Question:
I have a 10 month old long-haired kitty. She flat out refuses to let me brush her. I just noticed a few minutes ago that she has knots/tangles under her one armpit and behind her back legs. Basically where the hair is the longest.

She had one knot before that I uses trimmers to clip off. But that was a battle and took me over an hour to clip it off. She has 3 good knots this time. Ahhhh

Does anyone have any technics for preventing knots, or am I just going to have to pin her down and brush her? lol

Answer:
I don't know about preventing knots, short of shaving. I have a long hair that collects stickers and burrs in his tail. I usually wait until he is sleeping to comb or clip them out. By the time he's fully awake..I'm almost done! But with the arm pit...hmmm the fight might be on!! Maybe there is a Persian owner out there who can help!

Answer:
I'm honestly thinking it would be easier to just get someone to hold her while I brush her. Even if I just brush her every other day. Getting these knots out is a slow process. She hates it and I can't say I like it either. LOL

The armpit was a tricky one but I did get it. I had to hold her down. Not fun at all. I still have 2 more on her back legs to get. They are matted right to the skin. Ugh. I'm going to need my hubby to hold her for those ones.

Answer:
Just make sure you have the leather gloves handy!! lol

Answer:
I've got a Persian that doesn't like being groomed. I got him from a shelter and he was 4 when I adopted him so he was like that from the very beginning. I tried so many different ways but finally gave up and just had him get a lion cut. He would hiss, spit, bite, and growl while being groomed --even when it was a gentle non pulling groom. He just has it in for the comb or brush. He sees it as a weapon. Your cat is still young. They are all so playfull and wiggly at that age but still young enough to train. I'd start out slowly keeping the grooming time short and grooming in areas that he likes. If you continue down the road you're going your cat may come to see the comb as a weapon like my cat does. It might help to get the belly and underarms shaved to help you through your training period so you won't have to fight with matts.

Answer:
My boyfriend is having the same problem with one of his long haired cats.

How does shaving work? He was thinking of taking her in to the groomers and just having them give her a buzz cut...the cat is an indoor cat anyways, so it wouldn't be a problem. The only thing he's concerned about is how the hair will grow back..does it tend to grow back evenly or will she look like she just got hit by lightning?

Answer:
I don't have a cat.. I have a cocker spaniel, and matting has been our new biggest battle. Pretty much you either need to brush really thouroughly and often, or shave down the problem areas. But, if the matting is bad enough, the cat/ dog may have to go to the vet to have it delt with rather than a groomer.

I thought I'd be doing an okay job brushing a few times a week, but in reality, I'd been missing a lump in each armpit. Took her to be clipped down at the groomer's, and she ended up cutting her armpit the matts were so tight into the skin.

I found 2 ear matts this week I hadn't noticed before. Took an hour with saftey sissors..

From now on, I'm just going to keep the problem area clipped down, even if I let her coat stay long. Just easier than the potential problems.

Answer:
Thanks everyone. I don't know if she's part persian or what she is. But she has a bushy tail and longer hair around her neck, tummy and legs. The rest of her fur lays flat. But I'd rather avoid shaving her if I can.

I guess she's really not that bad, a little growling and fighting/squirming, but she hasen't bit me yet. lol

The trimmers I use are those personal trimmers for people. The ones advertised on tv for guys to trim the short hairs on the back of their neck ect.. They work pretty good on her and they don't cut the skin. The mats are tight though so it's probably pulling her fur while I'm clipping the mats off.

I still need to get the 2 on her back legs.. I left her alone after clipping off the one on her armpit. I down 2 to go. Ahhhh. lol

Here's a pic of her..

Answer:
Originally Posted by pitbulliest
The only thing he's concerned about is how the hair will grow back..does it tend to grow back evenly or will she look like she just got hit by lightning?

LOL No it doesn't look like he was hit by lightening. Of course that depends on the skill of the groomer but if it's a professional it should be a good job. It's growing in really fast too. A lot faster than I wanted it to.

Answer: