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How to shave my cats

Posted: Oct 14, 2013

Ok, maybe not shaving my cat but here is the rundown. I have 4 cats, 2 with extremely long furry coats and they shed so much that I am almost drowning in fur. Just kidding about this but it is a lot that my hubby tells me to use the commercial vacuum we have to get it up. I did have a company that would shave the cats down about once a year but now they do not have groomers there any longer. Some places will shave but they require for your cats to have shots including rabies and from what I read these shots can sometimes cause cancer. I am well aware how the groomers feel and also aware that I do not want to ever think I could be the cause of my cat getting cancer. These are totally indoor cats by the way. Ok, any ideas about how I could cut down their coats, how to better take care of the excessive fur (I do comb them trying to get rid of some hair and mats), just any ideas one might throw out there for me I would surely appreciate it. ;

I had Maine Coon cats with very long hair and - IndyMT

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had to constantly brush them. In the summer I took them to the vet to have them shaved.

never heard of rabies shot causing cancer - n/m

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x

yes... these injections are - full of other things

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besides the rabies vaccine itself...like mercury, for one. Many of these injections are dangerous for pets...not just the rabies.

I have a Maine Coon and - yes

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My vet is very concerned about all of the information coming out in the vet journals about the side-effects of vaccines.

It is not good to shave your pets - as their coats are

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intended to keep them cool in the summer months and warm in the winter months, and shaving them can interfere with their natural thermostats, so to speak. I do understand the complications, however, that go with the longer haired animals. There is a "brush" called the Furminator, which really helps with the undercoat and eliminating mats. It is expensive, but it is less expensive than having your pet shaved. Check it out.

Answers to some of these statements - Curious

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I have the furminator, in fact think I have 2 or 3 of them and use them plus brushes, combs, and so on. I have tried quite a few things. I did not know about the implications about not shaving them and their built in thermostat.

Secondly, I don't remember saying that rabies was the shot nor really did I know the exact shot that possibly could cause cancer in cats. I could not possibly think of giving anything for the cats that might cause something like that, would never be able to live with myself again. They are part of the family as other pet owners can attest to.

I never picked out these 4 long haired felines, they chose me in one way or another. I do appreciate any information others might have in keeping the fur under control.

yes you kinda did say it was rabies - see inside

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"Some places will shave but they require for your cats to have shots including rabies and from what I read these shots can sometimes cause cancer."

You may not have meant for it to sound like that but it did. What other shots cause cancer? I have honestly not heard of that.

I did not come here for a fight, trying to get - Curious

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some information. Twist my statement around all you want but I am trying to get ideas, not just a fuss.

I have not heard that, either. - sm

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I have never heard that any pet immunizations cause cancer.

So, you would feel terrible if your pets got sick because of a vaccination. Well, would you feel badly if your pets got feline distemper, infectious peritonitis, calicivirus, or feline leukemia virus and died?

Believe me, the fact that they don't get outside doesn't mean they live in a bubble. You could track organisms in on your shoes or a neighborhood cat could infect one of yours through a window screen.

As for rabies, not vaccinating your pets is simply negligent. Both rabid raccoons and bats can get into your home ... especially bats ... and you would never know it. Ill and dying bats flop around and are easy for cats to catch and eat, getting infected in the process. You, your husband, or your children, or guests, could become infected and die before you figured out what it was.

Are you aware that if your unvaccinated cat is bitten by a wild animal that escapes, and you take it to a vet for care, that the vet will almost be obligated to euthanize it??? The only other option is quarantine for 6 months at YOUR expense.

So, kitty runs outside and shows up again with scratches or bites. Now your pet has to die because it was never vaccinated.

Isn't that a lot of unnecessary drama to risk just because you fear immunizations?

Rabies is no joke. It is everywhere out there. Please love your pets enough to get them vaccinated.

