What a gorgeous cat, Rob. A girlfriend for Bernie??? I'd like to post pics of Bernie before and after but I fell on my computer last week. I was not hurt but the old computer was demolished. I love my new one but the picture situation is unresolved. They are all there but not in files. Way beyond my wheelhouse.

Why did he need to be shaved?

Back when we had our furbabies, one of the happiest days of my life - seriously! - was when I discovered a semi-retired vet and his nurse who made house calls.

No more fights about getting them into the cat carrier (where they had formed the habit of peeing once it was put into the car, of course). No more struggles about catching them.

But I have to differ with those scientists who claim that cats' faces aren't very expressive. I'd be willing to swear that the first time the vet came in and my cats realized they were going to get that thermometer stuck up the you-know-what while still in the comfort of their own home, their expression was one of absolutely horrified shock!

We have a tuxedo cat, Charlie, who has the most expressive big eyes and we know exactly what he is thinking and those thoughts are not always "lovey dovey, you are my hero thankyou for feeding me" thoughts.

Has Bernie recovered from his traumatic experience?

Nice to see you again.

Sunshine has a pink nose. Most of the time. It can be so pale as to be almost white or bright deep pink. I call it her “mood nose”.

Bernie was a stray I found exactly three years ago. When I find my pics you'll be able to see how much fur he had and it was matted. He has a low tolerance for grooming so this may be a yearly thing.

My sister in law had a Persian (I think it was) A beautiful long white coat. His name was Rich Cat. She had to have him shaved. Poor cat. He looked like E.T. The indignity!! ;-)

I JUST watched this with my cat loving (but allergic) grandson...you might appreciate it! So funny!

Simon's cat Off to the Vet

That is quite the story Lily. I took mine in for his rabis shot...he turned around in the cat carrier and sprayed us through the bars Dh & I smelled when we arrived for the appointment! We're still talking about THAT....

The story of Simons cat going to the vet is funny. To get our cats to the vet I put the cat carrier into the bathtub and shut the curtain. Then I get the cat and take him to the bathroom and shut the door. Then the fun begins. They don't make a mess of their carriers but boy do they caterwaul in the car.

I learned the hard way that it was wiser to toss a cloth or a couple of towels over at least the sides and back of a carrier.

As to why some cats need to be shaved it will depend on the cats fur. I have always thought when someone mentioned fish scale patterned fur they were talking about shading. This boy's fur actually forms clumps that look and are shaped like fish scales. It only takes about an hour after being combed and brushed for the scales to form again. I ended up cutting off as many of the scales as he would allow since I feared he would develop skin infections. Some cats and I think Mainecoons are one of them have soft under fur that can easily become matted even when the outer fur looks fine. I am lucky that there are several grooming places that will do cats. I used to have my white lady washed when she decided to add perfume to her coat by rolling in various things.

A suggestion to get your cat in a carrier that may or may not work with yours is to place the carrier so that the opening is up. Hold the cat behind the front legs and drop into the carrier quickly slamming the door as you drop. Not something you should do with a very sick cat but when I used to try putting them in with the carrier level or face first it was always a major fight.

LOL, "I needed one of those tranquilizers."

Never let kitty see the carrier until the last moment before putting him/her in. I keep it in the garage until it's time. My cat is pretty good about the carrier. She's only 6 lbs. I cannot imagine struggling with 25 lbs. Glad you got it done, Lily.

With my "6-mths old" new to me kitty I tried a different tactic with her. Every once in a while I bring in the carrier from the garage, place it in the corner of the living room with the door open. She till this day goes in, sniffs and makes the blanket in there to her liking (kneading it and rolling it into a ball) and lays down for a little bit. It is now a very familiar place for her even the car trip, and the vet visit are much more pleasant for all. She has vet-visited for shots, general well-being, being spayed and getting a tattoo, so I'm a happy camper. I don't know how well it would go over with an older cat, but it works for us. Now if I could only stop her from 'borrowing' my computer chair, LOL.

