This is an excellent example for a first time Regular Groom Session with-out matting removal or shaving required. Ragdolls are our most regular clients here in Northland. This was an extremely pleasant cat to work with which makes everything much faster; however, the amount of undercoat removal on a first-time groom is always a longer process. This particular groom took 4 hours from start to finish with one therapist which is about average for first time grooming sessions. Excess undercoat is a big factor in your cat's inability to groom effectively, resulting in unnecessary matting and excessive regurgitation of hair balls. It is also really relieving for the cat which is evident in the cat's behavior when it returns home, most owners comment that their cats becoming like a kitten again, while others notice that their cat becomes much more affectionate - this is because they are more comfortable and much happier in general. Removing excess coat makes a significant difference not only to your cats physical health but also mentally and emotionally too!
Before
After
700 Circumference Table
x2 hands width thick of de-shedding
First Session Regular Groom
Step By Step First Time Assisted Groom
This is a fairly classic example of most first-time assisted grooms.
Like most cats who come to us in this condition, this cat had already been shaved previously under sedation at vet clinics more than once due to repeated medical grade matting.
Although regular shaving is one option, with proper coat management and professional grooming you also have the option to keep the coat long without putting your cat through the agony of living in this condition between shaves and without the additional negative impact of sedation which the vets will almost always use in these cases!
This was 6 hours assisted grooming with two therapists for 4 hours. As the desired outcome was to maintain the coat length and this particular cat was extremely compliant, we were able to do the delicate task of carefully removing each matt with razor sharp professional cutting scissors. This took two hours with two therapists to do safely. As you will see in pictures 3&4, there were multiple individual matts which were connected tightly into the skin, several of these matts in areas which were multidirectional in their positioning which means that the skin was pulling from at least three separate directions simultaneously with every move the cat made. This would have been consistently extremely painful for the cat. The skin that winds up inside of the matting is further complicated when dealing with multidirectional matting. Similar to sheep, the tiniest Nic on a cat's belly will open up ten times wider! This is often very distressing for the owner, and they usually end up in our clinic after they try to remove the matt with scissors at home! We then spent a further 2 hours de-shedding which is seen clearly in photo 6 followed by a further two hours of washing, wet comb blow drying and detailing. The owner was gobsmacked that the cat returned with a salon beautiful shiny sleek coat, minimal signs of any patches and enough filler to make a pillow! Reports the next day were that this cat was frolicking and rolling about for anyone who would watch her!
Right Photo One - Upon Arrival
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Below Photo 3 - This is an example of multidirectional matting under an armpit. This particular matt is spanning x3 different directions and has skin wound up inside of the matting from all three angles. Extremely painful for the cat with each movement and requires absolute presicion to remove safely
Left Photo Two- End Result, beautiful & lustrous
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Below Photo 5 - During the De shedding process
Photo Below 4 - Individual matting removed by scissors
Below Photo 6 - The final De Shedding results are usually spectacular for first time assisted grooms who dont opt for Lions Cuts or Shaving. When we leave the coat long it is an arduous task resulting in lots of excess fur on the table. Our table is 800 circumference, as you can see by the arm in this photo this mound is two hands width deep and two hand to elbows wide! This is fairly usual for fist time assisted Grooms!
Before
After
