Mickey is the big fat mouser from across the street
(<http://gearbox.maem.umr.edu/tdavis/cats/020107/big.boy.water.1.600x400.jpg>).
He visits from time to time to eat, drink, and/or be petted.  His
people really don't take good enough care of him so I do what I can -
I groom him and give him Frontline treatments when he come around.

I hadn't seen him all summer and when he showed up about a week ago he
had a really nasty mat on his back.  I tried to cut it off but he
struggled too much and got away. I called his people and they said
they would hold him down and cut it off - she was going to use a razor
blade but I advised using blunt pointed scissors. Friday night he came
in to eat and wouldn't let me touch the mat.  I decided I'd make one
more attempt, then give him my last cat tranquilizer pill and remove
it while he was drugged.  Last night, Saturday, he was back.  I picked
him up and put him on a small table, grabbed him by the scruff of his
neck and - wonder of wonders - he stayed still while I cut the mat off
with my blunt pointed scissors. He put out a continuous stream of
curses and threats, but he didn't move.  Once I got it off, I left him
while I went into another room to get a comb and the Frontline, combed
him out, and put on the Frontline.  *Then* he jumped down.

The mat is about six inches long, two inches wide, and half an inch
thick - and filled with sticky seeds and flea eggs.  He's *got* to be
feeling better now, even though he has this large crater in the fur on
his back.  I'll call his people this afternoon
--
T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu)