is your puddy a lion ?

Sometimes a Full Clip or a Lion Clip is the best option for your cat.

It may be that the coat is heavily matted, and a fresh start is required.  It may be a shorter coat is needed for health reasons.  Or it could be that your cat doesn’t enjoy being brushed or combed and therefore it’s an easier option all round for everyone.

Mr Teddy Bear pictured here is an Exotic.  Exotics are more usually shorthaired.  The longhaired variety are classed as Persians by some of the cat bodies.  Mr Teddy Bear’s coat was extremely dense, and had one or two tangles – and was quite overwhelming.

In order to give both he and mum a fresh start, we decided to give him a Lion Clip.

Mr Teddy Bear seemed to realise from the start what was going on.  From the moment he sat down on the grooming table, he sat contently looking out into his garden whilst we clipped away.  He literally didn’t move a muscle.  He wasn’t in the least bit afraid of the clippers or the situation, but rather was enjoying the fuss and attention.

Why don’t you pop over to our facebook page where you can see Mr Teddy Bear during his session.  Chilled or what ??!!

baby blue

This bonny boy is an 18 month old Blue Tabby Maine Coon.  Hence the name – which is affectionately shortened to Baby day to day.

Baby is a nervous boy by nature.  If you remember, at our last session (which was the first time we had met up with Baby) he was very apprehensive when we arrived.  He wasn’t keen on being talked to or touched and spent some time checking us out from underneath his cat tower.  Then, once in the chosen grooming room – before the start of that first session – Baby Blue was very nervous.  He was calling out and looking for an escape route.

Today – although still a little nervous – we saw a much more relaxed Baby.  In the grooming room, he initially calmly sat under a stool whilst we had a little chat.  Then, when he was placed on the grooming table he lay down of his own accord.  We think he knew that there was nothing to be afraid about.

Baby has a gorgeous coat.  Mum is able to keep well on top of it.  There were just a couple of small areas that needed attention, followed by a brush out.  Baby definitely likes the attention a brush out brings around his front / ruff area !

Really pleased with our session today, Baby.  Well done, you were very brave and you look gorgeous !

princess puddes

Princess, or Puddes as she’d affectionately known is an elderly lady that we call on regularly to keep her coat clipped short.  Princess is a Red Colourpoint Persian who lives with her mum and dad in Alderley Edge, Cheshire …. and she’s just celebrated her 15th birthday this month !!

It’s important that Princess’ coat is kept short as in the past she has suffered from ingesting too much hair when self grooming, which has resulted in a couple of operations – basically to clear the intestines.

Princess is now well used to the sessions and today sat patiently whilst we got to work.  She doesn’t mind her back and sides being clipped at all, but isn’t as keen on her undercarriage.  However, saying that, she didn’t put up a fuss and we completed quickly.

If you didn’t catch the (very) short video clip we filmed of Princess Puddes after the last session, it’s well worth a quick look.  It’s here on our facebook page.

Well done chicky … see you again in a few weeks time.

timmy tail

Timmy Tail asked us to call in on him again in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.  He is 2 years old, and is a most  handsome Maine Coon.  Quite hefty already, with still some room for growth as this breed don’t mature until they are around 4-5 years old.

It goes without saying that Timmy Tail’s most striking feature is of course, his tail.  Although his face isn’t bad, either !

Timmy Tail obviously remembered the last session, and knew just what to expect.  He was a good boy last time, but ever so much more settled on the grooming table today.  He lay patiently whilst we set to work, removing the odd knot here and there and brushing out his coat.

After the session, he left the room.  However, he went all of (2?) foot !  He lay at the doorway, intrigued by the clearing up process and just soooo nosey.

Nice session – Well done Timmy Tail !!

macy moo

We met up again with 2 year old Maine Coon Macy in Manchester, who was due her regular session.

Macy has a most thick coat, which becomes easily tangled and matted.  She’s not that keen on letting mum brush her – although she is becoming more tolerant.

