Old Main Coon: Bowel Movements and Haircuts
I was going to blog about how to tailor fit a dress.
However, the cats said "Enough! How about you blog about us?!"So I shall.
Having an old cat implies more feline maintenance if you want to avoid costly trips to the vet. Around these parts my old cats are very fluffy which means more maintenance. If you don't have cats, or have young ones (younger than 7) feel free to skip. However, if you have old fluffy puds feel free to keep reading.
No one told me how to take care of my old fluffy cats. The knowledge I got from experience and from them getting sick. So maybe some of the things I have learned along the way will be helpful seeing that vets rarely give you tips.
One important thing for fluffy old cats is to help them with hairballs. Old cats have a harder time hacking up hairballs because their muscles can't do the work they used to. Old cats also can't digest hairballs so well because the cat moves less as it ages and the hairball tends to sit in their intestine. This can lead to serious health emergencies such as having a hairball lodged in their stomach or not being able to poop. Good bowel movements are important for all.
But problems pooping can lead to anal bleeding, and death in cats. There are ways to prevent this! Do not fear.
Are you ready? :) Here we go:
1. Feed wet food. If you don't have it, or your kitty likes dry food (as do mine) give them their dry food with water in it. They will HATE you at first but their hungry bellies will make them eat. Moisture is key in ensuring good bowel movements.
2. Olive oil. Olive oil is really good as a laxative for cats. Don't give them more than a drop or two. I put it in their cat food daily. It is also a very cheap alternative to costly vet medicine.
3. Give them real wet food. Real wet food is expensive but has more moisture. I give Fatty and Bentley half a can each, drizzle some water and dry food and a few olive oil drops on top. This way they get all they need in 1 meal. It takes about 60 seconds to prepare and keeps them and their bodies hydrated. Always add water to their food.
A "good" cat bowel movement should be about the size of your thumb:
A dehydrated or constipated bowel movement indicating your cat needs more water will be about the size of a pencil eraser. You know it hurts kitty if he howls when he poops. This means you need to add water to your cats food:
Now for the haircuts. I'm against spending more on my cat than I would spend on myself for a haircut. For one, it is really expensive and silly to take the cat to the groomer. I have never paid for them but groomers cost around 60 bucks and that money can buy 2 tanks of gas, lots of groceries, pay some bills, you get the idea. Secondly, groomers will be harsh on your kitty, they don't know your kitty's personality and if you have an old cat you need to be extra gentle. Grooming old kitty is like grooming granny, you have to be soft and sweet and be careful not to hurt their already achy body. I believe in collaborating with my cat in letting him give me permission to cut his hair. They will sit or roll in the way that is comfortable and need to feel calm, not forced at any given time.
Forcing your cat will only stress you both out and leave him looking like a chopped salad.
So keep the good vibes flowing by talking to your cat, petting him as you go, singing soft soothing songs, and cutting just what he lets you cut.
Here is what you will need:
1. Beard trimmer
2. Plastic gloves (kitty might suddenly scratch, he is a cat after all)
3. Face mask ( kitty hair is fine and will fly into your nostrils)
4. Fluffy kitty needed
5. Trash can and plastic bags
6. Food
7. Be in a good mood, your cat can sense your tension if you are stressed
8. Have at least an hour or two
1. Enclose yourself and kitty in the bathroom or some other small room. Explain to kitty that you are going to cut his hair to prevent him from getting hairballs and getting sick.
Be sweet and pet kitty.
2. Set up your gear. Plug in the beard trimmer. Put on your mask. Let kitty sniff the gear and pet him before you start. Take your time. You might be on a schedule but remember: time means nothing to a cat! So do this on a day off or where you have at least an hour or two and you don't feel tired.
3. Start shaving by doing the back and the sides first.
4. Gently hold your kitty under his chin as you shave his back and sides. Do not dig down with the beard trimmer. Starts superficially at the top layers of his fluff and work methodically.
5. When your kitty walks away follow him shaving what you can as he walks. Do it slowly.
6. Clean up the hair as you go. Turn off the shaver, let kitty sniff his chopped fur and lead him back to where the trimmer is. Talk to him and keep going.
