Cat Chat (please go to cat chat 2)

[GrumpyCinnamonster]

okay, so today when i woke up in the morning, i petted my cat around her neck and felt something odd. she wasn't wearing her collar. i decided to mind it and went on with today's life and when i got home and petted her again, she rolled around and this time i saw a small glimps of something on her neck

i checked and i found these rolled up balls of hair just below the ear and right near the cheek. they are pretty darn big and she has been itching on that spot for a couple days. im not sure what it is, all i know is that it hurts and itches her, im going to take her to the vet on monday, but i really would like to know what it is so that i can do some research.

here are the pics, in case none of the above made sense : < :

it's hard to see, but it's like a coccoon here:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l94/a ... C01389.jpg

this is the other side of the neck:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l94/a ... C01387.jpg

and here's a closer look:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l94/a ... C01386.jpg

Looks like mats to me. They can cause pain(they pull on the skin) and itchiness(oils can build up, and the skin can turn flaky, moisture and dirt gets trapped, which can cause bacteria to grow and infection to set in). Have you been brushing her neck and ears regularly? These tend to be the areas most susceptible to developing mats on furry animals. On my long haired dogs I shave the base of the ear to avoid them, and regulatory brush their necks(especially where the collar sits). On my long hair cats I just brush them regularly, but when they blow their coats really bad I sometime have to cut out mats. One of my cats can develop mats SUPER fast. He's got really weird hair. Because they are to the point of causing pain for the kitty, I'd let your vet/groomer handle it. Actually, I recommend seeing a groomer first. If it's just hair, then you'll save money. If it's something else under the mats, then the groomer can remove the hair so your vet can better examine the area. Groomers can't treat problems, but most are experienced enough to recognize them, and inform you to see a vet they suspect a skin infection may have started. In the future, you need to pay very close attention to grooming behind the ears and around the neck. The underarms are also prone to matting on some cats/dogs. Mats start tiny, and grow, so brush or snip them out before they get to the point of discomfort for you animals.

You can view mat removal on the body of a long haired cat here: http://youtu.be/k5VT0k6FOg4 If you aren't experienced in grooming cats, then I wouldn't recommend doing it yourself, because you risk hurting your kitty and getting bit, but you can use the video to see what a mat looks like.

[blazesong]

grumpy do you have any advice on the grooming of cats? my ella gets matts and we cant take her to the groomer as she hate being in the car (the vets only down the road and she hatttttes that)and theres no groomer near me that dose cats, i have 2 brushes , a larger cat one wich she attacks then a small one made for puppys, wich works better (we can brush her now) as its smaller and dosnt pull as bad if it catches and i can get her ears better

her back is fine but its her belly she wont let me do, but shes allways been a no belly touch cat but she realllly needs to be groomed

[GrumpyCinnamonster]

grumpy do you have any advice on the grooming of cats? my ella gets matts and we cant take her to the groomer as she hate being in the car (the vets only down the road and she hatttttes that)and theres no groomer near me that dose cats, i have 2 brushes , a larger cat one wich she attacks then a small one made for puppys, wich works better (we can brush her now) as its smaller and dosnt pull as bad if it catches and i can get her ears better

her back is fine but its her belly she wont let me do, but shes allways been a no belly touch cat but she realllly needs to be groomed

If you are patient and gentle you can normally brush mats out. The video I shared is a good technique. As for snipping(with scissors), you've got to be SUPER careful. It's really easy to cut their skin. Far far far easier to accidentally snip a cat than it is a dog, and once you've done that you are basically out of luck, because they are going to be mad. It's safer to work on a mat a little at a time or snip away from the skin. I sometimes snip a mat in half, and then brush the rest out(might make her look silly, but the mat will be out). I wouldn't recommend clippers unless your cat is already use to them.

I'd call your vet for recommendations. Even vets that don' have grooming services can sedate a cat and shave them if the mats are a problem. If they aren't too bad, and you can't get them out, then vets have special gloves used to hold down cats, which prevents them from being hurt. It will be more expensive than a groomer. My cats hate the car too, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do, even if they think it's the end of the world. They might be mad for a day, but they will get over it. Your vet may also know someone that grooms cats, but doesn't advertise widely.

