Our Neighborhood Stray -- How to Help with Major Hair Mats (declawed, safe)

[kjg1963]

We have a beautiful little stray in our 'hood. She looks like a Persian mix. Pitch black with bright green eyes. I have lived here for 13 years and she has always been here. She is petite but has recently gotten pretty chunky. I think she has gotten everyone in the neighborhood to feed her. Many have tried to take her in but she won't tolerate a house for more than 5 minutes. She is really a sweetheart and such an affection hound. We all love her. Apparently, she was some previous neighbors cat (who has since moved) as she is spayed (one caring neighbor took her to the vet for shots and found this out).

I was petting her tonight (OMG, she is so soft!) and noticed large knots of fur all around her neck. I have always had short haired cats that don't have issues like this. Because she is such a sweetie, I believe she would let me help her with these knots.

My question is, what is the best way -- cut them out or try to comb her every day and work them out? Ideally, I wish I could take her to a groomer and get her shaved for the summer (it grows back, right?) but I don't know if she would tolerate a car ride and she is not up to date on shots. Any advice?

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by kjg1963

We have a beautiful little stray in our 'hood. She looks like a Persian mix. Pitch black with bright green eyes. I have lived here for 13 years and she has always been here. She is petite but has recently gotten pretty chunky. I think she has gotten everyone in the neighborhood to feed her. Many have tried to take her in but she won't tolerate a house for more than 5 minutes. She is really a sweetheart and such an affection hound. We all love her. Apparently, she was some previous neighbors cat (who has since moved) as she is spayed (one caring neighbor took her to the vet for shots and found this out).

I was petting her tonight (OMG, she is so soft!) and noticed large knots of fur all around her neck. I have always had short haired cats that don't have issues like this. Because she is such a sweetie, I believe she would let me help her with these knots.

My question is, what is the best way -- cut them out or try to comb her every day and work them out? Ideally, I wish I could take her to a groomer and get her shaved for the summer (it grows back, right?) but I don't know if she would tolerate a car ride and she is not up to date on shots. Any advice?

.....meanwhile sweetie has decimated the local songbird population and probably helped vector diseases to other cats in the neighborhood.

[greatblueheron]

She is lucky to have you.....I would just snip-snip as long as you can do it safely for the cat and you...

wouldn't want you to lose a fingertip because a frightened cat went really wild

[kjg1963]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

.....meanwhile sweetie has decimated the local songbird population and probably helped vector diseases to other cats in the neighborhood.

No, that would be our cat and up until recently, our dog (bird killers, not disease givers). Our little neighborhood stray is a senior citizen that has actually been declawed and might have arthritis in her back legs. I think it is safe to say that her bird killing days are over. Her territory isn't very big either -- maybe an acre at most (we have postage stamp yards and she stays within the area of only 5 or so houses). As far as disease, she is the healthiest stray I have ever seen and she has been taken to the vet by various do-gooders. And, as my bird feeder attests to, we have plenty of birds still thriving around here.

Honestly, she is more like an outdoor cat with multiple owners than a total stray.

FYI, I call her Fluffy Kitty and my neighbors call her Munchkin.

[no kudzu]

you will probably have the best luck with cutting the mats out. it would take too long and be very painful to comb real mats out.