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Post by saures on Jun 29, 2013 20:06:16 GMT
I said hello to my neighbours cat today, which looks like a Himalayan cat, and I noticed today that it is EXTREMELY matted. It's got really huge matts on it's sides in several locations as well as underneath it's armpits.
The cat is lovely and the neighbours seem really pleasant, they have a dog and another cat that stays inside. My parents told me it would be rude to mention the matts to the neighbours, but I'm not sure if I should just leave it or bring it up with the neighbours? I don't want to seem rude
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Post by tonib on Jun 29, 2013 21:01:37 GMT
This is a difficult one. I can see what your parents are saying but on the other hand there is the well being of the cat. Is this just a one off occurrence or is the cat always matted? I'd not heard of a Himalayan cat but looked it up & found it is what is known as a Colourpoint Persian so found out it is longhaired As it goes out it could easily get too matted to be dealt with by the owners & might need the care of a professional groomer. Do you have cats yourself? If so are they long-haired? If not then you could approach the neighbours and ask politely if they could tell you about grooming a long-haired cat as you've never had the experience.
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Post by heartpawprints on Jul 16, 2013 12:52:09 GMT
Or, you could offer to do it yourself - this would be under the guise of you'd like to have a cat like that yourself some day and would like to understand how to groom it. It also depends on how well you personally get on with your neighbours. Always pitch it as they'd be helping you and you'd appreciate it.
Your parents do have a good point as you don't want to upset the neighbouts. Maybe start with, "name of cat" is so lovely, would it be ok for me to brush him/her? You may find out that the cat doesn't like brushing.
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Post by BorderTerrier on Aug 1, 2013 19:58:31 GMT
I find it hard to understand how it would be rude to politely point out a health issue in the neighbour's cat, to the neighbour? If I was the neighbour I wouldn't find nitride, only helpful. I would rather make my neighbour think I am slightly rude than let an animal suffer! I would bring it up, but as politely as it is possible. Nobody wants themselves to appear rude, but this is a cats well-being in your hands now that you have noticed. If I didn't try to do something about it It would haunt me for a long time afterwards...
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Post by migsy on Aug 1, 2013 21:40:06 GMT
Something you have to tread very carefully with.As has been stated,the cat may be fiesty when owners try brushing it.While stroking it,you could say,'oops,he has a few knots,is he a cat who gets bad tempered when you try to brush him?' or something similar.Just be careful not let it sound like an accusation.The problem is,as you know,knots aren't good,as not only are they unsightly,they are uncomfortable and will lead to sores on the cats skin.
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Post by catcalleddog on Aug 8, 2013 7:19:38 GMT
Maybe the owner is used to having short haired cats so does not realise grooming is necessary?
The same thing applied to my mum when, in 1989 when I was at university, she got a semi-longhaired cat called Hobbes (who sadly was killed by 2 Alsatians owned by a bad neighbour after a year - but that's another story).
So, she didn't groom him or deflea him and he became infested with them - and matted. I would have been grateful is someone could have had a quiet word with my mother and suggested a care regime; she just didn't know how to look after a longer haired cat - that's all.
We have a semi-longhaired cat now (Bumble) who, despite some grooming and occasional doses of Katalax, still gets a bit matted in his bottom area, and has issues with fur balls too. I still haven't worked out how to groom his underside (Bumble is a very feisty feline!)
But I agree, you have to tread carefully with any neighbour-related issue (pets are easy in comparison to two-legged creatures!). We have such extreme harassment laws in the UK that even emailing a person, or phoning them TWICE (if they say the emails or calls are unwanted and cause 'alarm and distress') can get you arrested and charged with harassment under the 1997 Act (which badly needs reform).
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