Sent 3 Cats for Lion Cut and They Came Back Like This. Normal?

helene

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I don't have cats that need lion cuts, but still have a strong opinion: I agree with all of the above responses and, further, this looks like malpractice to me. I don't know if that word applies to groomers, but it certainly should apply to the vet. I am not suggesting a lawsuit - don't get me wrong - that would be a nightmare and, perhaps, an overreaction. But it's not overreacting to call out the vet., publicly if you can (if you're on a neighborhood.com website you can tell you local community what happened). The behavioral changes you now see in your cats is proof enough that this cut was an act of abuse, even if the abuse was unintentional.
 

Kflowers

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You are entitled to copies of every page of your cats' medical records. I suggest you go to the vet and ask for them. If you go to the new vet and they ask for them there is the possiblity that the first vet will only send a record of their shots. This has happened to me. Go ask for those records even if you don't talk to the vet. You don't have to tell the vet, the receptionist or Jimmy Cricket why you want those records. You shouldn't have to pay for them, but some vet ask for a small, and I mean $5 fee for making copies. (If so keep that receipt too, you may want to use it later.)
 

bear

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I think I am going to weigh in again.
I suggest sending the images to the Vet and ask for their thoughts.
It isn't easy to trim the fur off these very thin skinned felines..
It takes time to gain the experience and usually requires a helper.
There may be new people involved and training needs to be increased, or a process (like having Vet sedate the cat) got missed.

If a trim is needed, I prefer a Vet shop, so any emergency (cut or stress induced reaction) can be better handled.

I think giving the Vet a chance and asking them to review, reply and recommend is the better approach than trying to publicly slam a business.

Above, I mentioned my gentle boy, who when trimmed became a CAT.
The groomer showed me my boy's charts. On each of his grooming sessions, at the top in large hand writing it said:
"HE IS A CAT",
She explained that is code for take every precaution. Even as nice a cat as he was, he was forceful enough for an extra time charge and a helper.

One of my cats, FurBall, had the code "She is a Sweet Pussy Cat". Just the groomer could do a full lion cut and bath in less than 1/2 time for their minimum charge. After a few lion shaves, she got a special discount.

I never had Erissa fully shaved, yet I figure it would have likely been coded "SheDevil is a Mass Murderer Cat".
After having two matts removed and it took all day, it was explained that Erissa would likely only get a full buzz if she was under anesthesia.

It sounds like your three are well pass the HE IS A CAT. With a bath, that would be $125 to $145 per cat without anything else like shots, flea treatment etc. So 3 each He is a Cat would be about $375-$435.
.
 
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silent meowlook

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Hi I didn’t read all the replies.

I work for a Vet. Vets aren’t groomers and often the people doing the grooming, haven’t had the experience grooming to know how to groom a cat.

I was a groomer for many years before working for vet Hosp.

I feel that if they don’t know what they are doing, don’t have experience grooming, they need to not offer that as a service.

There is absolutely no excuse for what was done to your cats!!! If the cats move or squirm, they needed to call you and tell you sedation was needed.

It looks to me like they used a number 40 blade which is a surgical blade and should not be used for shaving a cat other than for surgery.

Cats are hard to groom. But not an excuse! They also look like they didn’t switch bases and burned them as well with to hot a clipper.

This is horrible and I am so sorry for your cats.
I would get them checked by another vet as that skin can get badly infected. Keep them out of the sun. They will probably be traumatized for their next lion cuts so maybe try to get them used to daily brushing once their skin heals.

This is a deplorable inhumane job!! You must take pictures and go speak to the Vet. Stay calm and hold your ground and don’t leave until he or she speaks to you.

Look, we all make mistakes. When I first started grooming as an 18 year old, I had minimal experience. I accidentally sliced an Afghan dog’s ear. This is back before cell phones. I called the dog’s vet from the shop and rushed the dog down. Once at the vet I called the owners and told them “I accidentally cut your dog’s ear. I am at your Veterinarian with him and he needs to have anesthesia and get sutures. The Veterinarian reds your approval for anesthesia. Please tell them if you approve or not. I will bring your dog back with me and call you from the shop.” I don’t know how the people felt or what they thought of me at the time. I didn’t care. I just had to fix the horrible painful mistake. Obviously I paid the bill and didn’t charge them. When they got to the shop I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation of how the dog got cut. I had used scissors on a mat. But I told them the truth and offered free grooming for 6 months. I apologized. Thing is they wound up being the best clients! They referred lots of people to me and they definitely changed me.

So, sorry so long. The bottom line is, this is more than a mistake. This is an absolute untrained personal without the correct equipment that is working in a vet hospital and doing something they have no business doing, and hurting your cats. And while mistakes happen, nothing was done to even acknowledge this.

Your poor cats.

The vet is responsible. I urge you to find a cat only clinic.
 

Caspers Human

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I agree with others. You should go back to that vet/groomer, with pictures in hand and complain...LOUDLY!

Yes, it is common for people to minimize problems and try to blame shift but don't let them weasel their way out.

I imagine the conversation to go something like:

YOU: "My cats all have cuts from your groomer nicking them with electric clippers."
THEY: "Well... that was because so-and-so...blah-blah-blah..."

At this point, stick to your guns and say the same thing in the exact same way...
"My cats all have cuts from your groomer nicking them with electric clippers."

Of course, they'll repeat the same charade...
"But...but...but...I didn't...someone else...blah-blah-blah..."

This time, repeat the same words but turn up the volume...
"My CATS all have CUTS from YOUR GROOMER nicking them with electric CLIPPERS!"

They are sure to get annoyed with you at this point. That's when you pull out your pictures, plunk them down on the table...
Say, "What are YOU going to do about this?"

Now... Let them talk. Let them bluster. Let them stew. YOU should remain completely silent.
Let them talk themselves out. Wait until the room goes silent then just stand there and don't say anything. The first person to talk loses the game. Wait for them to break the silence again.

There will be tension. It will be quite uncomfortable but wait, silently.
After an appropriate pause, make your demands.

1) I want a refund.
2) I want a copy of all MY records.
3) If you don't, you'll be hearing from my lawyer.

When you say these things, hold your fingers up and count off your demands.

Again... be silent. Like I said, the first one to talk loses the game.

If they do what you ask, take your things, turn around and leave without saying anything but "Thank you."
Don't go back to that place again.

If they don't do what you ask, give them another chance but, if they don't, find a lawyer for a consult.
Any good lawyer will give you a twenty minute consultation, the first time, for free. That's how lawyers make money. They give people a chance to tell them what their problem is then they tell them what they can do and how much it will cost. It's the same way an auto mechanic diagnoses your car problems and tells you how much it's going to cost.

If you can't afford the lawyer's fees, ask them how much it would cost to send a demand letter to the vet, saying what you want and why.

If the vet doesn't respond, you can take your bills, your pictures and a copy of the lawyer's letter to your local Magistrate or District Justice and sue them in Small Claims Court.

Even if you still don't do all of this, I don't recommend going back to this vet.

I'm sorry that your kitties got hurt! :(

Thoughts and prayers be with you, hoping they get better soon! :)
 

neely

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This is the third Persian we've had and all three have gone to a groomer several times a year. I use a Greyhound Stainless Steel Comb which is better than a brush for a Persian's fur to minimize how often they have to go to the groomer. GE SS Greyhound Combs

They've never needed to have a lion cut but definitely a bath, sanitary shave, nail trim and overall grooming. We go to a feline only specialist who has a groomer come to the office twice a month. Not only is the groomer professionally trained but she has been doing this for years and is an absolute angel.

As other members have said, cats do not particularly enjoy being at the vet let alone being groomed. For that reason, the vet has us give our present cat a low dose of an anti-anxiety med prior to coming in for his grooming appointment. He comes home looking neatly groomed and so exquisitely handsome. :hearthrob:

You are the client and I won't repeat the other member's advice since everyone agrees what happened to your cats is absolutely deplorable. Stand up and advocate not only for your rights but both your Persian cats. I sincerely hope your cats recover from this undeserving experience and it never, ever happens to them again. Sending special thoughts to you and your kitties. :vibes::vibes:
 

IndyJones

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I would have a teddy bear cut instead next time. Teddy bear cut is not as close to the skin and these long hair cats have thinner skin.

It looks very choppy as well like they tried to go backwards rather than one direction. Also probably painful.
 

Babypaws

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I hope you’re planning on showing the vet what they did…..if they make excuses or back them up I would DEFINELY find another vet…
 

Talien

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I agree with others. You should go back to that vet/groomer, with pictures in hand and complain...LOUDLY!

Yes, it is common for people to minimize problems and try to blame shift but don't let them weasel their way out.

I imagine the conversation to go something like:

YOU: "My cats all have cuts from your groomer nicking them with electric clippers."
THEY: "Well... that was because so-and-so...blah-blah-blah..."

At this point, stick to your guns and say the same thing in the exact same way...
"My cats all have cuts from your groomer nicking them with electric clippers."

Of course, they'll repeat the same charade...
"But...but...but...I didn't...someone else...blah-blah-blah..."

This time, repeat the same words but turn up the volume...
"My CATS all have CUTS from YOUR GROOMER nicking them with electric CLIPPERS!"

They are sure to get annoyed with you at this point. That's when you pull out your pictures, plunk them down on the table...
Say, "What are YOU going to do about this?"

Now... Let them talk. Let them bluster. Let them stew. YOU should remain completely silent.
Let them talk themselves out. Wait until the room goes silent then just stand there and don't say anything. The first person to talk loses the game. Wait for them to break the silence again.

There will be tension. It will be quite uncomfortable but wait, silently.
After an appropriate pause, make your demands.

1) I want a refund.
2) I want a copy of all MY records.
3) If you don't, you'll be hearing from my lawyer.

When you say these things, hold your fingers up and count off your demands.

Again... be silent. Like I said, the first one to talk loses the game.

If they do what you ask, take your things, turn around and leave without saying anything but "Thank you."
Don't go back to that place again.

If they don't do what you ask, give them another chance but, if they don't, find a lawyer for a consult.
Any good lawyer will give you a twenty minute consultation, the first time, for free. That's how lawyers make money. They give people a chance to tell them what their problem is then they tell them what they can do and how much it will cost. It's the same way an auto mechanic diagnoses your car problems and tells you how much it's going to cost.

If you can't afford the lawyer's fees, ask them how much it would cost to send a demand letter to the vet, saying what you want and why.

If the vet doesn't respond, you can take your bills, your pictures and a copy of the lawyer's letter to your local Magistrate or District Justice and sue them in Small Claims Court.

Even if you still don't do all of this, I don't recommend going back to this vet.

I'm sorry that your kitties got hurt! :(

Thoughts and prayers be with you, hoping they get better soon! :)
Exactly this. There is no excuse for your Cats coming back looking like that, it wasn't just a "mistake" and it certainly wasn't your Cats' fault. Whoever did that screwed up badly. They maybe possibly almost could have said it was a mistake if it was just one bad shave and one injury on one Cat, but all of them looking like THAT? No, that was pure incompetence and negligence and is 100% on the vet's office. With those kinds of abrasions and what look like burns it's quite possible your Cats will end up need treatment for infection, and it's also very likely they are in pain which explains why they are acting abnormally.

Do not hesitate to tell them they will be hearing from your lawyer if they keep trying to blow you off and make excuses, it was absolutely their fault and they compounded their screwup by sending your Cats home looking like that without even saying anything. It's like they were hoping you wouldn't notice or wouldn't say anything and they could get away with it. Don't let them.

That said, it won't do you any good to walk in there angry and yelling right off the bat. Be civil and give the vet in charge a chance to take care of it, but insist he talk to you himself and don't settle for letting anyone else address the issue, it's possible he doesn't know and definitely needs to see the pictures firsthand, if you just leave the pictures with the office staff they might get "lost" and he'll never get them. If he is busy in surgery or something then say you will wait, or come back later if it's going to be several hours.
 

Caspers Human

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Do not hesitate to tell them they will be hearing from your lawyer if they keep trying to blow you off and make excuses,
One thing I always recommend is to give the other party a chance to make amends. Don’t go running off to a lawyer until negotiations have failed.

First, I believe it’s the honorable way to do business. Be honest and expect honesty in return. Give people a chance to be honest but, if not, don’t be afraid to hold their feet to the fire.

Second, if the other party does not behave honorably, you have more evidence for your pending legal matter.

You had a problem with another person.
You asked them to fix the problem.
They didn’t help you.

If and when you go to a lawyer or Magistrate, you can tell them that you tried to work things out but they blew you off.

In a civil case a judge is allowed to take such information into account.

In my opinion, you’ve got a slam dunk case.

I think you should “slam dunk” this person’s a$$!
 

jersharocks

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I would ask for a refund and never return. I don't trust vets to groom my cats other than maybe a sanitary trim because they do those frequently enough to know what they're doing but even someone who has little training should know better than to send a cat home looking like this with no apology.