For your information I had to take rabies shots - Curious

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when I was a child so I really need no education when it comes to rabies. I could go into further explanations about why I would not have them vaccinated, one thing being they could never get scratched by another cat thru a window screen as we have no window screens and never have our windows open in the first place but it is getting late and morning is coming soon enough. My older 2 cats have been here with me for 6 years and not once have they been outside the doors except when I am in the garage putting them in the car to take to the vet in their container. From the sound of things it seems like you might live in the country as far as raccoons and bats getting in your house. Not feasible here as they would need the outside door key and the inside door key and I just don't see that happening. No screen doors, no open windows, no open fireplaces. There is no drama here but again closing this out because almost my bedtime.

my cat was born in a closet, lived to be 4 years old - and suddenly shot out the door

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one day while a friend held the door open too long. It can happen in an instant my friend. Not picking on you but it can happen. BTW she came back with her tail broken, had it docked 2 weeks ago :(

My dog has to be vaccinated or can't go to the kennel/groomer... - AMT

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She also has to have proof of rabies vaccination for her license and 2 other vaccines for the boarding kennel. My dog has all shots and she still got kennel cough this winter. Scariest thing ever! She had antibiotics for 2 weeks and got better but she still got sick with the vaccine. My vet said without it, she would've died. Rabies shot is important b/c my dog has killed small animals in the yard like rabbits or squirrels and you never know what they have. Even an inside cat can still escape and catch a bird or mouse. Then what? Scary stuff.

Vaccines are different for dogs as opposed to - Curious

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cats, completely different because some vaccines for cats have been said to cause sarcoma in cats, can be deadly. Difference here is your animal is outside, mine never. I would never contribute to my animal killing other smaller animals, birds and the like. I know others say cats can escape but when I approach my door I always and I mean always check to see if any cat is around, which usually only 1 even approaches the door ever, the others scared of their own shadows. Maybe I am just more conscientious about the cats being around the door but I never just pop open the door at any time and forget the animals could be near. CAll me the little ole crazy cat lady but I have even left the house and returned to count the cats just to make sure they are all safe and sound. I will not tell you how many times this has happened but more than once. If UPS rings the doorbell the cats run for the hills. No kids running around and just 2 of us plus the numerous cats. If we go on vacation I always get a cat sitter(my daughter) to come to my home rather than boarding them.

Crazy cat lady, that's funny! :-) Glad ur kitties are well - AMT

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My only opinion (take it as you will) is that for your safety and your cats, I would just be worried about the whole vaccine issue in general just as a liability. If one of your cats ever bit a guest (God I hope not) and that person goes to the doctor for treatment of the cat bite and they ask if the cat is vaccinated and your guest says no, then I'm not sure the repercussions on that. (never been in that situation with any pet of mine luckily). I don't want you to be heartbroken if your cat gets in trouble, as it were.

I have no ideas about the grooming part of your question. I'm highly allergic to cats and stay away from them in general but I do think they're cute. I'm not here to start drama, was just answering another post above. Anyway, good luck with your cats' grooming and I hope they live to be happy lazy spoiled kitties. :-)

You will be glad to hear this! - Glad you are responsible

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Your little one is fortunate that you are so responsible! You can relax a bit, though. Rabies is never found in birds, and is incredibly unlikely -- like negligible -- in mousies, squirrels,possums, at least in the US.

Your main worries are bats, cats, dogs, raccoons, foxes, and sometimes coyotes.

Has anyone mentioned plague yet? Or leptospirosis? Pasturella multocida?

I've heard of lepto, my dog is vaccinated against that too - AMT

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From what I understand of what my vet told me is that lepto is found in the urine of rodents and it is deposited on grass and is especially higher concentrate in the mornings when there is dew or after rain and when a dog is outside and sniffing the grass and such that lepto can get up their nose and cause problems. I believe it's lepto. As far as I know my dog is vaccinated for rabies, lepto, bordetella, and maybe something else. But those 3 are recommended/required for licensing and boarding, at least where I live in WI. I never heard of pasturella multocida. And the plague? Like THE plague that was found on rats that killed alot of people waaaay back in the dark ages, like THAT plague? Or something else?

Also, I've seen on Facebook (not sure how reliable it is) that there is a new strain of virus in dogs that is faster and deadlier than kennel cough. Has anyone else heard of it? My vet said she was unaware of any cases of such thing.

Talk about being responsible, almost killed myself - Curious

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last night. So I tell you about the only cat I have that lurks around the doors so you have to be especially attentive to see her when opening/closing doors. I love animals, let me just say that. I have it fixed so my cats can sit looking out the back window onto my patio and last night the youngest cat was having a good time watching a possum (or opposum) outside on the patio. I decided to put out the dried dog food I buy for whatever animals show up at the house, went out the back door looking at the inside cat, fell and almost split my head open, wound up in the ER and I look a mess today with cuts, scrapes on face which took a 3 point landing, feets, knees, you name it, its there. I was thankful not killed because as my daughter said the animals I feed out there might be feeding on me before I would be found. No neighbors really close behind the home. Home alone, only the cats but guess what, that lurking cat was still inside once I was able to regain some sense and make it back in. My daughter said probably a good idea if I just stood at the back door and threw the food out rather than choose a nearly midnight food feast for the little friends around my home.

