Rescue cat dislikes being brushed???

[Red Rock]

To all cat people:

What suggestions do you have for a new cat (+/- month in new house). She does not like to be brushed. Basically, she runs away from you as you try to catch her to be brushed. Ms. Kitty as we call her, is a white persian. I have never owned a cat that did not like being brushed. How do I help change her behavior toward this.

Her current situation is that she has mats, and some severe ones on her back. Before we took her over, the person before us shaved off some of the really bad mats, so she is partly growing back new hair so skin is quite close.
We were thinking about taking her to be totally shaved, so she could "start off new". Would it be to soon to take to the groomers for this, or wait a little while longer?

I am attaching a picture so you might see what she looks like.

Thank you,
Red Rock

[Eden]

Some of them never like getting brushed. Few of my cats ever have tolerated it well.. (fortunately I've only ever had one who had longer fur).

Cats have very sensitive skin, so any brush that pulls or is pokey will totally put them off. The Furminator brushes seem to be pretty nice and gentle and very effective, though I understand they are pretty expensive. The rubbery ones seem to be a bit better tolerated too - but they mainly only remove the long guard hairs.

I've seen some people who get their long haired cats shaved every summer. They look a kind of funny for a while, but it does take care of any matts.

[Red Rock]

Thanks Eden.

So should I aviod trying to brush until all the hair grows back?

How do I know if this something that she just totally dislikes? Something from the past she is reacting too?

I have tried to avoid the areas of skin that are more exposed, so as not to hurt her.

Would it be worth speaking to a groomer about the situation?

Thank you,
Red Rock

[Eden]

I've never take an cat to a groomer - so no experience there...

I know at the shelter I volunteer at, they feel when there are multiple matts its pretty much impossible to do anything else besides shave them off. Brushing them out is just too painful for the cat and can actually damage their skin if you are not really, really gentle. (scissors are not recommended either unless the matt is really far away from the skin - its too easy to nick them).

Your new kitty may have been brushed hard in the past and has bad associations with it, or she might just not like it. My one medium haired cat *never* liked being brushed and wouldn't tolerate it at all on the backs of his legs, which was of course the only place he ever matted.

A lot of them like having their head and neck brushed even if they don't like it on their back and legs - if you start there you might be able to get her a little more tolerant. My old boy would also tolerate kitty wipes - they took off a little fur (not nearly like a brush, but at least a little) and cleaned him up a bit too, since he was getting a bit less fastidious about it in his old age.

[badger]

a coworker of mine has a persian and every year or so she has her shaved completely as the mats become too much for her and the cat to deal with.

I'd have her shaved and start from there, like you said.

One of my cats was hit by a car and he had numerous lacerations where they stapled him up. I think as a result his skin is full of scar tissue that makes his skin very sensitive and he HATES being brushed. I think he actually hates anything near his skin because he doesn't even groom that well to the point he'll have mats (he's short haired).

Anyways, long and short, he hates being brushed. He does tolerate the Zoom Groom, which is this soft plastic pronged brush thing. It gets the undercoat out, but you should get the mats dealt with first.

[Red Rock]

Thankyou all for your help.

I will go speak with a groomer Monday and see what they say.

Thankyou once again,
Red Rock

[malkin]

Give her treats while you groom her. (tuna? chicken? cheese? canteloup? whatever she likes best)
Save the treats for grooming time. Start slowly and trim out the mats.

Looks like she needs you!