Look for a legitimate cat groomer, a Certified Feline Master Groomer is best because they have more extensive training. I have my girls groomed by one and they both come back happy and healthy every time.

The National Cat Groomers Institute has a find a groomer page: Find A Cat Groomer

Also, as someone else mentioned, a teddy bear trim might be a better option. It leaves around 0.5-1 inch of fur (~1.25-2.5 cm for those who use the metric system) and doesn't need to get as close to the skin so there's less chance for accidents.
 

bear

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One thing we can't tell by after images is how bad the mats were when the cats were brought in for the buzz.
If mats are allowed to tighten, they can cause pain and damage to the skin before the mats are removed.

Hopefully you will be able to get the cats more used to brushing.
 

flybear

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I have 4 dogs that need regular haircuts and 5 cats … my groomer who is extremely skilled told me that most cats need sedation to safely get a haircut … there are exceptions of cats who love the brush and clippers but they are rare - our vet doesn’t offer any type of grooming except with sedation and usually in combination with dentals and such … the amount of skin damage on the pictures is horrific and extremely painful for the cats and beyond unprofessional for a vet office … Your vet office should have called you if your cat is uncooperative and simply informed you that they could ‘t safely do it - maybe suggest a mild sedative or give you the option to pick up the cat … no big deal … I would be LIVID if my cats came back like this … Razor burns and cuts like these are often caused by dull razor blades that pull hairs and hurt plus overheating blades … hence the animal squirms and suffers … you have every right to be super angry …
 

Babypaws

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You are entitled to copies of every page of your cats' medical records. I suggest you go to the vet and ask for them. If you go to the new vet and they ask for them there is the possiblity that the first vet will only send a record of their shots. This has happened to me. Go ask for those records even if you don't talk to the vet. You don't have to tell the vet, the receptionist or Jimmy Cricket why you want those records. You shouldn't have to pay for them, but some vet ask for a small, and I mean $5 fee for making copies. (If so keep that receipt too, you may want to use it later.)
whenever I take a cat to the vet for any reason I always ask them to email me a copy of shots/tests etc along with the results. I have 12 cats and I made a notebook which contains info on each cat. Ex: when I gave flea treatments, when I trimmed nails, when they got sick etc etc
Pets are family so why not keep records of their health. My vet doesn’t charge me for any records I request.
 

LokiWolf

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Oki know this is old but some of those abrasions look like they are from a hot clipper blade. They probably wanted to get done and never changed the blade to a cooler one. Big issue. Always have multiple blades and a cooling tile (not spray) to put a hot blade on to cool it down. Also looks like they didn't pull the skin taut enough so the nicks happened. All in all a hurried groom. Not something you do on an elderly animal nevermind a cat. Call the owner and tell them that fluffy is having a hard time. Ask if you want to come back or if if you want fluffy sedated. Don't fight. I've seen an elderly dog fight a groomer and go limp. Groomer brought him back to life and called the owner to get the dog but it can happen.

Just a former groomer who did both dogs and cats.
 

daftcat75

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I would send those pictures to the owner of the practice (not just the vets or techs), and ask them to be put on their website. If they don't want to get behind that work, you shouldn't either. Definitely ask for your money back and take your business elsewhere.
 

Jcatbird

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Oh no! No matter whether it was mistakes, dealing with fighting cats, mats that added to the issue or what, someone should have prepared you for what happened and what your cats are now facing. Go back, keep your voice calm but firm and get all the details. A refund won’t do it IMHO. You need change in that place! This cannot happen to your cats or any others. You confront for your own cats and any who follow. Get answers and specifics on how this will never be allowed to happen again. If you cannot get satisfactory answers and solutions, then take harder action. Remember, one picture is worth a thousand words. These photos should be frightening to the owners of that practice. I hope they react appropriately. Sending gentle purrs to your kitties. May they heal quickly and find gentle hands to handle them at the vet from now on.
 

Babypaws

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You're right.

I had been disgusted with the behavior of the staff before, but now they really gave me a reason to go after them. Fine if they don't like a customer, but don't mess with my cats.
I’m wondering how your kitties are doing from the hacking they received back in July? I hope you found a NEW vet..and hope they are recovering okay. Please give us an update….
thanks
 
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