My Problem
TIPPER
(visibly upset)
(sighs bravely with head held high) (sniff) Alright Mom, I'm ready.
(sniff, ahem) I'm having a bit of a problem that I want to talk to all the girls about. It's such an embarassment I can hardly bring myself to mention it, but Mom says I should be brave and "go public" with it. That way, maybe I can help some other girls who might be going through the same thing and be too ashamed to let anyone know.
It's...well... it's about a grooming issue. I'm proud to say I keep myself very clean and have no offensive body odors. I bathe carefully after every meal. My paws are pristine, my bib is sparkling white, my whiskers and eyebrows are beautifully groomed and curved. My eyes are bright, my ears are pink, clean and healthy and I have fresh breath.
So Tipp, what's the problem, you may ask. Well, it's about my fur. I have c...c..(sniff)...cl... (sniff, sniff)
MOM
Go on dear, you can say it.
TIPPER
(wipes tears away) I don't think I can, Mom...I'm too embarassed!
MOM
Yes you can. All your friends will understand. I'm sure lots of them have the same problem
TIPPER
Do you really think so?
MOM
Yes, I'm sure of it.
TIPPER
(sniff) Alright. (takes deep breath, sniff) OK, here goes. I have cl...cl...CLUMPS! (collapses in a heap, sobbing)
MOM
While Tipper regains her composure, I'll tell you about her problem. There's an area she can't reach in her grooming. It's on her lower back, about 3" above the base of her tail. Even though she's short haired, she gets these mats of fur that need to be cut off. She doesn't like being brushed so that's not a good option. She will allow hand petting in that area when she's on my lap, but not for very long. She just seems to have so much loose fur and can't reach that area to get at it, so it mats together. Our other cats don't have this problem.
All Crew members eat only Iams hairball formula dry food, with a treat of tuna liquid a few times a month. She likes cat treats (tartar control variety, only a few times a week) and table food (which we don't give her very often). I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and has any suggestions on what to do so these mats don't happen so often. Does anyone know of a food additive or treat that's supposed to improve fur quality? I was even wondering if Vitamin E gel pills or some oil would help.
Are you ready to talk again, Tipp?
TIPPER
Yes, thank you. (sniff) I hope my coming forward about my problem will help other girls, and that someone out there will be able to help me. Mom, you can show them the pictures now.
posted by The Crew @ 8:25 AM
21Meows By You
21 Comments:
Oh Tipper honey, it's ok. Gramma Trixie AND Grampa Norton hadded terrible fur mats. The v-e-t said it was from not grooming. If you can't reach a spot, it's not your fault. If you liked brushing or combing, that would help alot. Mommy hadded a horrible de-matting brush that they bof hated, and I can't blame them. Mommy said the v-e-t said that Olive Oil was good for kitties and OK to mix into food. So is mineral oil. And the once in a while egg yolk (cooked of course) will all help to make furs more manageable. Hope this helps! Cheer up Tipper honey. We finks you're just beautiful! - Miles
Don't feel bad Tipper! You're not alone and you are such a beautiful kitty!
I have very short hair but I'll tell you what we eat that keeps our hair nice and silky.
Innova Evo is a dry food that is all animal stuffs, no corn or anything like that. Even Chase has a really silky coat with no dander. Now, its not for all kitties but I think that the oil is what makes us so silky.
I think olive oil is a great idea and the Lap Lady says they give that to horses too. Also, lysine is what I get for my herpes but the horsey gets it and makes her coat very silky.
It is nothing to be shamed of!!! Boy, when you first started talking, I thought it was something really dreadful, like underarm odor. We have never had a problem, so can't help you out, but try and let your Momma brush you.
Patches
While I have never experienced this issue, I know that celebrities are quick to head to the plastic surgeon to address all of their physical issues.
Perhaps a tongue implant to lengthen it is in order?
I know a good plastic surgeon. Because of my celebrity friends! NOT BECAUSE I'VE HAD WORK DONE!
You know, Tip? The more I examine the photos, the more I think it's not so much a problem as a fashion statement.
Looks like you are sporting a faux-hawk!
Ohh, don't be sad Tipper. Lots of us long-haired cats get worse clumps than you. I love being brushed and combed though so it is easy for my mum to get them out. I even purr when she gets the scissors and cuts them out. Maybe you should learn to love being groomed...I adore it!
None of us have that problem (though Cocoa gets dingleberrys on his fluffy butt), so we're not sure what to advise. I'm in charge of grooming in this house. I groom everyone. It's very tiring, and I'm the only one with hairballs, but it's my job and I do it well. Do you have a brother or sister who could groom you?
