Dlh Grooming Tips.

KateMc82

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I have a DLH Tabby and she is fearful of getting groomed. I can’t bring out the brush or she runs and hides. She’s never liked grooming, but she used to let me brush her. She’s gotten worse about it since we moved about a year ago. Now she is getting mats since she’s making it impossible to brush her. I think I need to take her to the vet to get some of the mats out. I’m afraid to cut them out since they’re very close to her skin (and I don’t own electric clippers). Any specific suggestions to make grooming less scary for her? Also, any specific brush/grooming tools suggestions for a long-haired cat? My other 2 cats *love* to get brushed, so I am not experienced working with a difficult cat. And to make matters worse, she is my only long-haired. The 2 boys are DSH.
 

Furballsmom

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Hi!
My boy was the same and I started very slowly, bit by bit, when he was deeply asleep.
Try that, and if you get your vet to give a tummy shave, up the sides a bit, the armpits and under the tail, then you can try and keep up with things at home.

I've read that cornstarch can help loosen mats, so if you cut them down a bit try this and see if you can work them loose.

I have a zoomgroom, it's the one he tolerated the best. I also have Wahl clippers, and heavy duty 8" scissors.

Your cat is gorgeous!
 
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KateMc82

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Thank you! I’ll try that! I think I do need to get her shaved. Especially around her butt. That’s the worst area for her.
 

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Once you get the mats under control a comb is better than a brush for longhair cats. You would still need to work into it gradually. Maybe start out just letting her play with the comb, then try one or two strokes at a time.
 
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KateMc82

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Once you get the mats under control a comb is better than a brush for longhair cats. You would still need to work into it gradually. Maybe start out just letting her play with the comb, then try one or two strokes at a time.
Would this comb be a good choice?
 
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KateMc82

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Sorry, I don’t know coat types. How do I tell what type of coat she has? It’s thick near her skin, but gets whispy near the edges.
 

GoldyCat

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My guess is double coat, partly from your description and partly because very few cats have a triple coat.
 

lutece

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All cats have three types of hair: guard hair, awn hair, and down hair. Guard hairs are the long straight ones. Awn hair is slightly shorter and not quite as straight. Down hairs are the shorter fuzzier ones.

down and awn.jpg


Some cats have mostly guard hairs, and not much awn hair or down hair. Such a cat is called "single coated."

Some cats have lots of undercoat (generally referring to both the down hair and awn hair). Such a cat is called "double coated."

"Triple coat" is something referred to in the Siberian standard, meaning that Siberian cats have lots of guard hairs, awn hairs, and down hairs... however, this means the same thing as what other breeds refer to as "double coat." It doesn't refer to a substantially different coat type. All cats have three types of hair.
 
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KateMc82

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All cats have three types of hair: guard hair, awn hair, and down hair. Guard hairs are the long straight ones. Awn hair is slightly shorter and not quite as straight. Down hairs are the shorter fuzzier ones.

View attachment 288611

Some cats have mostly guard hairs, and not much awn hair or down hair. Such a cat is called "single coated."

Some cats have lots of undercoat (generally referring to both the down hair and awn hair). Such a cat is called "double coated."

"Triple coat" is something referred to in the Siberian standard, meaning that Siberian cats have lots of guard hairs, awn hairs, and down hairs... however, this means the same thing as what other breeds refer to as "double coat." It doesn't refer to a substantially different coat type. All cats have three types of hair.
This is very helpful. Thank you!
 

Maria Bayote

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Welcome to the club! Same with my Barley. The very kind and gentle Barley that I know becomes a boxer seemingly out to win his world featherweight title when I groom him. So I bought this grooming glove and it works quite well.
 
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KateMc82

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Welcome to the club! Same with my Barley. The very kind and gentle Barley that I know becomes a boxer seemingly out to win his world featherweight title when I groom him. So I bought this grooming glove and it works quite well.
My cat does this too if I try and restrain her (her name is Luna) to do something to her. She’s on the hefty side, and she’s a lot stronger than she looks. She’s very sweet and docile otherwise. But grooming and giving medications to her is a pain.
 
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KateMc82

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Maybe I will try one of those glove groomers.
 
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KateMc82

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All cats have three types of hair: guard hair, awn hair, and down hair. Guard hairs are the long straight ones. Awn hair is slightly shorter and not quite as straight. Down hairs are the shorter fuzzier ones.

View attachment 288611

Some cats have mostly guard hairs, and not much awn hair or down hair. Such a cat is called "single coated."

Some cats have lots of undercoat (generally referring to both the down hair and awn hair). Such a cat is called "double coated."

"Triple coat" is something referred to in the Siberian standard, meaning that Siberian cats have lots of guard hairs, awn hairs, and down hairs... however, this means the same thing as what other breeds refer to as "double coat." It doesn't refer to a substantially different coat type. All cats have three types of hair.
She has mostly down hair that I can see. Most of it is squiggly like that. She has some guard and awn on her head. I’m sure she has a mixture of all 3 types of hair all over, it’s just the down hair looks more dominant.
 
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