Hello, I’m Christopher! Learn my introduction to be taught extra about me and my foolish Russian Blue cat, Olga.
Brushing your cat’s coat retains it wholesome, reduces shedding, redistributes the pure oil, and generally permits you to follow first-aid expertise. Veterinarians and behavioral specialists advocate introducing grooming to cats after they’re kittens, and whereas I agree with their recommendation, Olga’s early experiences have been extra violent than useful.
Youthful Aggression
As a kitten, her outsized head and potbelly gave her a comical look, however beneath the lovable exterior lay the soul of a psychopath. I let her study the comb and left it on the sofa for a couple of hours earlier than making an attempt a grooming session, however my efforts have been in useless. After sniffing it and hitting it a couple of occasions, she ignored it, which appeared promising since she didn’t contemplate it a menace.
Nevertheless, once I tried to brush her, she curled right into a ball and attacked my hand together with her sharp tooth and claws. I made a number of makes an attempt, however grooming a cat is difficult when she doesn’t assist you to contact her again, aspect, or stomach. She solely allowed petting on her neck and head, so I gave up making an attempt to brush her till she grew to become an grownup and calmed down.
Early Days of Grooming
She saved her coat clear as a kitten and by no means developed mats or tangles. After she was round a yr previous, I purchased a softer brush that was gentler on her mild coat. She didn’t assault me however saved making an attempt to eat the comb. Then, I attempted bribing her, a optimistic reinforcement basic, when she behaved after a grooming session.
I gave her a deal with when she sat nonetheless for quite a lot of seconds, and it appeared to work. Subsequent periods have been extra productive; ultimately, I might brush 2/3rds of her coat with out getting injured or pissed off.
Current-Day Grooming
Generally, I believe rewarding for good conduct labored too effectively. Once I brush her fur or trim her nails, she purrs, strikes round, and tries to rub her head on my neck. I do know purring sounds extra interesting than scratching and biting, however at the very least when she attacked me, she typically stayed in a single place.
She’s not as food-motivated as she was when she was youthful, however she will get excited and extra affectionate earlier than her feeding occasions. I don’t give her treats after grooming or nail-trimming periods, however she nonetheless expects them and continues to make use of manipulative like to persuade me she’s malnourished.
Fortunately, Olga’s skinny coat doesn’t require frequent brushing, and her sound-barrier-breaking tongue handles a lot of the every day upkeep. She solely resorts to violence after I trim her entrance claws and transfer on to the rear ones. I often trim one and two earlier than she screams and tries to hit me within the face. I thought-about shopping for a hockey masks and Kevlar sleeves to guard myself, however hydrogen peroxide and bandages are extra reasonably priced. In addition to, she’s too relaxed generally, and I like seeing my miniature panther in assault mode. It takes me again to the times of her violent youth.
This text is part of Christopher and Olga’s sequence.
