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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / May 2006suggestions on shaving a cat butt?
Oscar has very long, wispy fur all over, including her rear end. Unfortunately, this means that she sometimes gets litter stuck to the fur, which doesn't please anyone in the household, and it's not easy to get Oscar to tolerate a butt-washing. Usually she ends up doing it herself, which worries me because of the litter. Anyway, we've been talking about shaving her for a while, and yesterday we finally tried. DH got out the clipper attachment to his electric razor, and I held Oscar wrapped in one of my sweatshirts. Well, it was somewhat successful. The very longest hairs are gone. Oscar protested vehemently while we were doing this, but she didn't appear to be upset at us afterwards. I think fully half of her anger stemmed from being held upside down; the other half from having something buzzing near her bum. DH has suggested taking her to a groomer, but she hates her carrier and cars, and I can only imagine the kind of trauma a groomer would cause. Any suggestions from the guardians of long-haired cats on butt-shaving techniques? Would a scissor work better? DH said that it was hard to shave her because her fur is so light that it just gets pushed away rather than being cut.  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Oscar has very long, wispy fur all over, including her rear end. > Unfortunately, this means that she sometimes gets litter stuck to the fur, [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > her because her fur is so light that it just gets pushed away rather than > being cut. I wouldn't use scissors. My vet just lifts their tail up and zips up on both sides and poof it is done. Maybe setting her on a surface would be a better idea and make the clipping easier. > I wouldn't use scissors. My vet just lifts their tail up and zips up on both > sides and poof it is done. Maybe setting her on a surface would be a better > idea and make the clipping easier. Yep, that's what I was going to suggest. Scissors are too dangerous - when you hold the hair out the skin comes up with it and it's very easy to cut the skin, she's liable to move just as you're snipped and it could be very painful plus dangerous to have an open wound in this area because of the litter. Hugs, CatNipped > > I wouldn't use scissors. My vet just lifts their tail up and zips up on > both [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > painful plus dangerous to have an open wound in this area because of the > litter. We lay Buddha on the floor on a couple of towels on her back, and I hold/distract her while my husband uses those hair clippers they sell for home haircuts. She hates it, but it's fast and pretty easy. > We lay Buddha on the floor on a couple of towels on her back, and I > hold/distract her while my husband uses those hair clippers they sell for > home haircuts. She hates it, but it's fast and pretty easy. How do you keep her tail out of the way? I have trouble holding Oscar *and* lifting her tail out of the way. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > > We lay Buddha on the floor on a couple of towels on her back, and I > > hold/distract her while my husband uses those hair clippers they sell for > > home haircuts. She hates it, but it's fast and pretty easy. > > How do you keep her tail out of the way? I have trouble holding Oscar *and* > lifting her tail out of the way. I would have her stand while you hold her body still then let your husband hold her tail up with one hand and weild the clippers with the other. If the clippers aren't working you might want to invest in a pair of professional pet clippers. Pet groomers put cats on a leash hooked to a stand and then hold the tail with one hand while shaving with the other - so you might try putting her in a halter and leash tied to something and then you can steady her and hold her tail up if your husband use both hands. Hugs, CatNipped > -- > monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully > > pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > > > We lay Buddha on the floor on a couple of towels on her back, and I > > > hold/distract her while my husband uses those hair clippers they sell [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I would have her stand while you hold her body still then let your husband > hold her tail up with one hand and weild the clippers with the other. The trouble with this is cats make their legs disappear when they are unhappy with what you are doing. :0) Like at the vet, Cheeky is suddenly legless. He cannot even get her leg straightened out to feel for her linear granuloma. I think they are retractable. :) If > the clippers aren't working you might want to invest in a pair of > professional pet clippers. Pet groomers put cats on a leash hooked to a > stand and then hold the tail with one hand while shaving with the other - so > you might try putting her in a halter and leash tied to something and then > you can steady her and hold her tail up if your husband use both hands. How do they keep the cats from tucking their legs?? > > We lay Buddha on the floor on a couple of towels on her back, and I > > hold/distract her while my husband uses those hair clippers they sell for > > home haircuts. She hates it, but it's fast and pretty easy. > > How do you keep her tail out of the way? I have trouble holding Oscar *and* > lifting her tail out of the way. Buddha is a tuxedo shorthair and has a trim, pretty short little tail. Oscar's is long and fluffy. You could put a towel under Oscar and wrap it up in a way that the tail is caught up in it, and hold that part of the towel with one hand while you tend to the front half of Oscar with the other. You might have to lie down for this. :) >> How do you keep her tail out of the way? I have trouble holding >> Oscar *and* lifting her tail out of the way. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the towel with one hand while you tend to the front half of Oscar with > the other. You might have to lie down for this. :) You know, I never wanted a longhair. They never appealed to me. But don't tell Oscar! Now, of course, I have a very different attitude. If Boo's a shorthair, why does she need a trim? Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > >> How do you keep her tail out of the way? I have trouble holding > >> Oscar *and* lifting her tail out of the way. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > If Boo's a shorthair, why does she need a trim? She's err, um, just a bit thick in the middle. Okay, okay, she's huge. She ought to be 8 lbs but she is more like 18. We did not do this to her. It's a long story. So I think she is too fat to reach parts of her nether regions. We are working on it. >> If Boo's a shorthair, why does she need a trim? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > did not do this to her. It's a long story. So I think she is too fat to > reach parts of her nether regions. We are working on it. Poor girl. Man, if someone told me they'd be taking clippers to my butt until I lost weight, I'd be dropping pounds like crazy! Too bad you can't tell Boo why she has to be shaved =/ Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca "Monique Y. Mudama" <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote i > > Okay, okay, she's huge. She ought to be 8 lbs but she is more like 18. We > > did not do this to her. It's a long story. So I think she is too fat to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I lost weight, I'd be dropping pounds like crazy! Too bad you can't tell Boo > why she has to be shaved =/ She is such a chow hound she might not even care. Her first owner did not know how to show love except with "want a goody?" So she became disfunctional about food. I can distract her with play but she spends a lot of the evening waiting by the food dish even AFTER she has been fed. Here is the weird thing: she has a severely hyperactive thyroid--yes, hyPER. She was obese before we checked it with Tapazole, now she is worse. The vet said it happens sometimes that these cats are fat, he does not know why. He looked at me with his eyes bugging out when we put her on Tapazole and said: "You realize she is going to GAIN weight, right?" But it is better than what can happen if we allow her thyroid to go unchecked. She is very agile except for the butt thing, believe it or not. She zips around and "cuts a shine" every night. She is on a diet now. Purrs couldn't hurt though. She is 10 and I love her to pieces. She's got moxy. > She is such a chow hound she might not even care. Her first owner did not > know how to show love except with "want a goody?" So she became [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > every night. She is on a diet now. Purrs couldn't hurt though. She is 10 and > I love her to pieces. She's got moxy. Ah, yes, I remember her weird weight vs. eating issues from h+b. How she doesn't lose weight even on a small amount of food. I hope you can find a way for her to safely lose some weight. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > > She is such a chow hound she might not even care. Her first owner did not > > know how to show love except with "want a goody?" So she became [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > doesn't lose weight even on a small amount of food. I hope you can find a way > for her to safely lose some weight. Thank you. Boo is a wonderful girl, and a prime example of how wrongheaded expressions of love--esp. when only given as food!-- can be. > Yep, that's what I was going to suggest. Scissors are too dangerous - when > you hold the hair out the skin comes up with it and it's very easy to cut > the skin, she's liable to move just as you're snipped and it could be very > painful plus dangerous to have an open wound in this area because of the > litter. So do most people who do this use an electric razor? DH said that the hair was so fine that the razor pushed the fur rather than clipping it. Maybe it will take a few passes to get it short enough to really work well. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca "Monique Y. Mudama" <spam@bounceswoosh.org> had some very interesting things to say about Re: suggestions on shaving a cat butt?: >> Yep, that's what I was going to suggest. Scissors are too dangerous - when >> you hold the hair out the skin comes up with it and it's very easy to cut [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >was so fine that the razor pushed the fur rather than clipping it. >Maybe it will take a few passes to get it short enough to really work well. I would not be able to get an electric razor anywhere near Felix without considerable loss of blood. ;-) Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL See if any of the groomers in your area offer home visits. Or if you have a groomer at your vet so you can combine trips. --Fil A few years ago I bought an expensive pet grooming clipper to trim Tiger's butt hair. Tiger did not cooperate but the clippers didn't work well anyway. I let the vet do the job now (it usually requires tranquilizing). ---MIKE--- > A few years ago I bought an expensive pet grooming clipper to trim Tiger's > butt hair. Tiger did not cooperate but the clippers didn't work well > anyway. I let the vet do the job now (it usually requires tranquilizing). Poor Tiger! I don't think Oscar will require a tranq, but I'm sure she won't be happy with me. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > I wouldn't use scissors. My vet just lifts their tail up and zips up on both > sides and poof it is done. Maybe setting her on a surface would be a better > idea and make the clipping easier. We're worried that if we don't hold her, Oscar will either move too much or claw us. We didn't try a surface, though, so maybe we should try it before rejecting it. I originally held her right-side-up and DH said he couldn't shave her that way. But being held upside down is definitely not on her list of enjoyable experiences. