Conference misery::feline

    I too have a former stray, who does an exquisite job of face and paws.
    She has, after 2 yrs, managed to get some of the rest of herself, but
    as you have experienced, her back end could use a bit. She is a short
    legged, low to the ground kitty and can't reach very well. I think this
    somewhat contributes to her problem. The vet says her weight is okay
    and she has not gained an ounce between her last two checkups. She never
    smells bad, okay, except her breath sometimes, but I've noticed a lack
    of getting back there. I too would love to hear comments, suggestions,
    etc.                                                          

    I use a flea comb on my kitties every day.  It does wonders
    for their coats after I've done this for awhile, and they have
    come to really enjoy it.  I do too.  
    

    
    For an easy way to wash those "hard to reach places" :-) Use a terry
    cloth washcloth rinsed in warm water and wrung to almost dry. Wrap this
    around two or three fingers of you dominant hand and apply to kitty in
    short strokes.  
    
    I know this sounds silly, but it simulates the washing of the kitten by
    the mother cat and after a few practice sessions on areas that the
    kitty likes to have petted, should turn into an enjoyaable grooming
    session for both human and cat.
    
    My 2 indoor kittys do not get tub baths, but are washed in this way
    once a week or so, and people always compliment me on their shiney
    black coats!
    
    Good Luck, and if you have any questions just drop me a line.
    
    Feline Helpful,
    
    Sue & Furry crew

    
    I have a similar sort of problem, different in the details.  My oldest,
    Merlin (two months shy of 20 years) is not as flexible as he use to
    be, so he doesn't groom himself as well as he used to.  While he's
    actually quite clean, his coat is getting "scruffy" (i.e., lots of very
    small mats).  He doesn't mind being combed on his back and sides (he
    seems to enjoy it, especially if you visit the top and sides of his head/
    face every now and then), but where he most needs it, on his underside
    and in his arm and leg pits, is off limits.  Because he's short haired,
    getting these close to the skin mats out involves some pulling which he
    doesn't much care for.  My vet's advice was, it's not worth hassling
    the old guy about, but with summer coming he'd probably be a bit more
    comfortable if his coat could be thinned out a bit.
    
    Any suggestions?
    
    len.
     

Re .4:

Can you cut the mats out?  Are they really that bad?

Guz had this problem once, and after having the mats cut out, he never let it
get that bad again.  I believe the vet did it.

    I've snuk up on mats with a small nail scizzors held
    against my fingers, very carefully so that the cat doesn't
    get jabbed if s/he moves suddenly.  Often you don't have to cut out
    the whole mat, just part of it, and then the other hair will
    untangle.  When my cats are totally mellowed out after a long
    grooming session, they are more inclined to tolerate my working
    on Forbidden Areas.
    

    
    These are "micromats"; they're not big enough to cut off, and there
    must be hundreds of them.  It feels almost like his fur has gotten
    curly.  If I tried to cut them, poor old Merlin would end up looking
    piebald.  I've cut mats off cats before, and trust me, in this case,
    cutting is not the answer.  I think I'm just going to have to try a lot
    of different kinds of combs until we find one that Merlin will tolerate
    and that successfully remove the tangles - they do comb out relatively
    easily if you can get to them.
    
    len.
     

    I know those mats!  My big guy, Spike, gets them all the time.  I work
    on them one at a time.  He likes to be flea-combed as long as I keep
    one hand scratching his cheek or uner his chin.  So I gently maneuver
    the comb to the mat areas and do as much as he will tolerate.  He will
    lay down to be combed, but again I have to keep a free hand up near
    his face.  Sort of acts as a distraction from the mat-pulling.  It
    doesn't hurt him, as they aren't deeply tangled or too close to the
    skin.  Just clumps.  If he would groom himself at all, I'm sure they
    wouldn't be there.  I call him and Brutus "the Slob Brothers".  Neither
    one feels the need to wash anything except their faces and front paws.
    When I use the flea comb, I angle it so only the last few teeth are
    actually deep to the skin - this way seems to pull out the clumps
    easier with less sensation for him (he doesn't feel the entire comb,
    just a gentle tug from a couple of teeth on the clump).
    Sarah

    Len, and others, this might sound crazy, but that never stopped any of
    us, right?
    
