Yep, I've done it using my dog's facial clippers. It took two people who were both injured in the endeavor, but it was my bad-natured grumpy cat. If he's agreeable to you washing, he'll probably just chill and let you do it.

Have you considered finding a cat groomer?

Yes. I pet her. And every morning, I check. I snip sometimes. Just whatever needs to be fixed. Of course, she also is on sensitive stomach medication food. It really doesn't need to be all of it all the time.

Not that I can show a picture of the fluff butt..I hate my new phone

Yes, I've done it. I used the scissors I cut MY hair with. You don't have to cut that close to the skin for it to work. Do you have a Furminator brush? It really pulls the old dead hair out. Aspen is long haired and loves it!

Note: if you have any old socks? Put one on your hand for washing the cat. They like really warm water. My kittens were pretty sick when I got them. They were under weight and cold. We purchased weight activated heating pads for their cat beds. Maybe Elliott would like one of those too?

I don't recall ever doing that, but I would use scissors if I did.

I would try using scissors...no need to shave, just take off some of the extra fur to make the area easier to clean. Maybe smaller ones like manicure scissors that are easier to control...take your time and do a bit at a time.

I had a couple of cats that benefitted from a summer hairdo. I suggest turning on the clippers while in the general vicinity of Elliott to determine whether the noise scares him. If it does, scissors will be easier. Getting an even, all-over cut is hard, but a tushy trim is fairly easy. Be careful not to get to close to the skin. Clippers can get really hot.

I totally did it more than once - but my long haired white cat was completely declawed, so it wasn't too dangerous. She would get dingleberries stuck in her pantaloons and I just used a small pair of hair trimming scissors to snip out the soiled fur. I would corner her in the bathroom.

I've trimmed out mats with scissors too.

I agree with the human hair scissors though maybe you could turn on the trimmer near him and see how he reacts. He's probably shedding for spring right now. Hopefully he won't always shed that much. If it becomes a serious problem, look for a groomer that takes cats. He sounds like he is pretty cooperative so far. Does he have vet appointments coming up to see how everything is going? Maybe the vet could trim him up for you if he decides not to cooperate with you. Good luck. Be good, Elliott. :)

Yes, at rescue/shelter many times. Most often just using scissors with round tips. Sometimes we had a groomer volunteer time, they aesthetically did a much better job than me.

I trim with scissors too.

I second brushing and the Furminator, my cats LOVE that.

I rescued a large Maine Coon cat in 2016 from an alley. He's very laid back and sweet but is a terror when the brush or comb comes out. He is four paws declawed (not by me) but he weighs 26 pounds and bats us, hisses, and takes off. So two weeks ago my husband shoved him in a large dog carrier I must have found on the street because my two dogs walk into the vet. Bernie does not fit in the two nice cat carriers I have. He dropped him off at 8 and we picked him up at 11:30 and $340 later I had a totally shaved cat except for his legs, tail, and face. He had to be anesthetized. He also got a wellness checkup and two shots. It absolutely was the only way to handle the mats because I was too afraid of cutting him. Your problem doesn't seem as severe and maybe Elliot isn't as rambunctious as Bernie. I would try to trim carefully with small scissors.

Thanks everyone! I'll try the scissors, he doesn't need to be shaved by any means, just trimmed so that his poops don't stick and smear.

Carol.....dingleberries stuck in her pantaloons. I love this!!!!

Anything I've attempted to do with him, he's quite okay with it. He seems to trust whatever I do won't hurt him, trimming claws, washing, brushing etc.

I've never heard of declawing all 4 paws. When I mentioned that my previous cats have all been declawed......front paws only. The back ones still needed to be trimmed.

MM he goes in next Thursday for his checkup!! They'll see if his gums are better, healed, etc, and draw blood. Everything my vet does is in front of me in the room. They never take pets out of your sight, so it will be interesting to see how he does with the needle. Smudge was a dream, they loved him. He had to go in regularly for blood work as he had IBS and a hyperthyroid. Bud was a fighter, they were afraid he'd break the needle.

Yes! Quite common to trim the rear end. If you don't manage to do it yourself - it can be tricky if the cat won't cooperate, though it sounds like Elliott is quite compliant - call ahead to the vet and ask if they can do a "sanitary shave" while you're there next week. That should take care of the issue, or at least most of it, and it lasts a lot longer than a trim. We had to do this with a wobbly, long hair cat that always seemed to get urine or dingleberries on his rear end fluff. Groomers that see cats can help with this, too. I hope he tolerates the trimming!

I use these --- https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Trim-Ball-Tipped-Grooming-Scissor/dp/B01F4OMI2Y/ref=asc_df_B01F4OMI2Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076665015&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6201200174468168328&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9025387&hvtargid=pla-351142263348&th=1

To be clear, our cat came to us completely declawed, I would never do such a terrible thing to any animal.

We do what's called a Sanitation Shave at our clinic. I'd ask your vet or a groomer if they can do this for you. Probably about 90% of the time we have to sedate cats to get this done. Although we had one about a week ago who was super chill and just let them clip him. I think he was so miserable he was happy someone was helping him.

Huh. They make a dematting tool. Furmintor brand. Looks sturdy and safe. I'd trust it. I don't mean for Elliott since he's not that matted. For anyone who is wary of dematting. I'd sure try it before subjecting my kittyfluff to the car ride, the noisy place that smells strange, and with people she's unhappy to be around. Even if they say she's sweet. But that's just me.

;)

https://www.chewy.com/furminator-adjustable-dematter-dog/dp/191474?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaignid%7D&utm_content=FURminator&utm_term=%7Bkeyword%7D

Yes, I have a long haired cat and she had diarrhea for a day a month ago and a few little matted areas. I bought clippers but she was having nothing to do with them. I bought a pair of rounded tip grooming scissors and was able to clean her up a couple minutes at a time over about a week.

Like Carol said...I would never ever declaw a cat let alone all four paws. Bernie was done before I found him and they later dumped him in an alley defenseless which may explain his attitude about anything to do with his fur. ...(I have no idea why his head is cut off. )

.

I was wondering about the declawing, Carol. It’s only allowed here for serious medical reasons. Otherwise it is illegal and has been for years.

Some states are making it illegal. I have had 18 cats over the decades and I have never done it even though it was common practice back then. Right now I happened to have two out of three declawed cats. Bernie on all four paws, and Poppy, adopted from Humane Society,with two front declawed. Bernie won't let anyone touch his paws so I imagine they are too sensitive. Probably explains his attitude towards anything regarding his fur.

Lily, his pretty little head is there when you click on the picture!! :)

I always felt so bad for my kitty when she would try to scratch herself. When I would scratch her, she wouldn't want me to stop. She was extremely clever with her little front paws, and I can only imagine how much more so she would've been with claws.

murraysmom, That's not Bernie, but my deceased cat Henry who was a lovely beautiful boy who got a cancerous tumor on his leg and had to be euthanized at 13 a few years ago

Here's Bernie

Lily, they are both beauties! I had a cat, Miss Kitty, who was marked like that. I got her at a shelter. She was about 1-2 years old at that time. I was looking at the cats (they had no kittens at that time) and when I looked at her and put my finger up to the cage, she reached out and grabbed my finger. I felt like she chose me, so I brought her home. She was so sweet, such a nice girl. I lost her at age 12.