Get advice from a vet or if you are good at - Google

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try that - meaning that there are plenty of legitimate sources on the web - and others have likely asked this question before.

Sounds like you are doing what you can - but I doubt they are going to tolerate the noise from any clipper system. I might try clipping with short scissors but only if you have help steadying the cat as you cut. Also be sure you are cutting just the hair and not any underlying skin.

But that would not be my first choice. I had a fat cat with matted hair and I very slowly cut them away on this "particular" cat -

Guess will have to hog tie this fat cat - Curious

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because do not have anyone around who will help out with securing. I might try the clipping with scissors. I have gotten bad mats out before with this system but never much more and am extremely careful about not cutting their skin, placing my hand under the mat and above the skin level. Thanks.

If the cat bites you while you are clipping him ... - just so you know

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You will need rabies shots yourself and the public health department may require killing the cat to examine the brain for rabies.

Just so you know.

I guess I would have to run to the police - Curious

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screaming my cat bit me, my cat bit me or would the police just know what happened in the confines of my home?

Never saw any place like this that just liked - Curious

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like to keep up a ruckus all the time for no good reason. You ask just the simplest of questions here and it turns into a blood bath almost. Do you all have nothing better to do than to bicker about something? I was trying to ask about care of a cat and just a lot of fuss ensues. Apparently some are not happy without just seeing what havoc they can cause.

Never say a place . . . - tree

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This happens all the time on here . . . there are several "trolls" on here always trying to cause trouble. Sorry you had to experience the nastiness. We're not all like that. :)

I, too, have a long haired cat - Lots of maintenance

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My little Buddy has that long, soft downey-type fur that mats if you look at it wrong. Brushing every night in the spring and summer is mandatory. If I go too long without brushing him, then I have to start to clip the mats away and he looks like he's been nibbled on by psychotic moths.

I've found that a wider toothed, blunter type brush works better - he likes it better. The really tight, wire brushes pull too hard. When he's really matted, I go slowly and try to clip out what I can. As you've said, you know you have to be careful and not get skin. It's possible to get the knot without shaving, but it's a lot more work and may take a while, but I think it would be worth it. This is not a good time of year to shave them, even for indoor cats. They aren't shedding as much, so it would be a good time to work on getting the knots out. Good luck!

vaccines - NK

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Adjuvants to vaccines can cause sarcoma, and it's best to inject as low on a limb as possible so that it can be amputated in the case of a sarcoma developing. If you can get NONadjuvanted vaccines, they're much safer but more expensive.

As to the hair, I have one long-haired cat, and I use a dog comb on her. One end has wider-spaced larger teeth, and I use that first and then switch to the end with smaller closer-spaced teeth. I do it almost every day and get a lot of hair out. Neither of my cats liked the furminator for a reason only they know.

Please be careful with scissors. I once had an angora who was a real matter, and as careful as I was being in cutting out a mat, I sliced her side. Their skin is like paper and cuts very easily. My own hair still stands on end when I think about it.

I hope this helps.

We had a Maine Coon - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
...groomers and vets who do grooming of course are going to tout shaving. It is cruel to shave any animal. As stated here, they have hair for a reason---keep the body cool in the summer, warm in the winter. If animal is an outdoor animal, or ever goes outdoors, shaving is particularly cruel--can you spell sunburn and hyperthermia in the summer? Dry skin and hypothermia in the winter?

Anyway, our Maine Coon: We brushed the fella twice a day with one of those wire brushes where the wires are spread far apart. Any mats we couldn't brush out, we just clipped the mat off. It's about all you can do, except...

You can try some mineral oil to soften the mat before resorting to clipping if your cat doesn't respond well to the clip.

This particular cat just LOVED to be vacuumed, so we had no problem doing that once in a while, too. We just took the hose (no rug or crevice attachment) and sucked away.

Clarifying - see msg

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...we used mineral oil to soften the mat so we could maybe pull it apart. It won't help clip it off any easier.

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