cat had matts when she got it. She is also bery sick and has a hard time brushing the kitty, so I thought if it could get a good shave and get rid of the matts then she could keep up on the grooming as the fur grows back, like I mentioned the cat was covered matts when it came to my friends place. She loves the kitty and wants to see her with no matts and comfy finally. She told me her brother had her shaves once before and that it cost $165 and she told me she couldn't afford that much! My friend mentioned that the kitty may need to be sedated...Does Sola work with animals who get cranky when shaved? I'll ask when I call! LOL! But I do know that once my friend has all the matts removed, that she will not let them come back like her brother did...!

Sashaa said "I will give the girls at Sola a call. I take my own pet there and actually had my dog there yesterday for a nail trim! The lady who has the cat is looking aftwr it for her elderly brother and the cat had matts when she got it. She is also bery sick and has a hard time brushing the kitty, so I thought if it could get a good shave and get rid of the matts then she could keep up on the grooming as the fur grows back, like I mentioned the cat was covered matts when it came to my friends place. She loves the kitty and wants to see her with no matts and comfy finally. She told me her brother had her shaves once before and that it cost $165 and she told me she couldn't afford that much! My friend mentioned that the kitty may need to be sedated...Does Sola work with animals who get cranky when shaved? I'll ask when I call! LOL! But I do know that once my friend has all the matts removed, that she will not let them come back like her brother did...! "

a little cat nip, then after a bit kitty will be more relaxed, before you try anything.

I also have an elderly cat who has no bristles on her tounge so that means she can not groom herself properly. I keep her normally short hair clipped REALLY short or else it gets matted. My cat is used to clippers tho and she knows that when the clippers come out she will be happier at the end. It took a long time to get her used to them, and I don't think this other kitty has that much time to get used to them. This cat is matted BAD. I just hope that the lady can afford the $60 for Sola to do the shave for her....I would try to do this scat myself but I don't have someone to hold it properly for me and I don't want to get clawed. I just need a brave soul to help me hold the cat and I know I can get the matts off because i have de-matted cats before...if there is someone who's strong enough to help me hold the cat send me an inbox!

What I'm currently doing with my cat is getting her used to the clippers. Every day. Treats beside the clippers. Let her smell them and get familiar with them. For a week or 2. Every day. These 2 things are important.  
 
I use calling herbs gotten from the pet store called anxiety and stress for cats. Just put some in a tiny bit of wet food to make sure kitty gets it all.  
 
Once kitty is comfortable with that, I used treats and just kinda brushed the kitty where it's not matted. (she loved being brushed) and treats. For another week.  
 
Then with them turned on not touching her with treats. Until she's comfortable with the sound. And then finally grooming with treats. It's a slow process but grooming can tramatize them if not done correctly.  
 
The calming herbs help a lot! My cat hates anything that makes noise. And she's coming along amazingly

There's more than one way to shave a cat!

but couldn't you try to see if Sally's sells those combs for thinning out hair (like the ones with a blade) and see if you could manage with that.

I would be willing to put in the $30 for the calming pill to help get her started..

I’d be willing to help calm & hold kitty down if that’s the route you need to go, let me know

Valkyrna said "but couldn't you try to see if Sally's sells those combs for thinning out hair (like the ones with a blade) and see if you could manage with that. "

tried that on a non-matted long hair. Don't waste your money.

a quarter tab of gravol, not the ginger kind, the real thing. Wait half an hour then try. No more than a quarter tab.

Do not give the cat gravol without consulting a vet. Smh

I thought the same thing. That person has no idea of the weight of the cat for one thing and knows nothing about the little furball. Dispensing medical advice on a public forum is not the best idea. I sure hope this poor little thing gets some relief soon!

I would NEVER EVER give medicine to a cat without the vets advice and not without knowing the cats weight and any allergies....just like I wouldn't give someone's child medication, I wouldn't give it to an animal either! Kitty will have the help it needs very soon, I'm hoping...

We had the mobile pet clinic come out and she put a towel over kitty's head which I held and saved her with a mans shaver...less than one minute.. If they can do that then it must be OK . Good luck from a cat lover..try it.

kitty get shaved? I’ve taken my cats to Sola many times.

Our cat we use a Furminator Brush for regular brushing. As well as gently cut the mats out. We use a Wahl Pet clipper and shave our cat ourselves. The only way he’ll allow if we give him a lot of treats. The only thing is he doesn’t like us to do his stomach or butt area. I would like to take him somewhere to get it done but he hates going in his kennel.