7. Shave as much of the back and sides as you can before going for the sensitive parts.
8. Your kitty will become scared when you shave his belly, neck and butt so do these last. I start with the neck.
9. To shave your kitty's neck pet him first then slowly start doing one side. If he walks away, let him. As he comes back, or you lead him back slowly keep going.
10. Sing to kitty. Talk to kitty. Tell kitty how handsome or pretty he is.
11. If kitty is mad stop. Give him some dry food kernels. Don't let him leave but take a minute or two break and pet him.
12. Lastly, shave the belly. The belly has the most fur that kitty licks and digests. Hold kitty in your lap with his belly up and carefully shave what you can.
If he wiggles hard let him down. Dust him off then pick him up and keep going. Another position to shave his belly is if he lays on his side on the ground. Shave one side of the belly then roll him over and shave the other side. Cats bellies are very sensitive and they hate having it touched so be gentle and don't impose yourself on their belly. You wouldn't like it if your cat shaved your belly by force either.
End the grooming with a good meal so they forgive you.
Last tips. Shave in little pieces as your cat lets you. If this is the first time for you or your cat to shave him then be patient with the outcome. Be ok with your cat looking messed up at the end of his haircut. A good haircut takes 2 or 3 times to get right. And remember that the idea is for kitty to have fewer hairballs and not be stressed. Your cat will be more comfortable with you (who he loves ) cutting his hair than getting strapped to a leash and having a stranger do it. So take your time, talk to your cat and sing some soft sweet songs. My cats love heart break songs. At the end of it all it will be a good way for you to get to know your cat's body and this is also really important as a pet owner. You need to know his lumps and bumps to know what is normal on Mr. Cat.
However, the cats said "Enough! How about you blog about us?!"So I shall.
 |
| "You know I hate being ignored!" |
 |
| "Love me" |
 |
| "Love meee" |
 |
| "Love meeeeeeeee" |
Having an old cat implies more feline maintenance if you want to avoid costly trips to the vet. Around these parts my old cats are very fluffy which means more maintenance. If you don't have cats, or have young ones (younger than 7) feel free to skip. However, if you have old fluffy puds feel free to keep reading.
No one told me how to take care of my old fluffy cats. The knowledge I got from experience and from them getting sick. So maybe some of the things I have learned along the way will be helpful seeing that vets rarely give you tips.
One important thing for fluffy old cats is to help them with hairballs. Old cats have a harder time hacking up hairballs because their muscles can't do the work they used to. Old cats also can't digest hairballs so well because the cat moves less as it ages and the hairball tends to sit in their intestine. This can lead to serious health emergencies such as having a hairball lodged in their stomach or not being able to poop. Good bowel movements are important for all.
But problems pooping can lead to anal bleeding, and death in cats. There are ways to prevent this! Do not fear.
Are you ready? :) Here we go:
Steps for good cat bowel movements:
1. Feed wet food. If you don't have it, or your kitty likes dry food (as do mine) give them their dry food with water in it. They will HATE you at first but their hungry bellies will make them eat. Moisture is key in ensuring good bowel movements.
 |
| The magical mix: dry food, olive oil and Fancy Feast. |
2. Olive oil. Olive oil is really good as a laxative for cats. Don't give them more than a drop or two. I put it in their cat food daily. It is also a very cheap alternative to costly vet medicine.
 |
| A few drops of this is a cat lax. And it is much cheaper than taking them to the vet and buying medicine. |
3. Give them real wet food. Real wet food is expensive but has more moisture. I give Fatty and Bentley half a can each, drizzle some water and dry food and a few olive oil drops on top. This way they get all they need in 1 meal. It takes about 60 seconds to prepare and keeps them and their bodies hydrated. Always add water to their food.