Based on recommendation of my feline specialty vet, kept carriers out 24/7/365, with cushioned bedding in them, and kitties would often sleep in them.

Once getting ready take kitties to DS's house (I was going out of town), could not find one kitty, was thinking I'd need to miss my flight..... kitty was sleeping in the carrier.

@justlinda - oh my goodness, what a sweetie you have there. What's her name?

Her name is Lola, and she is clicker-trained and comes when clicked-for. Trained her to come to clicker with 1 or 2 Temptations (2 calories ea) and now she comes whether there is treats or not.

Justlinda, I did that too! He liked being in the carrier but one day, it happened to shut somehow while he was in it! Never again will he go near it! Once we couldn't catch him at all for appt, had to cancel and reschedule. Luckily our vet is very tolerant of our circumstances.

My daughter has a small mesh carrier for her two small siamese cats. I do know to put the carrier on end and not let him see it until right before. The problem was he was too fat to fit in any of the three cat carriers and it was lucky I had a beat-up old dog carrier I think I found on trash day. My two dogs walk in the vet office. I have never used a carrier on any dog I've had. Bernie is a little tubby and his fur stuck out four inches.

We have a carrier which has a large opening in the top so you can put the cat in from the top. This is much easier getting the cat in and out than a front opening carrier. If necessary the whole top half can be unclipped for even more access.

My old cat was a real problem with vets and getting him in the carrier was a struggle...but at the vets, he knew when it was time to leave and would walk into the carrier by himself, lickety-split!

Read this helpful link before the next time with giving the cat a pill.

Giving a cat a pill

People, read this link above Rita posted. It's hilarious, I had read it before and thought about it during the whole ordeal. Temps dropped to the 30's here today and Bernie wonders where his big fur coat is...lol

All of these kitty stories are so funny!

our cat cries for his thyroid pill every morning because he knows he gets treats after the pill, crazy i know!! but i am so glad he does it b/c it reminds me to give it to him everyday....

getting him into his crate to go to vet: we take it out a day or two earlier, leave it sit on floor.... day of - close door to laundry room so he can't hide anywhere, pick him up and shove him in with legs and claws exposed like he's going to be tortured. get to vet: they have to drag him out, carrier tilted "out". he lays on table, very submissive but shooting us 'dark' looks "why are you subjecting me to this humiliation"... when everything over, he runs right back into crate like its his life saving hiding spot... exhausting!!

oh and he yells the whole way to the vet :<}

Yes, if you haven't read rita's Giving a cat a pill link you have to. Read it right to the end.

And at the very end of the above cartoon...wrap pill in a piece of cheese works great for my two dogs. They line up for it.

Before shave.

Afterward

That is one big cat!

Oh my gosh, poor kitty. Well, you won't have to sweep up kitty fur for a few days.

Yes, my vacuum cleaner has had considerably less fur than usual. It's fun to pet him now. His skin feels like velvet. My daughter was petting him yesterday and he let her know enough with a big swipe of his giant paw.

lily...he's just GORGEOUS!

That is a lot of cat! We had a long hair foundling with similar fur and tried cutting the clumps our selves, had the vet shave patches and then finally went for the lion trim and had very little cat left when they were done. I had no idea he was so small underneath all that matted mess. Shelby did not groom at all and didn't tolerate brushing either. He was old when he was dropped off so has passed on but was a great cat in his way.

I love your story.

Because of an experience with the one cat I had that did require a summer cut watch the fur in the area of his neck. Lady's fur became knotted from the movement of her head. She developed a weeping sore. The vet and the groomer's suggestion which did solve the problem was to remove the hair up to just below her ear level and on her neck up to her chin. The groomer was very careful not to cut her whiskers. Each clump of whiskers were wrapped with that paper tape that is used in wound treatment for people with sensitive skin as it is easier to remove.