On the grooming table, however, Macy succumbs and lays patiently whilst we get to work on her coat.  The odd growl here and there, but that’s all. The first session we had last year, Macy was extremely fidgety and determined to leave the table.  Now she lays calmly throughout.  It goes to show that most cats learn from the experience and sessions become easier for all.

We did some clipping to remove areas that couldn’t be brushed through – and the rest of Macy’s coat benefitted from a good brush out.

During a session earlier in the summer we took a short video clip of Macy on the grooming table.  If you didn’t see it, why don’t you come over to our facebook page and take a peek …

A good session all round.  Well done Macy, you pretty girl !!

extreme ?

What do you think about Creative Grooming ?

It seems to be becoming popular – especially with dogs, but also with cats, horses and other animals.

Why don’t you come over to our facebook page and tell us what you think …..

(By the way – this isn’t one of our sessions !)

handsome jinx

Jinx.  8 years old. Frodsham, Cheshire.

What a handsome boy   … and the most friendly fellow you can imagine.  We called in to meet up with Jinx to help with removal of a pelted coat – mainly around his flanks and rear end.

Jink wasn’t keen on the clippers – very fidgety – but we think he enjoyed the brush out that followed.  See the piccie of the hair that came away.  At this point he relaxed on the grooming table with his eyes shut, listening to the music we played for him.

Nice meeting you mr Jinx … Well done chick !

black cats need a chance

Did you know that ….

Black cats spend much longer in rescue shelters than other cats, waiting to be adopted. Reports from one animal charity are that one in five people say “I don’t want to see any bl…ack cats”. The problem has got so bad it’s been dubbed ‘Black Cat Syndrome”

Reasons for black cats not being chosen / being dumped include : Too plain. Too dull. Don’t match the furniture. Just discovered not allowed to keep pets. Frighten the children. Looks too much like the neighbour’s cat. Worried will trip over it at night. Black cats are unlucky.

But seemingly high on the list is that black cats aren’t photogenic. They don’t photograph well, and this doesn’t go down well with the modern obsession of social media. How sad is that ?

Here’s our beautiful Jimmy. We adopted him and his black sister from a fantastic cat shelter – Furry Tails Feline Welfare, at Blackpool, Lancashire.  They are adorable !

not moody at all

We called in to see Moody again in Prescot, Merseyside – as she was due her regular nail clipping session.

Moody is a 14 year old Burmese, who is certainly not moody by nature.  You couldn’t meet a friendlier lass.  Moody has a short, lush coat, and lets mum comb her regularly.  Our job is to keep on top of her nails, and she has a trim every few weeks.

Fit, healthy cats that spend a lot of time outside generally naturally wear down their claws sufficiently.

However, indoor or elderly cats may need to have their claws trimmed regularly.  Also, some cats have an extra toe (polydactyl) which doesn’t touch the ground (just like the normal dew claw) and may overgrow.  If overgrown claws aren’t trimmed they can grow inwards into the pad and can be painful, and become infected.

Well done Moody … See you again soon lovely lady ….

our ollie

It was a pleasure to meet up with our Ollie in Liverpool again.  Ollie’s now about 3 years old and lives with his housemates Poppy and Snoopy, and his mum.

Ollie has a short coat, but it’s extremely thick and he needs help working through to rid him of excess hair that’s sat there.  There were just a couple of small areas that needed taking away with the clippers and the rest of him was ready for a real good brush out.  His coat was also hiding lots of foliage from the garden, down at the roots – particularly grass seed.

The session was as laid back as ever.  Although Ollie isn’t that keen on mum brushing him, once he lays on the grooming table he is as chilled as ever and doesn’t move a muscle from start to finish.  He just closes his eyes and, we think, enjoys the fuss and attention.

Following his session, his mum Barbara said :

“Another fabulous job done on Ollie by Sandra making my baby more handsome then ever.Where would I be without you Sandra,c u soon x“

He will no doubt be feeling lighter and more comfy with his new thinner coat.  Well done Ollie, you handsome chick.  See you soon.