We didn't think we had adopted a long haired cat but we did...

It doesn't happen often but sometimes Dexy gets poo stuck in his voluptuous 'plus fours'. Today being the worst, so far.

I have baby wipes (non scented) but these didn't really work. I had to resort to the bath with a tiny amount of lukewarm water. It took two of us to keep him in the dry end of the bath while I splashed and washed his rear end. Not the greatest morning for all of us.

So, can anybody give any tips to get Dexy happier about having a wash? If I'd known he was going to be this long haired, I'd have started bathing earlier but he is 10 months now.

Oh my! I have never had a long haired cat - but can just imagine the challenge. Can you not click him? Seriously - you cannot spend the next xxxx years washing poo off your cat.

Hopefully others here will have better suggestions, but I would ring my local pet clipping service to see what they say about cats.

haha....believe me, the thought of giving him a number 1 cut all over has crossed my mind

I've never had a long haired cat before either so I'm hoping for some help. Clipping his rear end might be the answer, though.

I give Lola a careful trim with scissors when she's sleepy. It takes a few attempts over a few evenings as she wakes up and I don't want to risk cutting her. Clippers is the way to go if your cat tolerates it and you can afford it - Lola needs sedated and I can't afford a £100 bill everytime she gets matted.

Thank you. I can afford it but £100 is a ridiculous amount to pay for something like that. Dexy is going to have to put up with some home hairdressing!

Will he let you brush it out?

I have a long haired cat, and I have two brushes. One is just for getting the knots out, the other is for his bum area so I can brush it. By the time he comes inside it's usually dried, so on the occasions I've had to give him a brush because of poo, it's just come out on the brush.

I know, I wasn't expecting that! They did do a dental while she was under mind you. Lola will only let you brush her back, sides and around her head. Unfortunately it's the armpits, tummy and pantaloons that get matted most because they get dirtier and catch bits of leaves etc.

We had a short haired cat that had that problem and it may have been caused by it's mother abandoning it early in it's life so "Biscuit" was never taught some of the things a mother teaches her young. I wish I could help but we lived with the problem and I had the job of being the rear door cleaner.

i was going to get a maine coon but i think i`ll go for a sphinx instead.

it`s a great name for a biography.

Cat's poo is normally solid and shouldn't really stick to the fur. What do you feed him on, and is his poo rather soft? Avoid liver (it causes bum problems and can actually be dangerous) and make sure his poo is not loose.

I'll never have another long haired cat. Everything sticks! Wee leaves, twigs and sticky willy season is a nightmare! Lola gets hundreds of the wee round burrs in her fur.

Our Maine Coon Henry gets a bum shave at his 6 monthly check ups. The nurse does it with clippers and it takes about 30 seconds although sometimes they are a bit over zealous and ha comes away with a big peach fuzz style around his bum.

Way better than the alternative as he drags his bum leaving trails of poo (hardwood floors thankfully). It has only happened a handful of times in 6 years but it is rank!!

I didn't know about liver. That's interesting.

I suspect litter is part of problem. If they poo onto hard stuff it'll bounce back?

I have 2 raggies. Mr Fluffington only had a problemski once (diarrhoea), but Mrs Fluffington used to get bum nuts when she was younger. Female raggies are smaller and I suspect her wee dumpy legs had something to do with it (not as far to bounce back). Just a theory!

I wish I'd spent more time combing them when they were kittens (didnt need it then IMO), but I think it's a good idea to get them used to getting their arse (in particular) combed when they are young.

I've noticed that combing them with a plastic comb really helps them look after their own coat. So their coat is much cleaner when it's combed, not just tidy.

I took in fluffy 14 months ago. She was so badly matted too shes a long hair tabby. At the time i didnt know if it was a she or he until she went into heat . We shaved most of it off ourselves but there was bits that couldnt be got off. I got her speyed and they shaved her for free. I was quoted £100 with out a spey at one vets. I shaved her matts off last year but she hasnt had any for at least 9 months now. Its sounds awful when we do it. You have too scruff her and pin her down and after that she is allright. She always gets a treat afterwards. She now cleans herself better.
Have you tried the wipes made for animals or instead of putting in the bath wet a flannel or cloth and do it that way. I can bath some of my cats if nescessary

Yes he will let me brush and comb him, even around his bum. Unfortunately it wasn't dried poo on this occasion.

Rear door cleaner....I like that description!

Normally it's not soft. He is on Royal Canin dried kitten food and he gets poached white fish as a treat in the evening. Only about a tablespoon. No idea why he was a bit loose the other day.

Are the pet wipes different from baby wipes? He hasn't had any matts around his bum yet but he does get them in his mane. He is very good at letting me tease them out.

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I had a similar problem with my two long haired kittens who are now 7 and a half months old. I found the pet wipes weren't efficient and no way was i going to attempt to bath them!
So I phoned the vet for advice and got an appointment with the vet nurse. She clipped the furriest one which cost me under £10. She looks so much neater now and there is no longer a poo problem!