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Expert: - 8/15/2009


Question
I have two persians one is friendly and easy to groom (constantly) the other is very aloof and bolts whenever I get near.  As a consequence on those rare instances when I get her (both are queens), she has usually developed severe matting and I have a terrible time trying to untangle things.  I'm sure she accociates my touch with pain.  Do know of any tool and/or technique that would make this easier.  I love both kitties the same but the aloof one has a much thicker coat and far more difficult to groom.

Answer
Richard,

What we do with kittens who are not sure they want to be groomed is, first, to make sure we clip their claws.  We then give them treats while we are grooming them.  Most cats love a good strained meat baby food (only ingredients are strained meat and broth or gravy). They seem to be willing to put up with anything when eating baby food. This often makes kittens look forward to grooming sessions.

I like to use metal combs on Persian coats.  For mats, you can use a mat breaker comb (a metal comb/brush like affair with sharp serrated curved blades. Using this kind of comb is a skill one develops over time.  Also, you will not get rid of mats in one sitting. Patience and perseverance are the watch words when dealing with severe matting.

Persian coated cats should be combed out daily and, once all the mats are gone, bathed weekly. You never want to bath a cat with knots or mats as it will only make matters worse!

You might consider having a pet groomer clip the matted kitten down, and then, you could start over!

Please let me know how you make out.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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