The Vent and Rant Thread

[BuyMore]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

There. Because of a certain 'explanatory picture' in the article on Wikipedia, I've just saved dinner, lunch and breakfast of the last week for people who do not know what this word means.

You can thank me later....

Curiosity can kill a cat, or an appetite. I risked the lunch that I've just had and took a quick peek at the picture. That's just ... eww!

[kindlekitten]

Lol! !!!!!!

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by BuyMore

Curiosity can kill a cat, or an appetite. I risked the lunch that I've just had and took a quick peek at the picture. That's just ... eww!

Warned ya...

Spoiler:

I *knew* someone would go and look. It's always like that

[BuyMore]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Warned ya...

Spoiler:

I *knew* someone would go and look. It's always like that

Spoiler:

I *knew* I had to brace myself before taking a peek. So...thanks for the warning.

[poohbear_nc]

Speaking of 'ewwww' - I think I have just found the solution to a, well, delicate but stinky problem. Stella cat has the coat of a Maine Coon cat - with the long 'feathers' on her hind legs, bushy tail, and LOTS of soft dense fur around her 'privates' - which can lead to embarrassing events in the litter box - when she exits with soft 'poo' stuck to her fur - which makes her panic and run about the house, dragging her rear on the carpet like a dog with impacted anal glands (the squat scoot maneuver). Which leads to heated chases through the house and long, unpleasant operations in the bathroom with baby shampoo, water, and scissors.

Did I mention that this event usually happens right before bedtime or just as I'm leaving the house for work?

Why don't you simply trim her, you ask? Well, she now weighs 14 pounds of fighting muscle, can squirm like an octopus, and goes nuts if you try to trim her with either a so-called 'silent' cat clipper or just plain trimming scissors - there's a LOT of hair that needs cut!

Take her into a professional groomer and get it over quickly you suggest? Did I mention that this monster of a cat has tremendous 'stranger anxiety' - and her yearly trip to the vet for her physical & shots is an event that shatters everyone? She practically has a nervous breakdown - next year I'm trying one of those 'calming collars'. If it doesn't work on her, I'll wear it myself - she yowls continuously from start to finish.

But for day-to-day cleanliness? I was browsing the interwebs and found mention of Scaredy Cut scissors (http://www.amazon.com/Scaredy-Cut-Si...ds=Scaredy+cut) - and read the reviews - which are mixed. But I said what the heck and ordered a set. It's a miracle! (So far) - I comb her with the plastic comb - the teeth are wide enough spaced not to catch in her fur - she loves being combed - until she relaxes a bit - then you gently pick up the fur, slide the comb into it, open & close the scissors - and you've silently removed a swath of hair. The comb rests on the cat below the scissors blade, so even if she moves or jumps, you can't cut her. There are combs with teeth of different lengths & spacings - you simply snap them onto the lower scissors blade. The first day, I let her sniff and mark them as hers -and combed her lightly. Today I got both hind legs trimmed! With no bloodshed or tears. If luck holds, I'll move on to the tail and the inner fuzz.

Thank you for sharing this 'ewww' moment.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Speaking of 'ewwww' - I think I have just found the solution to a, well, delicate but stinky problem. Stella cat has the coat of a Maine Coon cat - with the long 'feathers' on her hind legs, bushy tail, and LOTS of soft dense fur around her 'privates' - which can lead to embarrassing events in the litter box - when she exits with soft 'poo' stuck to her fur - which makes her panic and run about the house, dragging her rear on the carpet like a dog with impacted anal glands (the squat scoot maneuver). Which leads to heated chases through the house and long, unpleasant operations in the bathroom with baby shampoo, water, and scissors.

Did I mention that this event usually happens right before bedtime or just as I'm leaving the house for work?

Why don't you simply trim her, you ask? Well, she now weighs 14 pounds of fighting muscle, can squirm like an octopus, and goes nuts if you try to trim her with either a so-called 'silent' cat clipper or just plain trimming scissors - there's a LOT of hair that needs cut!

Take her into a professional groomer and get it over quickly you suggest? Did I mention that this monster of a cat has tremendous 'stranger anxiety' - and her yearly trip to the vet for her physical & shots is an event that shatters everyone? She practically has a nervous breakdown - next year I'm trying one of those 'calming collars'. If it doesn't work on her, I'll wear it myself - she yowls continuously from start to finish.

But for day-to-day cleanliness? I was browsing the interwebs and found mention of Scaredy Cut scissors (http://www.amazon.com/Scaredy-Cut-Si...ds=Scaredy+cut) - and read the reviews - which are mixed. But I said what the heck and ordered a set. It's a miracle! (So far) - I comb her with the plastic comb - the teeth are wide enough spaced not to catch in her fur - she loves being combed - until she relaxes a bit - then you gently pick up the fur, slide the comb into it, open & close the scissors - and you've silently removed a swath of hair. The comb rests on the cat below the scissors blade, so even if she moves or jumps, you can't cut her. There are combs with teeth of different lengths & spacings - you simply snap them onto the lower scissors blade. The first day, I let her sniff and mark them as hers -and combed her lightly. Today I got both hind legs trimmed! With no bloodshed or tears. If luck holds, I'll move on to the tail and the inner fuzz.

