Search Results for: blog grooming matted hair

Human Preferences about Grooming

Once in a while, a long-haired guest at the cats-only boarding facility will get a little messy in the caboose region (if you get my drift). Sometimes a spot-cleaning or a full bath can take care of the problem. For repeat offenders, we often suggest a “sanitary clip” — a trim of the hair around the rump in order to help keep things clean. It doesn’t have to be a full shave — but with shorter hair in the nether regions, there’s less chance of a mess. Some owners flat-out refuse to have any sort of trim done. They like … Continue reading →

Grooming an Older Cat

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Older cats may groom themselves less than younger cats for a variety of reasons. Perhaps pain makes it difficult to reach certain areas. Perhaps an illness is impacting skin and coat, making it harder to keep up with grooming. As your cat ages, you may need to take a more active part in grooming! Helping your older cat with grooming is a good way to monitor changes in health. Look for changes in your pet’s skin as they age. Some pets develop dry skin and dandruff as they age; others tend to get oily skin that leaves the coat feeling … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Sep 3-9

Happy Monday! With the passing of Labor Day, the inevitable end of summer is drawing yet nearer. Maybe you were busy last week taking a late summer vacation, or perhaps you were adjusting to the back-to-school grind, and missed portions of the Pets Blog. Never fear, Aimee and I are here with a review of what we wrote on: Monday, September 3 Ah, Labor Day. Ever since 1999 I’ve never viewed them quite the same. Then came the summer of 2004, where Murphy and Kitty and a hurricane name Frances had a lot of fun. Tuesday, September 4 In memory … Continue reading →

Grooming: Matted Hair

Long haired, double coated dogs and cats like Chows, collies, and Persians can be prone to hair mats without regular brushing and grooming. Why is fur matting bad for dogs and cats? It looks bad. This is the least of your problems. Mats in the armpits and groin areas can be very painful. Mats can cause bruising from pulling. Mats can cause sores if the dog or cat is constantly licking or chewing on the area. A pet with matted fur may be reluctant to move. A pet with painfully matted fur may flinch or snap at human contact. You … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Brushathon

I had an absolutely delightful morning at the cats-only boarding facility yesterday! Don’t get me wrong — I really like this job. I enjoy working with the cats, I like the exercise, I like the change of pace from my other job (writing). We have great clients and some really wonderful guests. But some days, the job is challenging. The kitties are extra messy, or I’m just off my routine and trying to catch up. Yesterday was the opposite. Yesterday, I had the magic touch. I was the cat whisperer. An aggressive cat needed to be weighed? I picked her … Continue reading →

Make Bathing Easy: Prep First!

When it’s my turn to do baths at the cats-only boarding facility, the right preparation makes the work a lot easier. Before I even think about fetching a cat into the grooming room, I make sure I’ve set up the hand-held sprayer, towels, shampoo, nail clippers, and blow dryer. You can do the same thing at home to make grooming much easier! What might you need for bathing a pet? Brushes or combs — you can remove a lot of loose hair before the bath with a quick brushing. Tangles and mats can tighten as they dry, so it’s better … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Smelly Cat

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If you were a fan of Friends, you may remember Phoebe’s song called “Smelly Cat”. The lyrics went something like this: Smelly cat, smelly cat… what are they feeding you? Smelly cat, smelly ca-at, it’s not your fault! And hoo boy, did we have some smelly cats at the cats-only boarding facility over the Memorial Day weekend! But just like there are lots of different personalities in our guests, there are lots of different smells. Some cats have food that smells awful. We have one guest (who I adore) who eats the grossest-looking and smelling food. I swear, it looks … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Spring Break

Spring break for most people means a few days off from work or school, time spent with family and friends, and maybe even a vacation! At the cats only boarding facility, spring break means we’re approaching full capacity. At the end of last week, we had three guests. By the time the weekend was over, we had nearly forty! Our main boarding room is full — thirty cats in thirty condos — plus we have guests in the two isolation wards and one guy who came in with a hurt leg resting quietly next door on the veterinarian side. That’s … Continue reading →

Hot Spots: Treatment and Prevention

If your dog has a circular, red, weeping sore — it may be a hot spot! Treating a hot spot isn’t just about dealing with the wound; you also have to take a look at the cause and work to prevent the hot spot from coming back. You can try to treat a hot spot at home without calling the vet, but an office visit and a course of antibiotics may be necessary to clear things up entirely. Try this at home: Trim the hair away from the sore to prevent matting, help stop the infection from spreading, and expose … Continue reading →

Hot Spots: The Basics

If your dog has a raw, open, oozing sore, it may be a hotspot! Also known as a superficial pyoderma or pyotraumatic dermatitis, this is a surface skin infection that can pop up quickly and be very painful or unpleasant for both dog and owner. How do hot spots start? Any dog can develop a hot spot, but there are some things you can watch out for. Dogs with heavy coats may develop hot spots when shedding, if undercoat hair gets trapped next to the skin. Dogs with histories of skin allergies may be susceptible to hot spots. Dogs who … Continue reading →