gentle red
Our friend Siberian (Siberian Forest Cat) Red in Sandbach, Cheshire looked as handsome as ever after his recent grooming session.
Just as the last time we met up, which was only last month, his coat was unbelievably thick and tangly. Of course, he’s just about losing his big winter coat at the moment, but playing out in all weather’s doesn’t help the cause.
The session was quite hard going, but Red knows the score by now. Although he half heartedly protests by trying to do gymnastics at times, we know all the right words to win him over. By the end of the session he’s always so relaxed (and purring) that he enjoys his photo shoot – as he knows that he looks fantastic !
Look after yourself Red … ‘Til next time !
beautiful tabitha
It’s always interesting how a cat reacts during a grooming session. Sometimes not in keeping with what mum or dad expected.
Little Tabitha joined our gang recently. Tabitha is almost 3 years old and lives with her mum in Chester, Cheshire. She has the most lovely colouring and markings, being a Silver Shaded Siberian (Siberian Forest Cat). Siberian tom cats are usually quite large at around 5-6kg (11-13lb), but females are much smaller averaging 4-5kg (9-11lb).
The Siberian coat is believed to possess hypoallergenic qualities. However, rather than making an assumption that all will be well it is generally advised that allergy sufferers check their reactivity directly with the parent cats, from whom they plan to adopt a kitten.
Today was Tabitha’s first professional grooming session and her coat was in a lovely condition. Mum is able to comb frequently and this showed in her coat. There were just one or 2 tangles that had developed, mainly underneath and around the armpits. We gave the rest of TabItha’s coat a comb through to remove dead undercoat.
When we’d arrived, Tabitha had been nervous as she knew something was afoot and stayed on the window bottom, behind the curtain, hoping out of sight out of mind ! However, once on the grooming table, Tabitha was as good as gold. Mum had thought that it would be quite a vocal session, but not a muff was made. Calm, gentle and compliant was little Tabitha whilst we got to work and she really wasn’t afraid of the clippers or the comb.
Mum Helen later told us
“Hi Sandra, thanks for yesterday. I got a very vocal telling off after you left and Tabitha prowled the whole house, I think she was checking you weren’t hiding, waiting to give her another going over! Even the prawns waited till she was done! The session went much better than I expected, she’s such a timid girl! Although I wouldn’t say she enjoyed the first meeting, you managed to keep us both calm and I’m sure she feels better for having those knots removed. She’s definitely looking good and has been very active and purry. I’m sure Tabitha will be looking forward to our next session xhx”
A really enjoyable session all round, and a big applause for Tabitha. Well done chicky !
gorgeous holly
Holly in Padiham, Lancashire asked us to call in to take a look at her coat again. Holly’s now 5 years old and has a lovely, long thick black coat.
She is such a sweetie. However, she does like to chat …. and chat …. and chat. We heard all the local gossip and now know all there is to know about Padiham and who’s doing what !
Holly takes good care of her coat, and there was just a small area underneath that needed attention, followed by a good brush out elsewhere.
Well used to her sessions now, Holly knows that she always feels like a million dollars afterwards !
Such a good girl, Holly ! See you again soon !
kizzy kitty
A new girl on the block. Kizzy from Liverpool !
We met up with Kizzy, as her coat had become too much to manage and had developed some tight mats that needed to be removed. As well as that, the rest of the coat was too difficult to save. So, we decided it would be best all round to give Kizzy a fresh start.
At 6 years old, Persian Kizzy isn’t too keen on being brushed and previously has needed sedation when being clipped. However, we thought we’d see if a home session would work for Kizzy, and she fared very well.
It was obvious that Kizzy wasn’t struck on the idea and was extremely vocal and fidgety, but we managed to remain sufficiently calm as to begin working through her enormous coat. We took the worst of the mats away on her top and sides, and began working on the armpits – then decided to resume the session on another day. Kizzy was much calmer at that point, and we worked underneath to make her comfy.
Following the session, dad John said :
“we had a visit from Sandra yesterday to groom my little Persian girl Kizzy. Kizzy was pretty matted on her sides and underneath her chest. I knew that we had a challenge on our hands a she’s not that fond of being pampered. I couldn’t believe on how good she really was and she let Sandra brush and clip her, she was a little fidgety in parts but very good most of the time. What an excellent service from EssentiallyPurrfect. Kizzy will now be looking forward to her next visit”
It was really pleasing that we were able to help Kizzy. Well done girly !
friendly fudge
Our friend Fudge is now 20 years old ! If you didn’t know, you’d never guess !
Fudge still enjoys life in his neck of the woods in Astley, Greater Manchester. He loves playing out out and keeps an eye on those squirrels in the garden.
We call on Fudge regularly to keep his nails in trim. Although, as we said, he still plays out he doesn’t do much climbing etc to keep those nails worn down. So he needs a little help …
Fudge is quite a nervous guy and the first time we met up he was very anxious about proceedings. However, as sessions have occurred and he knows the script he really has learnt that there’s nothing to worry about.