In the mean time I'd start working with her to get her use to grooming. Try 5-10 minutes of brushing everyday. Any longer and you can risk annoying most cats, especially those that don't like grooming. Routine is the best. Everyday around the same time, in the same spot. You can give a super special treat at the end as well, so your cat learns to look forward to grooming. I prefer a "slicker" type brush and a pick comb(like in the video). Have a few of them on hand. The slower you go, and the more gentle you are, the easier grooming is with cats. Never groom her after or during playing, as she will be all hyped up. A good time for most is right in the middle of the day when cats like to nap. With her belly, praise her for every stroke she lets you do, and stop when she has had enough. If it's only 2 strokes, then aim for at least 2 the next day. If you find a mat, hold the bottom(root) of it tightly in your hand before brushing to avoid pulling on the skin. If the mat is bad and needs to be removed right away, then you can have someone hold her with a towel while you remove it with a brush or scissors, but I would recommend getting someone experienced if at all possible, before turning to this, even if that means traveling some distance.

[blazesong]

im geting her matts shaven out when i take her to get her shots but i do want to get her use to the brush . as i said she hats the cat brush but loves the puppy one (wich looks like this http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/PetsUnited/T190613_1937 )

[GrumpyCinnamonster]

That's good. As long as you stay on top of grooming after they are removed, then it's easy to prevent mats.
That's a slicker brush. I use those and combs. You've got to be gentle with slickers though, because cats have sensitive skin. I can speed through my pomeranians with slickers, but on the cats I have to go nice and slow, and generally only in the problem areas with a slicker. Everything else is done with a comb. Actually, except for my one cat with the weird hair(he's got a super soft and thick under coat), a comb is normally enough if I brush every other day.
Does your "cat brush" look like this?

The above brushes aren't good. They won't penetrate the top coat, which means the shed undercoat bunches and leads to mats and shedding. They can also damage the delicate top coat of long haired cats, and pull hair. Maybe that's why she attacks it?

I also recommend rubber brushes like Kong's Zoom Groom, because they are gentle on the skin. I haven't bought one for my cats, because a comb and slickers work for me, but my grandmother bought a Zoom Groom for her cats and they love it.

Here are my recommendations:
Pin slicker(they are safer, but wire ones are fine if you are gentle)
http://www.petco.com/product/115893/JW-Pet-GripSoft-Cat-Brush.aspx
Comb
http://www.petco.com/product/14265/JW-Pet-GripSoft-Double-Sided-Combs.aspx
Rubber Brush
http://www.petco.com/product/106332/KONG-Cat-Zoom-Groom-Brush.aspx

[blazesong]

i have the pin slicker wich is the one she hates , i do go slow with the puppy one as i have stabed my self with it when i cleaned it befor as well as els hates it fast, ill try to find a comb thats like that iv seen them but they cost alot (stuff from the vet allways dose) but i have a friend who can keep an eye out for them at work as he works where i got the puppy brush from

[Gundam Pilot 01]

alright, thanks everyone : )

[blazesong]

i worked on ellies matts today there geting better slowley, cause of her mood changes all the time i cant only do them slowley

[Otium]

Hello cat lovers :))

I need some help with my kittens Frodo and Sam. They are brothers, about 3 months old and just got fixed. The problem is that Sam seems to like peeing on my bed, he will only pee on my covers and only when I under them sleeping. He has done it 3 or 4 times and first I thought it was because his cat sand was to dirty so I have started changing it more frequently. Now their sand is clean and I just changed it, so why is he peeing on my covers ?

I need help :/ and not letting them into my bedroom isn't an option. Thank you in advance :))

[Cayla]

Oh Grief!! Cats seen to like to do that!!???
Its hard to stop that especially when your asleep and cant catch them in the act!!... a spraybottle filled with water usually stops them from unwanted behaviour.. but you have to catch them while doing it.. and doing it with water from a distance they dont associate the punishment with you.. so it really works.. OR>>
I would try cutting a plastic garbage bag open and laying it over your covers..they dont like the feel of it and will prob not go ontop of it...
you are going to have to wash your duvet in Vinagar to get rid of the wee-wee smell to prevent them coming back..

Hope it helps!! GOOD LUCK xxxxx