    What about putting some kind of delicious (to a cat) juice or jell on
    the area you want kitty to wash (assuming that (s)he can reach it? I'm
    taking about sonthing like clam juice, or broth? it might stimulate
    grooming in those areas, which in turn might become a habit?
    
    Deb

    
    Merlin's problem is he's got mild arthritis and he just can't reach
    these areas anymore.  He's also lost a lot of his sense of smell, so it
    would have to be pretty strong smelling to tempt him.  So if it didn't
    work (and my guess is it wouldn't), I'd have to give him a bath anyway. 
    
    And I probably shouldn't call these things "mats"; they're so small,
    you can hold three or four of them easily between your thumb and
    forefinger!  They don't comb out as clumps, they comb out as loose
    fur.  Because he's not grooming himself, the loose fur tangles up with
    the "attached" fur, making short little "threads" (like on a spinning
    wheel?) that are just a bit thicker than the regular hairs.
    
    You'd probably have to see it and feel it to understand what I mean;
    I've never seen anything like it before, but then, I haven't been
    a live-in buddy with that many 20 year old cats.
    
    len.
    

    Len,
    
    If you haven't already, try one of the detangler combs.  They have
    teeth spaced fairly widley apart and the teeth turns as they work
    through the fur.  I'm not describing this well but I hope you get
    what I mean.  Anyway, I use this on all my long haired cats including
    Torbie who gets little curlies in her bikini area.
    
    Another comb I highly recommend is called something like "Zoomer" 
    comb.  I can't remember.  I'll have to look it up when I'm at the
    pet supply store tonight.  It's made of a rubbery material and has
    long rubber teeth.  It comes in a variety of semi-neon colors.  My 
    cats (both long and short haired) adore being combed by this thing 
    and it really gets the extra hair out.  I usually end up with a kitten's 
    worth off extra fur off of each cat when I use it.  Be prepared though.  
    It takes the fur out so well that you may end up with it on you too.  
    I try to remember to brush kitty in strokes that go away from my body.
    
    Jan

    JFCL, who is now 17 1/2, gets those "micro-mats" on the back of her
    neck.  Looks more like clumps, actually.  That is the only area she
    really can't reach anymore - she's a pretty fastidious groomer, but she
    is getting arthritic.  Luckily, she likes to be brushed there, and
    seems to appreciate my getting the clumps out of her coat.  I need to
    do her tonight - she is shedding a lot now that it is finally getting
    warm around here!  JFCL never gets thick enough clumps that I have to
    scissor them - bet she wouldn't like that much.
    
    Her young companion, Melody the Maine coon kitten, sometimes gets mats
    behind her legs where she can't easily comb herself, and these I have
    to cut out if they won't comb out.  She isn't very happy about being
    combed anyhow, so it is good thing she doesn't need it very often.  I
    took a mat off her bottom a couple of days ago.  For a very long-haired
    kitty, she does pretty well at keeping herself tangle-free.
    
    /Charlotte                                     

    Try combing the mats out from the ends up, the same way you would
    detangle long hair on a purrson.  Since Morris was short-haired, 
    it wasn't much of a problem for us, but at the end of his life, he
    couldn't reach back there easily, and the area was quite sensitive
    because of his abdominal tumor.  But he was a fastidious kitty, and
    he'd put up with a little discomfort so he could be clean and tidy.
    What a cat.

    A few of my cats also get these little mats on their back...and
    it is not because they are old or arthritic...it's because they
    are to chunky to reach their back to wash.  My vet calls it....
    FAT CAT BACK and it is always worse this time of year.
    
    One thing that works for me (especially for those cats that hate to 
    be brushed) is I use my fingers and separate the mats...and little by 
    little I just pull them apart.   
    
