 Purred: Thu Aug 9, '12 5:46pm PST |
 | |  | | I started giving Sassy a lion cut-like clip when he turned 14 as he was unable to groom himself anymore and he protested brushing as it aggravated him. Without him grooming himself the brushing had to be increased and he would get so upset, I decided to shave him (I work at a grooming shop). I got him used to the clippers by leaving them out and feeding him near them. I would turn them on and then give him a treat. After a couple weeks Sassy would go over to the clippers and headbutt them until I turned them on as he associated them with a treat. When I first went to shave him he was happy to lay down and get a treat every 10 minutes or so. The second time, he fell asleep while I was shaving him and that is how he was every time I shaved him after that, he would just go to sleep.
As for them feeling strange after getting the lion cut, the first time Sassy was licking his fur and then he started running around the house, I thought he was going crazy or scared as Sassy never ran unless food was involved...then I realized he was actually chasing shadows coming through the window. Sassy got much more playful when he was shaved and seemed much happier.
I think that having the mat is stressful for the cats as it pulls on the fur and limits movement. It is uncomfortable for the animal to have constant pressure on that one spot. Shaving them usually makes the animal happier and more active as the pressure and limited movement caused by the mat is gone. |  |  | |  |
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