B
bakhtin
Guest
Hi, I just managed to adopt a cat that had been pretty neglected for the past couple of years. He is a Himalayan, and hasn't been brushed or groomed in quite some time. He had a dreadlock on his neck that i was able to cut out, but has several other mats on his back and sides closer to his tail. While he has been very loving and we've made great friends here in his new home, he absolutely hates whenever i try to brush him, and he bounds away or bites/swats at the brush (never me). i really would like to try and work out the mats on his back or cut them out if they are too much, but he won't let me get at them.
doing some searching around i've seen that its best to sort of "pin" him by placing my hand over his neck while he's on his front (obviously not strangling him, but keeping him down and unable to bite or swat. i try this, but he eventually freaks out and gets out of my grasp, as i don't want to be too rough with him and hurt him or have him hate me.
i know that there is the option of taking him to a professional and having him shaved in a lion cut type thing, but he's gorgeous and i'd like it if i could try and just get the mats out myself. just wondering how rough i can be with him? can i pin him down and overpower him, or if he reallly reallllly hates it should i just be nice and let him up?
i've tried combining grooming with treats... starting while he's relaxed and easing in to it with petting and stroking... all the usual tips. he just hates it (probably because he hasn't been groomed FOREVER and the mats feel unpleasant). any advice would be great!
note: this is my first cat, no experience.
doing some searching around i've seen that its best to sort of "pin" him by placing my hand over his neck while he's on his front (obviously not strangling him, but keeping him down and unable to bite or swat. i try this, but he eventually freaks out and gets out of my grasp, as i don't want to be too rough with him and hurt him or have him hate me.
i know that there is the option of taking him to a professional and having him shaved in a lion cut type thing, but he's gorgeous and i'd like it if i could try and just get the mats out myself. just wondering how rough i can be with him? can i pin him down and overpower him, or if he reallly reallllly hates it should i just be nice and let him up?
i've tried combining grooming with treats... starting while he's relaxed and easing in to it with petting and stroking... all the usual tips. he just hates it (probably because he hasn't been groomed FOREVER and the mats feel unpleasant). any advice would be great!
note: this is my first cat, no experience.