Advice??

[kestral_kitsune]

I have a Maine Coon that has serious issues with being groomed, so I can only do it in small spurts, but even then I can't get what needs to be out since she's started shedding and matting like nuts. anyone have any tips?? I don't live in an area where the groomers will do cats, and the vet won't do it either since she knows the cat from the previous owner. I had recently heard that there's a new groomer that might be coming to work there, and I'm going to try and ask when she shows up, but for now I'm trying to do my best to groom her and not stress her out  too much. She was recently taken in for shots and check up and vet only said that I need to try and get those mats out of her fur which.. I know and have been trying.

Also..nother question. My youngest kitty Salem has since I've brought him home, decided that he likes to surprise attack the other two, they get their revenge on him so its not a one sided thing, but I've been working and working and working on him about that and it just nothing seems to work. he's also a bit rough when playing with me, but I get him with the can air when he does it to me or the other cats if it get out of hand,  but it doesn't seem to deter him too much.  He was a stray or was dumped off before I found him and brought him home, I did the required quarantine to make sure he didn't have anything bad and introduced them slowly to each other. most of the time they're fine and its just..random...

not sure what to do to make him ..stop... cause I asked vet and she said it sounds like he's trying to play with him, but i'm sorry but angry screaming doesn't mean 'play' to me.

i'm rambling sorry I stayed up way too late last night and woke up to early.

[FoolBornUnicorn]

With my long-haired doggy, we would shave him in the summer because he loved to play outside and we didn't want him over-heating.
I suppose you can't shave down a kitty. 
I don't know too much about cats...
Maybe you could snip the extremely matted parts?
Are there different kinds of brushes you could use? Like a wide-toothed comb type one? Just to get started and work your way to a regular one?
Maybe try and distract her with kitty treats?
(My dogs have always liked getting brushed..)

[kestral_kitsune]

if the vet would do it i would have taken her in for a shave. and its more i think she's been abused before I've taken her in that she won't handle being groomed for too long, I go from the pet zooom brush to the shed monster until she gets bitey and then i have to let her go and she's not one for treats

[melodys_angel]

My advice is to get her accustomed to it. Show her the brush and let her get familiar.  It will calm her down knowing what it is and that its not going ot hurt her

[kaoskat]

My advice is to get her accustomed to it. Show her the brush and let her get familiar.  It will calm her down knowing what it is and that its not going ot hurt her

This is about all I've got too.

[kestral_kitsune]

My advice is to get her accustomed to it. Show her the brush and let her get familiar.  It will calm her down knowing what it is and that its not going ot hurt her

that is what I've done to get her to let me brush her to this point, before then she wouldn't even go near it. First time she saw the brush I wanted to use she full out assaulted it...which..was kind of funny to watch. I generally leave them around her areas so she knows they're there and not going to do anything. she'll usually end up rubbing her head and neck on them by herself so i don't have to worry about that part of her body xD

[Eviecorn]

Pretty much what everyone else said.

[rybett]

OK, mine is a med/long hair mix.  We have had to cut the mats out, then a day or so later comb her with a rotating tooth comb.  I forget what it's called, but I found it in the doggie section.  Does she like cat nip?  Will the vet prescribe something to calm her so the mats can be cut out?  There are some kitty meds that can be compounded into a gel that you rub inside the ear. 

[Vintergatan]

gosh, whe na cat doesn't want to do something, it's such a pain to make her :S so I sympathise. I think you are doing all that can be done (leaving the brush around sounds like a good idea) so I guess all you can do is brush her little by little, as much as she will let you.

As for Salem, first question, is he fixed? I am going to assume that he is otherwise that would be your first thing to do Some males tend to be rough and energetic. I also think that you should be persistent in not letting him be rough and see if he learns. Alternatively, maybe there are some hormone sprays that would calm him down? I personally never used them so I can't say for sure

[kestral_kitsune]

gosh, whe na cat doesn't want to do something, it's such a pain to make her :S so I sympathise. I think you are doing all that can be done (leaving the brush around sounds like a good idea) so I guess all you can do is brush her little by little, as much as she will let you.

As for Salem, first question, is he fixed? I am going to assume that he is otherwise that would be your first thing to do Some males tend to be rough and energetic. I also think that you should be persistent in not letting him be rough and see if he learns. Alternatively, maybe there are some hormone sprays that would calm him down? I personally never used them so I can't say for sure

yeah salem's fixed it was the first thing that I did when i got him, i've talked to a vet and she thinks its because he's younger than the other two , ember's my oldest at ??? 7-8 years? and I don't know how hold Miss is cause she was full grown when I got her.  I'm going to keep working on him with the rough play, though it is funny to see Miss just..sit on him when she's had it

[Vintergatan]

though it is funny to see Miss just..sit on him when she's had it

Hahaha
I would bet on his youth as well. When we got our youngest, she was a ~3 month old kitten (we found her on the street) all she wanted to do was jump on our other two cats and chase them. Needless to say, they were not very amused but our Aska was (and still is) tiny so there was never an issue of other cat's safety. In fact, she's still acting like a kitten and tends to chase the other two around. I hope your little guy learns his boundaries soon

[Galactica]

You might consider shaving him- my sister had to do that with her cat who was a terrible groomer.  He didn't seem to mind.

As for the aggression- that's a problem.   Have you ever watched "My cat from hell" ?  SOme really good advice and they are pretty fun to watch too! I think you can find them on youtube - they aired on animal planet.

Here are some suggestions?
http://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-problems/cat-aggression-part-1/

[kestral_kitsune]

though it is funny to see Miss just..sit on him when she's had it

Hahaha
I would bet on his youth as well. When we got our youngest, she was a ~3 month old kitten (we found her on the street) all she wanted to do was jump on our other two cats and chase them. Needless to say, they were not very amused but our Aska was (and still is) tiny so there was never an issue of other cat's safety. In fact, she's still acting like a kitten and tends to chase the other two around. I hope your little guy learns his boundaries soon

he's not so much a little guy he's about.. a year or more and he's already bigger than ember. its adorable when they cuddle up though