    Sandy
    

    Our maine coon gets these micro-mats (along with some macro mats!) on
    his stomach, pits and rear-end area. He likes to be combed, except in
    those spots.... :^)
    
    During the morning combing, I try to do a little of each of these
    areas. some days are more successfull than others. I use a human comb
    (type with smaller and closer tines at one end and larger, better
    spaced tines at the other - the old fashion comb that guys used to
    carry around in their pockets). I usually use the larger tine end on
    the mats. It seems to loosen them up enough that they can then be eased
    out with my fingers or with additional combing.
    
    When the mats seem to be winning, we have a 2 person routine where we
    do "kitty bellies". One of us holds Rascal so he's standing on his back
    paws (with only a little weight on his legs) and his front legs are
    extended out. This way, the second person can access the tummy and the
    pit areas (with some hand shuffling done by the holder). Rascal usually
    objects, but then he is also purring throughout this, so we're not too
    bothered by his complaints.
    
    For the small mats along the back side of legs (rear area), I do a
    little at a time during the regular combing session. I find if I
    isolate the problem areas, by folding the hair in front of it forward
    (not really sure how to describe this, but I take my hand and move the
    hair forward, away from the knots). This exposes the areas with the
    knots and then I can work on them a little at a time. Pet the head,
    neck, do a knot, pet the head, neck, do a knot.... and hear lots of
    complaints with the purring. Some days it's easier than others and some
    days you have to forget the entire idea.
    
    Good luck!
    
    janetb.

    Re: .11
    
    The comb I mentioned earlier is called a "Zoom Groom".  It runs
    about $5.95 at Pet Club in Mt. View, CA.
    
    My cats love this thing.
    
    Jan

    My kitties love the zoom groom too. I think I paid the same amount at
    petstuff, and I've seen it at just for pets too. They start purring and
    rolling over and go absolutely crazy with it. In fact one watches while
    the other is being combed and you can see the pleading "hurry up, it's
    my turn now". 
    
    Linda

    >rolling over and go absolutely crazy with it. In fact one watches while
    >the other is being combed and you can see the pleading "hurry up, it's
    >my turn now". 
    
    Yep, that's pretty much how mine react.  So, I have 5-6 out of 8 cats all 
    trying to get me to groom them at the same time.  The remained are
    sitting nearby waiting for a space.  It's pretty amazing.  Far cry from 
    when no one wanted to be bothered with being groomed.
    
    Jan

    
    Oh we gotta have one these ;-) Does anyone know any stores that carry
    these in the Southern NH or within driving distance to.
    
    Thanks
    
    Shaw

    re: .19
    
    The "Pet Stop" has them. (next to Purity Supreme, off of Spit Brook Rd.
    and DW Highway. I never remember the name of the mall).
    
    And like previous notes, my cat loves it too. He'll roll on his back
    and stretch his legs out as far as he can get them, with his front
    paws stretched holding my sweater. Kinda looks like he's on "the rack"
    but he must love it since he purrs the whole time. I could never get
    a comb in him until I started using that. Now he'll let me use a
    regular comb on him too, (though he much prefers the zoomer).
    
    

    I got mine at Pet Foods Plus in Merrimack.  They seem to be pretty
    popular now - I'd give some of the pet superstores a call, I bet 
    they'd have them on hand as well.
    
    Sharon

    
    Thanks, I'll be looking after work today ;-)
    
    We have three, two of which will allow combing and one that just 
    hates it gets up and walks away of attacks the comb, so maybe this
    will work. 
    
    Shaw

    
    I tried the Hadleigh House in Sudbury, they don't have them but promised
    to investigate.
    
    len.
    

    I was at "Pet Supplies 'n more" on Friday.  Hmm.. something tells me
    that some other feline people have been there.  They didn't have them,
    but promised to order me one.  When she said at the desk that she would
    order one, the guy there said "order about six of them, we've had 3
    other people asking for the same thing."
    
    They tried to sell me the dog one, but it was much more expensive.
    