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > > I wouldn't use scissors. My vet just lifts their tail up and zips up on both > > sides and poof it is done. Maybe setting her on a surface would be a better [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > claw us. We didn't try a surface, though, so maybe we should try it before > rejecting it. Well, you can still hold her; just hold her on the table. You can even wrap her leaving just her butt out. > I originally held her right-side-up and DH said he couldn't shave her that > way. But being held upside down is definitely not on her list of enjoyable > experiences. >> Oscar has very long, wispy fur all over, including her rear end. >> Unfortunately, this means that she sometimes gets litter stuck to the [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > better > idea and make the clipping easier. Now, personally, I would use scissors. I would get someone to hold her and lift her tail and snip away without grabbing hold of the hair to pull the skin away from the body, when you can easily accidently cut them. I, too, would set her on some sort of worktop. If she became afraid I would cover her face with a tea towel before I did it. This is a nice way to get the thigh fur down to about a quarter inch or even less without scaring them with a buzzy machine. Tweed > Any suggestions from the guardians of long-haired cats on butt-shaving > techniques? Would a scissor work better? DH said that it was hard to shave > her because her fur is so light that it just gets pushed away rather than > being cut./// When I had my long haired tortie, Polly (RB) I used to trim her butt with sissors once a week. She looked a bit daft with short hair around her bum, but it meant no dangleberries. ;o) Helen M >> Any suggestions from the guardians of long-haired cats on butt-shaving >> techniques? Would a scissor work better? DH said that it was hard to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > sissors once a week. She looked a bit daft with short hair around her bum, > but it meant no dangleberries. ;o) Yeah, I think being covered in cat litter is more daft-looking than having the area shaved =P Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Other than snipping sticky things out of fur, I'd leave cat trimming to the pro's. Especially the first time. My aunts Himalayans get their tummies shaved fairly often. Jo > Oscar has very long, wispy fur all over, including her rear end. > Unfortunately, this means that she sometimes gets litter stuck to the fur, [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > her because her fur is so light that it just gets pushed away rather than > being cut. STAY AWAY FROM SCISSORS!!!!!! Kristi (who saw a cat covered in lacerations because the owner tried to cut its coat with scissors. The owner later said she was going to tell everyone that her cat had been in a fight. *sigh*) > STAY AWAY FROM SCISSORS!!!!!! I agree, and I also agree with whoever recommended going to a professional groomer. Cats are tricky creatures at best, and when they don't want to have something done to them, it takes an expert to do the deed. Long, long ago I used to groom cats, and that stood me in good stead when we had to clip Pixel down twice a year, because he was allergic to his own medium-long hair, poor tyke. Nina in Texas, servant to: Snickelfritz (RB), Pixel (RB 12/03), Rusty (RB 9/04), Seth (RB 12/04), Skeeter, Kyle, Jake, and T.K. [Tuxedo Kitty] SignatureProfessional proofreading doesn’t cost – it pays! ninaproofs@earthlink.net www.ninaproofs.com > I agree, and I also agree with whoever recommended going to a professional > groomer. Cats are tricky creatures at best, and when they don't want to > have something done to them, it takes an expert to do the deed. Long, long > ago I used to groom cats, and that stood me in good stead when we had to > clip Pixel down twice a year, because he was allergic to his own medium-long > hair, poor tyke. Allergic to his own hair?? That's horrible! Well, I was thinking that Oscar would hate being put in a carrier and getting a ride to the groomer's, but maybe that would work to our advantage -- at the vet's she goes limp from fear. There is a Petsmart with a grooming center just down the street, not even 5 minutes away. I just called them and spoke to their one cat groomer. She said that I don't need an appointment; to just call ahead to make sure she's there. She said it should be very fast and that they charge $5 for every 15 minutes of work, which is much cheaper than I'd expected. I guess it's worth a try. It might be less traumatic than DH and me fumbling around. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >>I agree, and I also agree with whoever recommended going to a professional >>groomer. Cats are tricky creatures at best, and when they don't want to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Allergic to his own hair?? That's horrible! Or to something that got trapped in it when it was over 1/2 inch long; same difference, to me! That poor cat was allergic to almost everything -- and diabetic, due to a steroid shot given in an attempt to treat those allergies. > Well, I was thinking that Oscar would hate being put in a carrier and getting > a ride to the groomer's, but maybe that would work to our advantage -- at the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > minutes of work, which is much cheaper than I'd expected. I guess it's worth > a try. It might be less traumatic than DH and me fumbling around. Less traumatic for all concerned! :-) Nina in Texas, servant to: Snickelfritz (RB), Pixel (RB 12/03), Rusty (RB 9/04), Seth (RB 12/04), Skeeter, Kyle, Jake, and T.K. [Tuxedo Kitty] SignatureProfessional proofreading doesn’t cost – it pays! ninaproofs@earthlink.net www.ninaproofs.com >> There is a Petsmart with a grooming center just down the street, not even 5 >> minutes away. I just called them and spoke to their one cat groomer. She [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Less traumatic for all concerned! :-) *nod* Now I just need to convince DH that it would *not* be funny to get Oscar a lion cut. He's been talking about getting Oscar one of those since he first saw a picture of a really pissed off looking cat with a big ol' poofy mane. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca I have been using Petsmart for two of my male cats shave down a couple of summers now. When I bring them home from being bathed, shaved and thoroughly groomed, one of them can't stay away from the mirror, and the other one "struts" around the house like a peacock. "Tiger" is shaved to look like tiger. "Tom" is orange and white and looks just like a miniature lion with his lion cut. >> I agree, and I also agree with whoever recommended going to a professional >> groomer. Cats are tricky creatures at best, and when they don't want to [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >minutes of work, which is much cheaper than I'd expected. I guess it's worth >a try. It might be less traumatic than DH and me fumbling around. > Oscar has very long, wispy fur all over, including her rear end. <snip> She needs to be shaved with a grooming clipper. Wispy hair is hard to do. a "pany shave" should cost about $10.00, should *not* need sedation, and they should take all the hair away from the perianal area and the vulva. I also used to clip a little down the legs to avoid dingleberries. Each groomer has different techniques. -L. (former groomer) >> Oscar has very long, wispy fur all over, including her rear end. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > -L. (former groomer) Hrm. I think her problem is more with the "pantaloons" than with the area immediately around her rear. Her actual anal area is clean; she gets litter stuck to the backs of her legs, where she has very long hair; some of it is probably several inches long. Is there a term I could use when talking to a groomer to clarify this, or should I just say what I just typed? Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Hrm. I think her problem is more with the "pantaloons" than with the area > immediately around her rear. Her actual anal area is clean; she gets litter > stuck to the backs of her legs, where she has very long hair; some of it is > probably several inches long. Is there a term I could use when talking to a > groomer to clarify this, or should I just say what I just typed? I would be very specific about what you want. You described it here perfectly. :) -L. >Any suggestions from the guardians of long-haired cats on butt-shaving >techniques? Would a scissor work better? DH said that it was hard to shave >her because her fur is so light that it just gets pushed away rather than >being cut. I don't have any good suggestions, but I can pass on something I remember hearing about a related subject a while back while flipping through TV channels. There was a show with a host named Howard Stern who was interviewing a guest who was a Playboy centerfold or something, asking her some very blunt questions, which she fielded without embarrassment. Anyway, she said that the particular area you are discussing is best done by waxing. She may have been talking about herself though, and not a cat. >>Any suggestions from the guardians of long-haired cats on butt-shaving >>techniques? Would a scissor work better? DH said that it was hard to shave [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Anyway, she said that the particular area you are discussing is best done by > waxing. She may have been talking about herself though, and not a cat. "May have"? *eyes Takayuki* I can't imagine trying to wax Oscar. In fact, I can't imagine trying to wax me! Eek! Waxing is used in part because it keeps skin smooth the longest (with razors, of course, stubble appears very quickly). I'm not trying to make Oscar bald, just give her a cropping so that she doesn't end up having to lick urine-drenched litter while cleaning herself =/ Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> Anyway, she said that the particular area you are discussing is best done by >> waxing. She may have been talking about herself though, and not a cat. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >just give her a cropping so that she doesn't end up having to lick >urine-drenched litter while cleaning herself =/ I have to admit that I'm not sure at all what waxing involves. Until fairly recently, I imagined that maybe it just involved rubbing the area in question with wax, like one would after washing a car. :) I wonder if those Flowbee vacuum haircut things would work on a cat? >>> Anyway, she said that the particular area you are discussing is >>> best done by waxing. She may have been talking about herself [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > I wonder if those Flowbee vacuum haircut things would work on a cat? Let me put it this way, Tak. The discussion of waxing came up once while out after work with some co-workers and this guy said something stupid like, "Why don't you just wax?" Oh, okay. Let me pour hot wax on your face, let it cool to a solid sheet and then rip it off in strips along with your beard. Sound good? He replied, "Uh, never mind." LOL Jill >> I have to admit that I'm not sure at all what waxing involves. Until >> fairly recently, I imagined that maybe it just involved rubbing the area in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Jill Actually, that still sounds better than what Tak suggests: rubbing a substance on yourself until it yanks the hairs out! Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca |
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