JustMe
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Herdin' Cats and 2 GSDs
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« on: July 13, 2008, 06:29:24 AM » |
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Anybody have experience with a cat who can't groom herself well? This is a young cat that has a healed broken jaw, is able to eat fine, but doesn't clean herself well.
Would brushing daily be sufficient or would cat need to be bathed. How often can you bathe them. I thought you would wash the oils out if bathed too often.
Not one of my cats.
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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lesliek
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« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2008, 06:59:33 AM » |
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JustMe- I have a friend who's cat has arthritis in her back & can't groom herself. She brushes her daily & that seems to help.
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"the world's most inept extortionist"
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MarySmith
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« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2008, 07:02:11 AM » |
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Maybe wiping cat off daily with a damp cloth and then brushing may give cat incentive to groom just a little. Other cats in the household may also groom this cat.
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MarySmith
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kittylyda
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« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2008, 07:03:46 AM » |
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I have a client with a cat that's too over weight to groom her rear. She just can't reach it. I use those natural kitty wipes on her and on my own cats as needed. I would think a cat that clean herself at all would definitely have to be brushed each day to remove hair and perhaps a bath now and again couldn't hurt. If she won't accpet a regular bath, maybe suggest kitty wipes for her too. Here are the wipes I am comfortable using: http://www.vetbasis.com/prod_pet_wipes1.asphttp://arthurthedog.com/Kat.html |
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catbird
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« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2008, 07:30:31 AM » |
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During the last years of her life, Fluffy was too stiff from arthritis to do an adequate job of grooming. She was a long-hair, to boot.
I brushed her every day with a soft brush, as much as she would tolerate, and cleaned her bottom with those kitty wipes. About once a week I would wipe her down all over with the wipes. She didn't like that much, but it was better than bathing her. I bathed her a couple of times when she got messy, but it was a horrible experience for us all.
(If I ever have a stiff old long-hair again, I am going to have the coat trimmed into a lion cut.)
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JustMe
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Herdin' Cats and 2 GSDs
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« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2008, 08:06:26 AM » |
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Thank you. It would be nice if other cats groomed her.
I'm going to get some of those wipes myself. Thanks for posting those kittylyda. I've looked for some in the past, but worried about the ingredients. I could use them for Elvis and Davey as they aren't grooming very well now, and Davey has longish hair.
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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trudy1
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« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2008, 10:49:22 AM » |
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Try the wipes and brushing. i wouldn't bathe a cat with matts, because it will make them worse.
I just shaved My daughters cats' hind end yesterday, because He's so old now.
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Mandycat
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« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2008, 01:42:35 PM » |
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If kitty is an indoor cat, I agree that daily brushing and using the wipes at least a couple times a week and making sure that hind end is clean is probably sufficient. I would only bathe a cat if it got into something really dirty outside. It sounds like this kitty is at least trying to clean herself a bit as you said she "didn't clean herself well". Sounds like she just needs some extra TLC to finish the job.
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JustMe
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Herdin' Cats and 2 GSDs
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« Reply #8 on: July 13, 2008, 02:01:47 PM » |
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Yes, it is an indoor cat now. I don't know about the hind end. Good point. That probably isn't kept up well, either. Poor kitty.
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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tesla
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« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2008, 01:31:25 PM » |
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Have you ever tried a dry shampoo powder? I have used it numerous times on my persians with wonderful results. It absorbs all the oils that get in their coats and that causes matting and that dull greasy look. I had two persians that once they were sick and having to be force fed, it was the only thing that kept them clean and dry. I've use the brand from 8 in 1 called Perfect Coat. I hope it helps. I've tried the wipes, but didn't seem to have much luck on the long hair breeds. All you have to do is sprinkle some on, work it in with your finger and brush out. It's a lot like baby powder, but works much, much, MUCH better (I've tried both). All you need to do is put it on in a place that's easy to wipe up the excess or vacuum up. Best of luck.
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DMS
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« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2008, 01:39:03 PM » |
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My cats died of kidney failure at a very old age and were very stiff in the rear the last months. I used baby wipes when necessary for a spot cleaning and put them in the shower stall with me--no escape--for a warm shower when absolutely necessary. They were not declawed and we all survived without injury. The cats were not thrilled during the shower; but after a mild shampoo, thorough drying, a heating pad and blanket for comfort, they did seem more content than being dirty. Most cats hate to be dirty.
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None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Offly_irked
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« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2008, 02:01:02 PM » |
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Many moons ago, BJ (rb at 23) part-persian, in her old age had the luxury of her 2 housemates to groom her, me to brush her and damp wipe her behind, and much to her dislike, the vet tech did a sanitary trim when we went in to see the vet. Bathing her was out of the question, but those things kept her pretty neat.
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kittylyda
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« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2008, 02:22:53 PM » |
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Oh, yes I forgot to mention that sometimes I also use this dry shampoo. It's a liquid not a powder, but very gentle for animals with sensitive skin. It last longer and is a bit more economical that the wipes. The only ingredients are deionized water, a mild detergent free surfactant blend and apple extract. It can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits so it is very gentle. http://www.globalpets.com/SPD/kenic-dry-shampoo-8oz--21B80000-984330939.jsp |
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JustMe
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Herdin' Cats and 2 GSDs
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« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2008, 09:20:33 AM » |
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I finally met him and he was given a bath and is currently immaculate. Thanks for the link, kittylyda. I've looked at the waterless cleaners at the vet, but I'm leery of them. This one looks interesting. It's nice to hear actual user comments on a product.  |
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Never forget our cats and dogs and the Pet Food Recalls of 2007; the reason most of us are here!
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