    Holly
    

    
    A friend of mine picked one up for me from the Nashua Petstuff $6.99.
    I guess after reading the excitement in here I was expecting it to 
    preform miracles. The one cat that does not lets us comb her at all
    was realy funny she'd let us brush her a bit and then would get up and 
    walk around for a bit, then come back allow a little more then get up
    and walk away. She couldn't quite decide whether she liked it or not,
    but we brushed her a lot more than we ever could.  My little girl 
    love it she purred so laud it was funny. The big boy Tomba did not 
    show any different emotion, he usually likes to be brushed anyways.
    With a comb, he turns on his back and let's us do the tommy. With the 
    Zoomer he would not allow his belly area to be brushed. So I guess the
    zoom groom is a good addition to grooming tools but not the only 
    thing we'll use. 
    
    Shaw 
    

    
    I couldn't resist and went out and purchased a Zoom Groom (PetCo.
    6.99).  What amazed me was the amount of fur that I got off of the
    girls (Exotics = shorthair Persians)!  Callie never lets me brush her
    without a tussle and she actually sat in my lap unrestrained!  Kisa is
    still deciding whether she likes the ZG or the banana brush better....
    
    

    
    I found one last night at a pet store in Acton that I pass often on
    trips between sites and figured, hey, why not just stop and check.
    
    The cat shape is a bit strange to hold, but it does indeed work.  Rocky
    and Floyd love it, Blueberry's not sure, Merlin will grudgingly
    tolerate it, and Robin won't have anything to do with it.
    
    I managed to get a lot of Merlin's "microtangles" out of his belly fur
    with an ordinary Ace open toothed comb, in a series of short sessions.
    
    For my next trick, I'm going to teach them how to let me brush their
    teeth...
    
    len.
     

    It is great to hear kitties enjoying their zooms. I did my two girls
    last night and it was the usual comedy routine. I still can't beleive
    all the fur I get off them. Amazing.
    
    Now Len, when you perfect your next trick of toothbrushing, I want
    details. Conan, the former stray leaves red trails on me for looking at
    her sometimes, and yes the zoom initially did that. She has broken
    teeth from her former life, but the vet says her teeth are in pretty
    good shape otherwise, and we don't need any dental work yet. However,
    if, and she says if knowing that Conan is who she is, we could brush
    the teeth, that would help, along with the tartar control treats. 
    
    Linda

    Thanks to everybody for spreading the word about the zoom groom!  Got
    ours last night at Pet Supply Depot (Rt. 9 past Spag's, Shrewsbury),
    $6.99, and they have 3-5 still in stock.
    
    Veto is *in lust* with it!  And as others have said, I'm AMAZED at how
    much fur was harvested....  Our boys are garden-variety all black 
    shorthair, but it seemed as if we got enough "down" to fill a
    pillowcase.  Veto kept returning to the same kitchen chair he was
    "zoomed" on, hoping he'd get another session  ]:3
    
    Skrufy is Greatly Troubled by the whole concept.  He's usually rather
    skittish, except when he chooses to get on your lap; then he's a slut! 
    But my daughter tried a gentle stroke with it when Skrufy was just
    walking by, and he felt *assaulted*.  Much later in the evening, when
    he was on my lap and in slut mode, I tried again.  He bore it stoically
    but made it clear that he considered the zoom groom Vastly Inferior to
    cuddles and pats!
    
    BTW, neither of them has ever grasped the concept of a combing session
    before; they've found that they're not allowed to *bite* the
    comb/brush, so they "suddenly remember pressing business elsewhere" (to
    quote the human owned by The Colonel :-).
    
    Leslie  

         I just got my Zoom Groom from Pet Warehouse yesterday.  The
    results:
    
         Loki, who loves being brushed, *loved* the ZG.
         Bigfoot, who tolerates being brushed, tolerated the ZG.
         Midnight, who tolerates being brushed when she's in the mood,
    wasn't in the mood and didn't like the ZG.  But I'm going to try her
    again when she's more receptive.
    
         It did pull tons of fur off Loki and Bigfoot 8-) .
    
    					- Andrea