He’s still not keen on the idea, but once he’s sat on the grooming table he listens to sweet talk whilst the dirty deed is done. Less than 2 minutes later it’s all over and he’s back on the sofa, lapping up all the fuss and attention he can get !
Lovely seeing you again, Fudge !
lovely herbie
Maine Coon Herbie in Warrington, Cheshire has definitely grown a lot since we first met him 18 months ago. At that point he was Large. Now, at 3 and a half years old, he’s definitely X-Large – or maybe a bit bigger !
Herbie’s coat is always ready for a good work through. Also, he tends to get a little knotted underneath and sometimes around the rear end.
He’s not keen on being brushed, although he tolerates it with mum to an extent. However, he really doesn’t like the discipline of a formal session – and tells us very much so, in his own words ! He is intelligent enough to know what’s going on though, and we’re sure he feels so much better for it afterwards.
See you soon, Herbie !
mr bailey
Who remembers this 9 year old Persian cross in Alderley Edge, Cheshire ? That’s right – It’s Bailey. We last saw Bailey a couple of months ago – and his coat this time around was sooooo much bigger.
Bailey goes out in the garden on his harness, and this causes knots underneath on his chest, and on his armpits where it rubs. The rest of his coat just needed a good brush out.
Bailey definitely remembered the last session and this time was less fidgety. We know he’d much rather have been patrolling his territory – an activity which he had had to leave for his session – but Bailey gritted he teeth and bared it whilst we worked through his fine coat. He has long hair on the underside of his feet, in tufts between his pads. This is the case with some long haired cats – in particular Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest Cats, where the hair acts as snowshoes. This insulates their feet, allowing them to traverse snowy grounds typical of the regions from which they originate. However, Bailey only goes as far as the garden, in short spells, so his snoeshows don’t really see much action – apart from trailing dirt back into the house. So, we trimmed them back to help alleviate this problem.
It was nice seeing you again, Bailey and looking forward to next time already …
gorgeous bluebell
Seven year old Bluebell asked us to call in to have a look at her coat, which had developed matted areas. Bluebell has lived with her new mum in Sandbach, Cheshire for just a couple of months and she has settled in remarkably well. She is quite a timid girl, but she came to meet and greet, and was soon friendly – and very nosey. In and out of bags, wanting to know just what was going on.
Bluebell told us a right tale as we set to work on her tummy. We listened. If only she could have heard herself. Bluebell is deaf, so she didn’t know just how much she was going on ! A white coat and blue eyes makes deafness much more likely. In fact, a white cat with 2 blue eyes is 3-5 times more likely to be deaf than a cat with 2 non-blue eyes – and a cat with 1 blue eye is about twice as likely to be deaf as a cat with 2 non-blue eyes. Also, longhaired white cats are 3 times more likely to be deaf in both ears.
Bluebell much preferred the clippers to the comb. We think she has learnt that the comb pulls and tugs (as her coat was too thick and knotted), whilst the clippers just zip off the problem area without any hassle.
As Bluebell’s ruff (bib) is sooo long, it makes mealtimes difficult. So, we shortened it a little to make this activity easier for her.
She’ll feel like a new woman now, with her new coat. Well done Bluebell !
little elsie
This young lady is 6 year old Elsie from Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
When we arrived Elsie greeted us with a nice head rub and after introductions we really hit it off … However, Elsie is very intuitive and even before we began setting up stall she had retreated to the top of the stairs where she could keep a watchful eye on unfolding events !
Our Services had been called in as Elsie had developed a few knotty areas around her torso. She’d actually managed to remove one herself since we’d made the appointment for her session, so they were maybe a little uncomfortable for her.
On the whole, Elsie doesn’t care for much contact – and is quite averse to being brushed. As soon as her little tootsies hit the grooming table Elsie had decided that a session wasn’t really her cup of tea – and she did everything within her power to call it a day.
However, we managed to work through the problem areas with the clippers. We took away a few tight mats, so whatever Elsie said at the time – she’s probably now realised it was actually all for her own benefit and that she’s feeling better for it.
Nice meeting you, Elsie. You’re such a pretty little thing. It’s a shame you don’t like the brush because it would make you even more beautiful !
pretty duch
The lovely Duch in Warrington, Cheshire asked us to call to give her a manicure.
Duch is now 17 years old. The last couple of times we’ve met up, Duch has enjoyed a full groom – and she’s definitely benefitted from the sessions. As her mum would tell you, Duch has rediscovered her mojo !
Although Duch really isn’t keen on having her nails clipped, she knows just how important it is to keep on top of them. As cats get older, or if they are poorly or perhaps house cats, nails don’t always wear down sufficiently. If nails become too long they can grow around into, and pierce the pad.
Although we heard one or two little protests Duch remained very calm and really, it was all over before she knew it.
Such a brave girl, Duch. Looking forward to seeing you again in April for your maintenance groom chick !