Midnight
You might try training your new sister to do your grooming for you. I have my own personal bather(bruddy-HGL) and he is the best.
Poor Tipper...Kiara has that problem sometimes. Momma uses a fine tooth comb while she's gettin' her drink from the faucet to comb them a'fore the get too bad. Grammy's cat gets them REALLT bad...Momma has had to help cut them out when she's there. Tuna with the oil might help...if you like the oil (we don't!) Momma putted it ofur some broken up bread. Hope these ideas help.
~Meeko, Kiara,& Emmy
I get them too, Tipper, and I don't like to be brushed either. (We look lots alike too!) Our nice V-E-T doktor (he's nice cept for bein a V-E-T) told Mom she could gently pull the loose fur and mats out if she did it regularly, like before they get bad. He pulled out a bunch of them that day he told her that, and it didn't hurt a bit. She does that while I'm eating treats, so I don't mind. I'd go for the tuna oil first though. It sounds yummy! I'll tell Mom to give me some of that to help. (Not cuz it sounds yummy, a'course hehehe)
Purrrrrrs,
Gree
PS I almost forgotted. I bit Mom at the V-E-T that day, but I didn't mean to, and I didn't do it hard. My teeth just chomped like a bite when they were removin my fur. The nice V-E-T said some kitties have a reflex that makes them bite at the air (or Mom if her hand's in the way) when they're scritched or loose fur is pulled in that area. So tell your Mom not to worry if you snaps, just to keep her fingers out of the way when she's doing that.
Yer sooo brave tipper. I wish we wur over thare to help yoo grume yer....errr area with the clumps. Dont wurries, yer lady is taking gud care of yoo and making sure yer fur stays vary vary pretty.
Think possetively cause yer vary vary pertie. I asked cheeto and he told me himself the tawght yoo were perrtie!
Sincerlie yer gurl frend (not girlfrend cause that wuld be silly)...yer gurl who is yer frend.
Rosie.
Tipper - I have the mats too & I don't like brushing either. Mom trys to pull out the mats as best she can until I draw blood from her hands. Hope some of the suggestions help - we might try some too.
Ghost
I HAVE THOSE EXACT SAME AWFUL THINGS IN THE SAME PLACE!! they're awful. i get brushed all the time (and looooove it) so it's not from lack of groomin' my Mom and the Dad work as a team. he rubs my ears and she uses very small, sharp scissors and makes tiny snips on them, then pulls gently with her fingers, then another tiny snip, and so on. as long as they don't PULL, it doesn't hurt and i'll let them do it and not get bitey. they hate it.
Oh Tipper, don't be embarrassed. Tigey had the same problem when he was staying with my beanaunt. He had to get shaved. But he's recovered and his hair is growing back. Beanmom has been brushing him everyday. He likes getting brushed, though.
Poop Tipper. Of all of us. Olivia has the same problem, and she doesn't like to be brushed either. Sometimes Mom can gently brush them out but Olivia has to be in a less bitey mood than usual in order for her to do it.
Don't worry Tipper, it happens to lots of cats. Moms cat from before hadded that problem too although usually mom could pull them out since Butchie was such a mellow cat. But he was allays trying to chew at that area too because it musta itched him from not being able to clean it.
Tipper your a very beautiful kitty.I too hate to be brushed yet I love to be petted.Maybe your mommy can buy one of those gloves with the nubs on them.What happens is while she petting you your being brushed and groomed so it's not so bad.
Oh I'm sorry you are embarrassed Tipper. I haven't had clumps yet, but Momma keeps looking at me for them. I'm sure mine will be much worse 'cause my fur isn't as perfectly nice as yours. I hope you are feeling better
Our mum has to brush Eric effurry day or else he gets The Clumps. She said that wider poodins get them there cuz they can't reach to groom properly. I said "What yoo mean mum, is that my brofurr has got a fat butt" She sed I was being crool to him saying that. He loves being brushed though, an gets all cited an bites the sofa when she duz it.
little tipper-sweetie! please have mom check out our bloggie from today (monday). she'd been thinkin' about posting this for a while, and said now's the purrfect opportunity! hope something there will help you! we hates to think you are uncomfortable! don't be embarrassed; efurrybody has problems, dear. it's just a thing.
purrs from the meowers!
Oh Tipper, that's nothing to get upset about. Spot gets mats too if Mom doesn't brush him. It's too bad you don't like to get brushed cause that really helps.
Post a Comment
<< Home