My cat won't let me clip him. He struggles and gets aggressive

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Hi everyone,

I'm having a real bit of trouble with my Persian cat. As he's a long-haired breed, I have to keep on top of his coat and get him clipped because he gets mats in his fur.

The problem is he won't let me anywhere near him with the clippers. He panics as soon as he hears the noise and feels the vibrations. He becomes aggressive, tries to bolt, and starts scratching and biting.

Recently, I took him to the groomer for a full clip, but she couldn't finish the job. She only managed to do his back end.

Even though I was there helping to hold him, he was struggling so much that he managed to get away.

My cat isn't usually aggressive, but I think he's just terrified—it's a total panic reaction to the clippers and the vibrations on his skin.

Maybe he was traumatised by that kind of device or noise when he was a kitten. My nephew rescued him from the street when he was about a year old, we think (he's six and a half now).

He hasn't been neutered, but he is sterile (he only has one testicle).

He goes out at night and he's quite a hunter.

He’s not particularly playful or cuddly.

I’m at my wit's end. Does he need to be sedated? Restrained?

Could I try using manual clippers? But even then, it would be a nightmare as he won't let anyone touch him for any kind of grooming (like brushing, for example). Plus, if I hold him for too long, his purring gets so loud that he starts choking, to the point where he's panting and struggling for breath... so I have to let him go. What are you supposed to do? This problem is apparently specific to his breed, as he's a Persian cross.

Anyway, thanks in advance for your replies.

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27 answers
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    Bannwart Icon representing the flag French
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    I went to the vet yesterday because of some big mats on his hips and under his tummy. My husband used to brush him every day, so he was used to it, but my husband passed away a few months ago. Since then, he struggles whenever I try to brush him. The vet had to sedate him to sort it out. He’s come back looking lovely, but I really hope I don’t have to have him put under again. It took him a whole day to recover and he was really poorly. I forgot to mention, he’s a 10-year-old Persian. I brushed him this morning and he was actually good as gold. Maybe he’s finally understood.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    What a bizarre idea, shaving a cat – it’s not a sheep!

    For any matts, gently run a comb through them and just snip off the bits on top.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Why? Well... there’s no choice. It’s a neighbour’s cat and they can’t afford a professional groomer, so I need a solution and some advice on the best way to go about it, basically.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on trimming an Angora cat’s coat with scissors (based on your own experiences). The thing is, he’s not exactly easy to handle! This is following a bad experience with a professional groomer. So, how should I go about using scissors now (his fur is heavily matted) and how long should the sessions last? I’m thinking of doing a little bit once a week to avoid stressing him out too much? Thanks in advance.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi Janchat, just a quick question: wasn't your Persian on Gumtree a while ago?

    I think I might have seen him when I was looking for Mozart, my Exotic.

    Just a thought, I’m not sure at all... Lol

    Anyway, as for grooming your boy, make sure to brush him every day. Get him used to it bit by bit, even if it's a bit of a struggle at first... I have a Persian type (as he’s non-pedigree), and he ended up with mats because I was only brushing him maybe 2 or 3 times a week. I cut them out with scissors and have brushed him every day since: he looks gorgeous now! :)

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I’ve got a cat who’s hated being brushed since she was a tiny kitten. At first, because she shed a lot and her fur was quite long (she has a really thick undercoat), I had to brush her for ages, which really stressed her out. Around the age of four, as it was becoming unbearable, I decided to brush her for shorter periods even if I wasn’t getting loads of dead hair out. However, I did start brushing her a bit more often. Then, I started rewarding her with a treat after every grooming session. Now, she still hates being brushed, but because she knows she’ll get a reward, she puts up with it and even comes over to me whenever I get the brush out. I also often take her blanket (the one she sleeps on) and rub it over the brush or the table where I groom her so she picks up familiar, relaxing scents. It makes her feel much calmer. That said, it’s best to get your cat used to being brushed from a very young age, as @Jepi76600 mentioned. And besides, why clip a cat's fur? There’s no point in getting a Persian with such a beautiful coat if you’re just going to shave it... In my opinion, plenty of patience and a good brush solves everything. And for any mats, I just use scissors.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello from Canada!

    I had a similar cat; over here, pets have to be harnessed in during grooming... it’s just a different culture, I suppose.

    🙂

    When my cat was 8, he developed Crohn’s disease, so he had a very sensitive tummy and gut. His back end was also very sensitive.

    It was almost impossible to take his temperature with a rectal thermometer, and he had loose stools.

    This possibility wasn't really looked into, but that was my experience, and we’re all here to share our stories if it helps.

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    Mamie-Persan
    Mamie-persan Icon representing the flag French
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    Good evening Janchat, your Persian is a gorgeous colour. You’re right to have him neutered; it’ll give you peace of mind and means he won’t get cancer. Wishing you both lots of happiness.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Katycat

    Let me explain. I have other passions besides cats. Among other things, I’m interested in anything to do with mysteries, the paranormal, and so on.

    I’m on a site dedicated to that sort of thing. However, plenty of fantasists go there to tell fake, extraordinary stories. They do it to have a laugh at the expense of the gullible and to discredit the site.

    It’s easy to catch them out (for me, at least), as their stories always contain contradictions and absurdities. (And there’s often another thing too.)

    But just in case...

    So, my tactic—my strategy to try and get an idea of their sincerity (just in case...)—is to ask obvious, relevant, logical, and specific questions that can be answered and confirmed...

    But that’s exactly it: these people ignore the questions, can’t answer them, give evasive answers, or contradict themselves... Once that’s done, and they realise they’ve been rumbled, we never see them again...

    Now, your stories are very much in the same vein as those people. Then again, it’s possible you’ve just forgotten things or made mistakes.

    I’m not making any definitive claims.

    But it doesn’t matter. I didn’t come here to play cat and mouse (lol!). I simply expect a story to be consistent and clear. Full stop.

    Health and prosperity to you.

    ...😯 ...

    Should I reply? Should I not??

    Right, I’m not replying.

    It’ll only be grist to your mill and help you fuel your so-called claims about human nature!

    Off I go then.

    I’m moving on...

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    So, we went to see the vet this Monday the 12th. Kung Fu is actually a bit under the weather. He’s sneezing (or is it coughing?) and his stools are a bit loose. The vet gave him an injection and prescribed a course of Softiflox P (an antibiotic) — half a tablet a day for eight days.

    He confirmed what you told me. He definitely has an undescended testicle and isn't sterile, so it must be genetic, as the vet said he could pass the condition on...

    As soon as my cat is feeling better, I’m going to have him neutered.

    So that’s the update, Mamie-Persan.

    Give both of yours a stroke from me! 🙂

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