Tigger is matt free and moving on up

[cpietra16]

Since Tigger was shaved she has become a whole new cat....a cat that needs to lose weight, but a happy cat....she finally comes upstairs and lays down....long story for those who don't know her history...but anyway..she's happy, liberated and matt free....

[Love4himies]

Wow, what a transition! . I am so happy to hear she is now socializing.

Do you think it was from the pain of the matts that kept her from not wanting to be social?

[cpietra16]

It could have been anything. She stayed in the basement for almost 2 years...never wanting to venture upstairs. Her brother Charlie, would have been upstairs in a heartbeat if it weren't for Tiggers fears.
I started them on Animal Rescue a month ago and started seeing improvement. I figured this would have to be the time to trap her.

The matts started about a year ago and have been getting progressively worse. She had poop stuck all over. She wasn't cleaning herself and she refused to have me come anywhere near her. It was awful.
I couldn't find a vet who would shave her.because she was concidered feral..so i finally lied and got her in. It took me awhile to trap her..and that was a risk I had to take. Now she seems to trust me and seems want to venture upstairs...still very cautious, but its a good move.

[Chris21711]

That is great cpietra, you have truly had a lot of patience with her.

[ancientgirl]

What great news. She looks great. I'm glad you just lied and was able to get her into the vet. Was she calm?

[Love4himies]

Do you think it is the Animal Rescue then?

I wonder if like humans, sometimes facing your fear only to find out it was not nearly as bad as you thought can alleviate it. Maybe Tigger found out humans are not as awful as she thought?

[cpietra16]

Ancietgirl, it took me awhile to realise that the only way i could get her shaved was to omit all that I knew about her.... Anyway the shave cost me 179.00 and a few unwanted shots...but at least she's healthy
(although a little on the plump side).
Love4himies, It could be coincidental, but I think the Aniaml rescue stuff really worked...anyway after 2 years I'm glad they are finally up and smelling the other cats, dogs and rabbits...
Chris...believe, me I think this was my last attempt....just having them not participate with my family was very upsetting and I was starting to think that they would be better off on a farm...even whe its -40 in the winter.

[Chris21711]

Knowing how clean cats are cpietra, I guess that having the matting etc., around her back end she didn't feel good about herself and was crabby. It's great the way things have turned around once her fur grows in she will look beautiful. Kudos to you for being so persistant.

[Folkwitch]

I had the same issue with my semi-feral long-hair orange boy. He was anti-social, lay on top of the tv all day, and the matts grew and grew. Because of his "attitude", he was refused at most vets (he HATED vets, would hiss and growl from his carrier the minute we opened the office door) so I'd try to clip what I could, but I wasn't being very successful. Finally found a vet who was willing to put him under before shaving ($200 here) and suddenly I had an almost-cuddly cat! What a difference it made. I still feel terrible for not pushing the vets harder, poor guy must have been in such pain.

[Frenchy]

cpietra16 , why did they gave that poor cat "La coupe Longueuil" ?

(french term for mullet)

[cpietra16]

Well frenchy, very simply put...I lied. You se after not being able to find a vet to put her out and shave her for no other reason than to shave...I lied and didn't tell them about her matts....They were warned that she use to be feral and has never come close to people, was never really touched and had no clue as to what she would be like if examed...so needless to say, in order to examen her properly they had to shave her..they couldn't hear her heart, feel her sides, etc....they put a cone around her head..( they refused to put her out) got 4 techs to help, and voila....the Longueuil...was created.

As long as they cut off the worst part, I didn't care what she looked like...and she doesn't know any better...I got rid of all the mirrors in the basement so she can't see herself

[Frenchy]

good one cpietra16 you did what you had to do for this poor kitty

[Luvmypitgirls]

Mullet or not, that's one really cute cat!
give her a cuddle from me!

[Jim Hall]

lol i lied yup well but it worked and the vet is no wiser.



good for you and kitty

[krdahmer]

That is one fluffy cat! And with matts too... no wonder she was cranky! Glad to see you got them off and that she is getting more adventurous!

[allymack]

aw, she looks likes a litle lion with most of her fur shaved off. but a cute, cuddly lion

[RolandsMom]

Beautiful Kitty! glad to hear she is happy. I guess if you are not really comfortable, you dont want to socialise much. Im glad its all working out!

[cpietra16]

Rolandsmom, there still a long way to go before Tigger and Charlie come up stairs and socialize completely like the others
it took her ~2years before she came this close..so I've got patience...lots of it. I just hope she comes up before she gets too old too care:sad:

[RolandsMom]

good job for being so patient. I dont know if I would even know how. Roland is the king of socializing. Im just glad that your kitty is a bit more comfortable.

[ancientgirl]

I think with the help of the Animal Rescue you are giving her and the shave and Charlies help, Tigger might little by little start coming up. I was watching one of those Animal Planet cop shows, and there was a little dog that was just one big mat. When they found him he was pretty aggressive and just not in a good mood.

After they shaved all of his mats off his demeanor changed big time. He was still a bit unsure, but he was much friendlier, so you can really imagine how much pain he must have been in because of all that matting pulling on his skin.

And she looks beautiful!

[14+kitties]

to you for getting her in!! Your patience, attentiveness and love are exactly what this little lady needed. Most people would have given up by now. You are a champ!
It gives people who are going through similar circumstanses hope that eventually their kitties will come around. Good job!!!
She is the sweetest looking mullet wearer that I have ever seen! Even beats Billy Ray in his good ol' days!

[wdawson]

ah poor kitty....a bad hair day

[TeriM]

Woohoo, that is great news .

[cpietra16]

Tigger and her brother Charlie came up to the kitchen to eat salmon. Tigger lets me pet her on her side, which a few months ago would have ended in a long visit to the hospital ...now she looks at me and lets me do it for a good 10 seconds....before I pull back a stump....everything in moderation I guess

[Love4himies]

That is terrific, finally, she realizes that life outside the basement isn't so bad

[ancientgirl]

I'm so happy to hear she's becoming more social and tolerant. I have to say the real hero here is Charlie. He's been such a good brother to her, not wanting to leave her alone, even at the cost of his own seclusion. That's incredibly sweet.

[cpietra16]

I'm not surprised...about Charlie being a big borther to her...if you remember catsnathchers posts..it was Charlie who always defended her and looked out for her when they were outside.

This is from the original thread
"You have to see how Charlie (black cat) protects Tiger. He runs in front of her everytime something "out of the ordinary happens" like a stranger in the driveway or a cat fight in the distance
Attached Images"
for original thread...
http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread....+winter&page=7

[ancientgirl]

What great pictures. It must be a big brother thing. When Maks hears Kiska meowing from downstairs, he runs down to comfort her and bring her upstairs.

I'm so happy you were able to keep both of them and that they are now able to start to enjoy life above the basement little by little.

I can't imagine separating siblings. I separated Oksana from her siblings, and I wish at the time I could have afforded to bring them home too. That's one of the reasons I wanted to keep Maks and Kiska together.

I think as the days and weeks pass, Tigger and Charlie will be just fine.

Charlie is a handsome kitty btw.

[cpietra16]

Ancient girl, Charlie is a sweetheart. If it weren't for Tigger's fears of humans Charlie would be sleeping on my bed right now...but I know where his loyalty is...with his sister, as it should be.

[ancientgirl]

Tigger has taken a big step, and I think before long Charlie might very well be sleeping on your bed.

But yes, his loyalty should be with his little sis. More proof that yes, they can love and they have feelings just like we do.