Thank you for sharing this 'ewww' moment.

Hey, Pooh:

I'll have to look, see if we have any use for those. Ours? BUTT TRIMS, both of them. We nail-clip every two weeks, and as needed, quite close butt-trims. I use these clippers: Andis AGC Detachable Blade clippers. Yes, they cost a lot, but they are really worth it, at least, for my two.

We spent a lot of time getting them accustomed to clipping, etc., when young. It's a pain, but it's worth it. I find most people put it off until it's needed, and then it's an issue. (Not that you would do this, Pooh).

Also: don't know if this will help your cat, but I switched the female from a (huge variety of) Royal Canin to Blue Buffalo Indoor Health, and practically like "magic," her IBS (of over a year) cleared up. No more "soft pooh," and no more issues like what you've mentioned.

Sorry, I know that's not bitching and moaning, so Pooh, if you have q's about poo (so to speak), ping me. ;-)

Hitch

[poohbear_nc]

Alas! Stella was my first long hair cat - so of course I waited WAY too long to try to get her accustomed to clippers. Nails - no problem - clipped them from her first day home - but trims? Definitely a problem.

I'll look into the Blue Buffalo food - our local PetCo features it. Thanks!

[WT Sharpe]

@pooh: Perhaps you could ask the vet for some tranquilizers for use on trim the cat day.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Alas! Stella was my first long hair cat - so of course I waited WAY too long to try to get her accustomed to clippers. Nails - no problem - clipped them from her first day home - but trims? Definitely a problem.

I'll look into the Blue Buffalo food - our local PetCo features it. Thanks!

Sure, Pooh:

You can try a small bag (as I said, try the Indoor Health) because of course, it's expensive, and we all know what cats are like. I was surprised that mine both seem to be quite happy with it. {shrug}. And after a year of trying Royal Canin, Purina Veterinary, etc., all for IBS, I was pretty damn thrilled with getting something that seemed to "cure" IBS within days.

Best of luck. I have found that the Andis clippers are an order of sound lower than other clippers, if you find that you need a new pair, but your other solution seems pretty darn good, too. My theory is, whatever works, and which makes the episode the least-intrusive is the best way to go. My two treat nails and buzz-cuts like "non-events" now. Long or mid-range hair is definitely a "whole new thing" for cat (and dog) owners--run into the coat mats yet?

HTH,
Hitch

[poohbear_nc]

run into the coat mats yet?

*knock on wood* No - or not yet. Early on I got a heavy duty steel tooth grooming comb with a thick rubbery handle - and got her accustomed to whole body comb outs - she apparently loves the feel of comb teeth on her skin (which is one reason I think she is accepting the Scaredy Cut scissors with the attached comb - she just feels comb teeth on her skin, not scissors blades) - and will usually let me unsnarl her from head to tail. Why the thick rubbery handle you ask? If she starts objecting to the combing and wants to bite me, I let her chew on the handle a bit, and then start combing again - tends to reduce the wear & tear on my knuckles.

I definitely will try the food - she phases in & out of IBS symptoms on various Purina, Royal Canin, etc. And I will also look at the clippers. Thanks a bunch!

Tom - don't get me started on trying to get pills into my cats ....

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Tom - don't get me started on trying to get pills into my cats ....

Cats and pills. I have had remarkable success with cream cheese. For dogs, cream cheese or peanut butter, but for cats, cream cheese. They'll line up to take it off my finger.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

@pooh: Perhaps you could ask the vet for some tranquilizers for use on trim the cat day.

For the cat, of course!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by cromag

For the cat, of course!

OMG, was THAT who was supposed to get them?

Hitch

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Cats and pills. I have had remarkable success with cream cheese. For dogs, cream cheese or peanut butter, but for cats, cream cheese. They'll line up to take it off my finger.

For dogs, I have great success with 1/2" slices of a cheap hot dog. The dogs never even chew them, so they don't notice that part of it is knobby. Haven't found a good solution for cats, so it's good that my current baby doesn't require pills. Currently.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Cats and pills. I have had remarkable success with cream cheese. For dogs, cream cheese or peanut butter, but for cats, cream cheese. They'll line up to take it off my finger.

Really?

I've never tried cream cheese. I use malt-flavored hairball remedy, the gooey kind. Wrap the pill in it and GENTLY shove it down the mouth/throat area. That usually works, but pilling a cat is an act of high-wire acrobatics coupled with dancing through a waterfall of razor blades, even the best of them. (Although Zep will eat any damned old thing, so...of course, he NEVER needs a pill.) ;-)

Hitch