BS: Advise on grooming old pussy

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 07:48 PM

avoiding all the single entendré euphemisms..*grin*....I wonder if anyone has tried something as simple as wrapping your hand with a bit of 2" wide masking tape, wrapped sticky side out...and just gently patting...no noise, no comb or brush pulling...just the loose hairs clinging.

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: Raedwulf
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 02:46 PM

*sigh* I suppose I've got to do this in the current idiom, just don't make out it's *my* fault.

What your pussy wants is to be stroked. At considerable length. Up & down, round & round, just don't stop. Set aside a time each day to spend 20 mins or longer to do just this. It's very therapeutic, not only for your pussy, but for you!

Just remember to keep a bin within arm's length to dump the spare hair into...

;)

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 02:35 PM

Don't be silly you can't lick your own pussy.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: leprechaun
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 01:43 PM

Have you tried licking her fur? She might be more comfortable with that.

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: NicoleC
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 01:19 PM

Pumice can be bought anywhere where cleaning supplies are sold or foot care products -- it's handy, versatile stuff. (Gets those mineral deposits off toilets, too.)

Daylia, does your cat insist on watching you get ready in the morning? If so, she sees you brush yourself every day with no ill consequences. You might try a regular hair brush, and work up to the full body brushing. My kitty will only tolerate a "human" brush, and has gone from disliking being brushed (with a pet brush) to standing on the counter meowing and trying to get me to brush her hair too! She's shedding like crazy and I gotta brush her every day and she's still hacking up hairballs every now and then.

Meanwhile, the hand mitt is probably a good bet. I suspect that grooming combs hurt and yank out the hair. Dogs mostly tolerate them, but most cats are more finicky.

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: Deckman
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 12:16 PM

Hi Daylia, A few years ago I picked up a wonderful device from my vet for this. It's hard to describe, but I'll try. It's a small block of pumice stone, about the size of a deck of cards. It's very lightweight. All of our cats LOVE to be rubbed with it. And the gobs of cat hair that cling to it are amazing. I don't remember the name of it, but perhaps if you call around to the vets and pet stores you can find one. I think it cost 3 bucks. Good luck, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:58 AM

Here's another idea. Get one of those umbrellas that has a button you press which causes the umbrella to burst open suddenly. Take the Roo outside the house. Point the closed umbrella toward her. When she looks at it curiously, press the button. She will be so shocked that all her loose hair will fly off in all directions.

Be sure to wear a face mask when you do this or you may be smothered in the cloud of tatty hair. Wait five minutes for things to settle, so you can find your way back to the house, then brush yourself off, and, voila! Problem solved for at least a week or two.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:26 AM

I know that cat. She's a difficult one. My suggestion is to drop her in a barrel full of neet hair remover. This will give you a relatively hair-free cat for a few weeks. I think you will find that she flees from any powered instrument, even a small one, but I may be wrong.

You could try a flamethrower too, but the cat might get injured by that, so maybe not.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:23 AM

Vagisil?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:19 AM

A damp Chamois Leather, just stroke your pussy with it, and all the loose hair will stick to it.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 10:59 AM

Aren't there some sort of grooming mits you can buy? To the cat, it would feel like you're simply petting them, but the mits pick up the hair. Also, maybe there's a brush with softer (rubber or hair) bristle thingies. The hardness of the comb may be what she objects to.

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: *daylia*
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 10:54 AM

Thanks Bob -- those sound like great ideas! I've considered vacuuming her before, but she's terrified of the sound of my big machine I think. She runs for cover every time I turn it on. Maybe I'll borrow my Dad's little hand-held "dust-buster" this afternoon and see if she'd tolerate that better. If she does, I'd happily fork out the money for one of my own!

I think she'd really love that fish-oil tactic! And I betcha I could distract her from attacking both me and the comb if I spread it on one half of her body while I combed the other. Hmmmmmm ...

Thank you! I'll let you know how it goes ....

daylia

Subject: RE: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 10:38 AM

I've used a vacuum cleaner with one of those brush things that is supposed to be for uphlstery but no-one ever uses.   Be careful around her face though!   Mines a white longhaired persian and there usually a lot of hair around.

Another tip that we've used is to rub fish oil into her coat (the oil that comes in a tin of sardines or kippers - this will encourage the cat to do more grooming of its own

Bob

Subject: BS: Advise on grooming old pussy
From: *daylia*
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 10:23 AM

Hi all! Inspired by all the helpful advice on another thread about catching young pussy, I'm starting this one in the hopes that someone will be able to help me out ...

My twelve-year old cat Roo and I have always been best buds, except for one thing. She's black and has a very thick undercoat of grey fuzzy fur which she sheds year-round at what seems like the rate of about a lb. a day.

She absolutely HATES to be combed or brushed -- two strokes and she's hissing and biting at me. After a few minutes of chasing her around armed with a comb, I just give up. I've still got the scratch marks on my ankles from the last time I tried.

You can't even pat her without bringing up handfuls of this gray stuff, which is really a drag because her coat is so soft and nice to the touch. I have to vacuum nearly every day -- the floor and the furniture, or they'd disappear in short order under the layers of grey fuzz. No kidding.

Lately I've been wondering if the comb just hurts her becuase that undercoat is so very fine and thick. I've had her since she was four weeks old, so I know she was never viciously attacked by a comb! I decided long ago to just accept her "complex" about being combed and resigned myself to the daily vacuuming instead, rather than Roo-ining my relationship with the Roo!

I've told her many times that she'd feel SO much better if she'd just tolerate my combing attempts -- she wouldn't be horking up so many hairballs either. No go.

If anyone has any advice, short of knocking her out a couple times a week for a grooming session (I've considered that, believe me!) I'd really appreciate it!

daylia