Stray Maine Coon cat arrived full of matted fur -- UPDATED PICS!

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Well sure, he's no dummy. He knows there is no comfy furniture nor reliable food bowls out there. He is not going to risk being on the wrong side of the door when it closes

You need to just accept the inevitable, admit you're keeping him, and give him a name

LOL

Pat

 

[Cheep Mama]

I'm jealous!! I wish one would show up at my door!!! We've been wanting one.

 

[chickenannie]

Cheep Mama, do you live anywhere in the area?

 

[Stella1964]

I purchased my husband a Maine Coon kitten 2 years ago. He (the kitten) is such a sweetheart, and has been from day one. I have three cats but this one is the most awesome cat ever. We keep him indoors and he loves it. He never wants to be far from anyone's side and has the kindest disposition, always wanting to play, be chased around, fetch things, run up and down stairs if he knows you're doing the same etc. It's like someone else said in this thread that Maine Coons are more like dogs, and that's the truth! They don't necessarily like to be in your lap all the time, but they never want to be without human company. My other two cat couldn't care less if we're around. Our Buddy is like a little kid sometimes; if I'm in the bathroom, even just for a second, he paws at the door and starts meowing like he lost his best friend, then when I come out, he's doing figure eights around my legs and won't let me out of his sight. It's very endearing. So whoever told you that Maine Coons are trouble is out of his/her mind!

Oh, and to the hair...yes, they have a lot of gorgeous hair but oddly enough they don't shed very much, which is probably why they matt up. We don't bother grooming him anymore. It's too much work. Instead, every week or two, we all check his belly and arm pits for hair balls, and then use my husband's beard trimmer to take them off. No problem.

I suspect a Maine Coon who's been out in the wild will need to have most of his fur removed to start fresh and clean. I commend you for taking him in and loving him up. I would have done the same.

 

[chickenannie]

OK, "my" cat looks SOOOOO funny with the "lion-cut" he got today at the PAWS facility!!! We can't stop laughing at him, poor little thing. He has a huge furry Maine Coon head, with a tiny little body stuck behind it. Awwww. It'll grow back, and no more matts.

Just wanted to update everyone. He's healthy, already neutered, and glad to be back at home. He got all his shots, dewormed, etc. and promptly threw up giant hairballs all over my sunroom as soon as I brought him home tonight. I almost urked cleaning it up. Not sure I'm ready for that aspect of cat care....

If I could get my dark camera-computer hookup to work, I'd post a funny pic. ... Soon ...

 

[tink]

Glad to hear he is all cleaned up. Remember to check his extra claws for clipping.....they grow fast.
Tink

 

[BearSwampChick]

Glad your kitty is in good health! I didn't see this thread until now, so just now chiming in. I have a MC female mix. She's 14 and an evil little witch when she doesn't want to be bothered, but I love her anyway. She thinks brushes and combs are evil instruments from Satan and therefore has mats every spring. To avoid cutting the skin if you ever have to remove a mat again, just slip a comb underneath the mat next to the skin, then cut the hair off above the comb. It really works.

We had a male MC one time and he was the most loving cat in the world. Wouldn't hurt a fly. Sadly, he passed on about 9 years ago.

 

[chickenannie]

Thanks bearchick. Right now my little "lion" is snoozing on the chair across from me. He always wants to be in the same room with me. should be interesting. Still laughing at his haircut though. I got shampoo and he'll get his first bath tommorrow -- he's a bit smelly -- apparently they dont' bathe them at the pet place. I know you're not supposed to bathe cats frequently, but this will be his first and only one for a long time.
Where are the "extra claws"?

 

[patandchickens]

May I gently suggest that you defer bathing him until both of you know each other rather better. In fact you may never need to, as cats are generally fairly self-cleaning unless they are REALLY squalid, which it doesn't sound like he was.

I say this because while there are exceptions, your average cat views bathwater as one of the most noxious and dangerous substances in the world, and is not contractually liable for anything he does under threat of bathwater, and it would be a great shame if your developing relationship with Mr Lion Haircut were marred by some involuntary and in his view totally justified self-defense clawing or biting. It is IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM like bathing a dog or chicken.

It would be much wiser to wait til both of you know each other, and have a firmer basis on which to judge what the other one is/isn't going to do and does/doesn't mean by various body language things and so forth. Familiarity breeds tolerance, you know?

And as I say, you may well discover that he himself has taken care of the problem by then

Congrats on the nice kitty though

,

Pat

 

[GwenFarms]

You can powder him to make him smell better. They sell this dry bath stuff at the pet store, or you can just get the smell good powder. I've even just put a little baby powder on mine before when she got smelly. Just got at the cat easy, apply it with your hands and just act like your petting him.