A "good" cat bowel movement should be about the size of your thumb:
A dehydrated or constipated bowel movement indicating your cat needs more water will be about the size of a pencil eraser. You know it hurts kitty if he howls when he poops. This means you need to add water to your cats food:
 |
| "Add water to my food!" |
Kitty Haircut
Now for the haircuts. I'm against spending more on my cat than I would spend on myself for a haircut. For one, it is really expensive and silly to take the cat to the groomer. I have never paid for them but groomers cost around 60 bucks and that money can buy 2 tanks of gas, lots of groceries, pay some bills, you get the idea. Secondly, groomers will be harsh on your kitty, they don't know your kitty's personality and if you have an old cat you need to be extra gentle. Grooming old kitty is like grooming granny, you have to be soft and sweet and be careful not to hurt their already achy body. I believe in collaborating with my cat in letting him give me permission to cut his hair. They will sit or roll in the way that is comfortable and need to feel calm, not forced at any given time.
 |
| Let him roll |
 |
| This is a "chopped salad" look after an unsuccessful haircut. |
So keep the good vibes flowing by talking to your cat, petting him as you go, singing soft soothing songs, and cutting just what he lets you cut.
Here is what you will need:
1. Beard trimmer
2. Plastic gloves (kitty might suddenly scratch, he is a cat after all)
3. Face mask ( kitty hair is fine and will fly into your nostrils)
 |
| Fix your hair first so you can see your masterpiece as you cut kitties hair. |
 |
| The bun of an artist! |
 |
| All set! |
4. Fluffy kitty needed
 |
| "Why me, why me, why me?????" demanded Don Fattness "Well Fatty, it was all those miserable hairballs you hacked" replied his parlor maid |
5. Trash can and plastic bags
6. Food
7. Be in a good mood, your cat can sense your tension if you are stressed
8. Have at least an hour or two
 |
| Time means nothing to me! |
Steps
1. Enclose yourself and kitty in the bathroom or some other small room. Explain to kitty that you are going to cut his hair to prevent him from getting hairballs and getting sick.
Be sweet and pet kitty.
 |
| "Dang it! I know what you are up to!" |
2. Set up your gear. Plug in the beard trimmer. Put on your mask. Let kitty sniff the gear and pet him before you start. Take your time. You might be on a schedule but remember: time means nothing to a cat! So do this on a day off or where you have at least an hour or two and you don't feel tired.
3. Start shaving by doing the back and the sides first.
4. Gently hold your kitty under his chin as you shave his back and sides. Do not dig down with the beard trimmer. Starts superficially at the top layers of his fluff and work methodically.
5. When your kitty walks away follow him shaving what you can as he walks. Do it slowly.
6. Clean up the hair as you go. Turn off the shaver, let kitty sniff his chopped fur and lead him back to where the trimmer is. Talk to him and keep going.
 |
| Collect the hair and clean as you go. |
7. Shave as much of the back and sides as you can before going for the sensitive parts.
8. Your kitty will become scared when you shave his belly, neck and butt so do these last. I start with the neck.
9. To shave your kitty's neck pet him first then slowly start doing one side. If he walks away, let him. As he comes back, or you lead him back slowly keep going.
10. Sing to kitty. Talk to kitty. Tell kitty how handsome or pretty he is.
11. If kitty is mad stop. Give him some dry food kernels. Don't let him leave but take a minute or two break and pet him.
12. Lastly, shave the belly. The belly has the most fur that kitty licks and digests. Hold kitty in your lap with his belly up and carefully shave what you can.
 |
| Hold like so. |
 |
| Or like so. |
If he wiggles hard let him down. Dust him off then pick him up and keep going. Another position to shave his belly is if he lays on his side on the ground. Shave one side of the belly then roll him over and shave the other side. Cats bellies are very sensitive and they hate having it touched so be gentle and don't impose yourself on their belly. You wouldn't like it if your cat shaved your belly by force either.
End the grooming with a good meal so they forgive you.
 |
| nom nom |
Last tips. Shave in little pieces as your cat lets you. If this is the first time for you or your cat to shave him then be patient with the outcome. Be ok with your cat looking messed up at the end of his haircut. A good haircut takes 2 or 3 times to get right. And remember that the idea is for kitty to have fewer hairballs and not be stressed. Your cat will be more comfortable with you (who he loves ) cutting his hair than getting strapped to a leash and having a stranger do it. So take your time, talk to your cat and sing some soft sweet songs. My cats love heart break songs. At the end of it all it will be a good way for you to get to know your cat's body and this is also really important as a pet owner. You need to know his lumps and bumps to know what is normal on Mr. Cat.
Excellent! I loved your photos! Tell them "Grandpa" loves them!
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