Hello, I’m Christopher! To learn more about me and my silly Russian blue cat, Olga, please read my bio.
Brushing your cat’s coat can help keep your cat healthy, reduce hair loss, redistribute natural oils, and maybe even practice first aid skills. Veterinarians and behavioral experts recommend introducing grooming from the time cats are kittens, and I agree with their advice, but Olga’s early experience was more violent than helpful. It was.
youthful aggression
When he was a kitten, he had a comical appearance with his oversized head and pot belly, but beneath his adorable exterior was the soul of a psychopath. I let her examine the brush and left her on the couch for a few hours before attempting a grooming session, but my efforts were in vain. After sniffing and slapping it a few times, she ignored it. This looked promising because she didn’t see it as a threat.
But when I tried to brush her, she curled up into a ball and attacked my hand with her sharp teeth and claws. I’ve tried it several times, but it’s difficult to groom a cat who won’t let you touch its back, sides, or stomach. I only had to pet her neck and head, so I gave up on brushing her until she became an adult and calmed down.
Early days of grooming
Since he was a kitten, his coat has been kept clean and never matted or tangled. When she was a little over a year old, I bought a soft brush that was gentle on her thin coat. She didn’t attack me but kept trying to eat the brush. I then tried to bribe her with her behavior after the grooming session, which is classic positive reinforcement.
I gave her a treat when she was still for more than a few seconds and it seemed to help. Subsequent sessions were more productive. In the end, I was able to brush two-thirds of her coat without injury or irritation.
modern grooming
Sometimes I wonder if rewarding good behavior has been too successful. When I brush her fur or trim her nails, she purrs, moves around, and tries to rub her head against my neck. I know purring sounds more appealing than scratching or biting, but at least she usually stayed in one place when she attacked me.
Although she is not as eager for food as she was when she was younger, she is more excited and more affectionate before feeding time. I don’t give her treats after grooming or nail clipping, but she still expects it and continues to manipulate Love to convince me she is malnourished.
Luckily, Olga’s thin coat doesn’t require frequent brushing, and her tongue that breaks through the sound barrier takes care of most of her daily care. The only time she gets violent is after I cut her front nails and transfer them to her back nails. I usually trim one and two before she screams and tries to punch me in the face. I considered buying a hockey mask and Kevlar sleeves to protect myself, but hydrogen peroxide and bandages are more affordable. Plus, she gets too relaxed sometimes, so I like watching miniature panthers go into attack mode. It takes me back to her violent youth.
This article is part of the Christopher and Olga series.
