Sheldon reminds me of a teenager who snuck out to a party, got drunk for the first time, and finally came home and spent the next two days regretting their life choices with a massive hangover.
@@kyliewalker6647 Did you not even listen? He escaped the house and was missing for several days. I didn’t say anything about him being obese. Calm tf down.
I was once asked to foster a 18+yo Persian, found in a box on the garbage dump. He was shaved, besides his head and the vet cs were amazed he even survived that. He was very skinny and feeble, and very senior. It turned out he was also completely incontinent. I gave him a dishwashing tub with towels, a warm water bag and a little blanket, and changed that every time he told me he had a little accident. I would either wash his little toosh or bathe him and he was always really content to be in warm water. He was so grateful. I was able to hospice him for 10 weeks. He even started walking around the block once in a while. I had to leave him with a sitter for a weekend, and that was when he chose to depart. She was quite upset but there wouldn't have been anything she could have done better than she did. Old Will won't ever be forgotten. He was quite the character.
Thank you for giving him love and care in the end 💜 Persians and their close cousins Himalayans all have quite the character, the expressions I get from cleaning up their backends (my one is a senior with mobility issues so this is fairly frequently) make it clear they do not appreciate this invasion of privacy 😂 but also that they appreciate the help. They always seem so confuddled with existence and life, I love them so much.
Reminds me of when I was the go-to catsitter of the neighbourhood before I moved away. One time, I was caring for an elderly black cat with suspected dementia. And that week I just had this feeling she wasn’t going to stay around. A few days in, she passed away. Her owners were actually surprised by it, which in turn surprised me, to be honest. She really had an air about her, that she was already leaving… And this was actually the first time I was ever around for the death of a cat, so it’s not like I could have known/recognised the signs from a previous time. Another interesting thing is that I had called her owners right before she passed, because I had found her in one of the dogbeds, uninterested in eating and refusing to move. I called her owners because I knew this was no good. Before her owners could decide whether they were going to come back early etc she passed away and the phoneline and all connections in the house cut off. She took the system with her, silly Sara…
Two emergency grooms at the clinic I worked at will always stick with me. First one was an old girl quite literally ditched on a neighbour as the owners moved away. About 17 years old, probably never groomed in her life. Poor girl was so scared and exhausted, she just allowed me to shave off two football-sized mats that were hanging off her back, clean up her filthy bottom and made her as comfortable as possible without sedating her. Was a functional shave, not a fashionable one. Saw her again a month later for a check up and she was doing so well! Whole new, albeit old, cat. Second was a ridiculously pretty dilute calico show Persian. This girl's parents absolutely doted on her! Brushed and combed every day, bathed every week. She was gorgeous beyond reasoning. Family went on holiday with explicit instruction to the sitter....which they promptly ignored. Parents come back and immediately rush her into the clinic because she was so unbelievably matted. Her bottom had such terrible fecal mats, it actually prevented her from physically being able to poop. Cat was traumatized, quite ill, uncomfortable and given a hideous but necessary clip. It ruined her for the show ring, she was just too scared of strangers after that sitter to be handled the way she need to be in shows. Her coat took so long to recover from that.
As a professional pet sitter I'm disgusted someone did that to that cat. I specialize in cats. That has me seething to take on a client and literally allow that to happen to a defenseless creature.
Did the second family sue the sitter? Not only did they lose on a "business" opportunity, but what the sitter did is animal cruelty. Poor cat and poor family, at least I see that they really did care about their cat if they rushed her to emergency.
@@MoonSt0n3 I came here to say the same thing and I don't even like my cat that much. (She is loved, just a little brat. I have stories, let me tell you)
it's literally so funny to me that once the cat started feeling better, he started complaining so much 😭😭😭😭 cats are always like that, they're adorable
100% he knew he was getting much needed help. I wonder how much stress is from being unable to communicate appreciation, except in the form of docility.
@omy319 I had a white Persian cat who was 24 when she passed. Her name was Sheba, and her previous owner had her as a showcat, and dumped her at the pound when she was too old to show. That's a terrible thing to do to an animal. Poor baby.
I cant even imagine how uncomfortable especially the first mat was to get shaved! He definitely realized right away he was being helped, probably because he was familiar with the process of grooming already
@@ssr8555 I think this is true.But also, I say this from fifty years with persians, he was literally scared shitless, clearly visible. Some persians seem so calm,but simply are too scared when they see no real chance to escape a potentially frightening situation.Persians often think first instead of clawing and biting.They tend to be reasonable.And that is often bad for them, because dumb or raw humans cannot "Read" them. But if one time really unleashed, beware.... My sweet Silverkitty scared big stray tomcats up garages and trees,ripped their fur and they dared not to come down as long as she was in sight.What was their crime ? They try to look at her beloved little princess,12 week old silver Kitten. Some called her "Silver Lightning",she was fast as Supergirl.Never lost a fight.A lioness of a mother. But this were the "oldfashioned" Persians,not so inbred, or lets say maimed if one looks at their noses.This should be illegal.
Poor Sheldon. I'm glad he got home safe and sound, and I was SHOCKED at how well-behaved he was for the whole groom, even counting the tantrum in the bath. What a good cat, I'm sure his owners are very happy to have him home again.
We've all reached that point of just being done. Frankly, he was better behaved than some two-legged adults! Way to go, Vanessa. Excellent job - he looks so much more comfortable.
He kinda seemed a bit traumatized by his trip out. Some cats just get out by mistake and panic. They get lost and skittish and eventually get hungry enough that they risk asking a strange human for help. Best thing you can do for that cat is take them somewhere their humans can reclaim them, or they become street cats and beggars who fight over territory for food and start spreading diseases to other lost cats. Outdoor cats are at huge risk of these same things and should be kept contained for their and others safety. Catios are growing popular for this reason! I'm glad Sheldon made it back safe, because my grandmas cat did not. Someone started feeding him a could blocks down and he never made it home. We eventually found him when he was hit by a car. If those same people had taken him somewhere they could have read his chip and possibly even found our missing cat papers taped around. Most 'strays' aren't stray, they have a family and are missed.
Poor kitty, i had a persian walk into my house after a neighbor didnt want to deal with him anymore after ~6 years and JUST LET HIM OUT. He looked a lot like this at first, but let me shave and bathe him with only sad mrowls as protest and looked so cute wrapped up like a towel burrito. He instantly claimed me as his person and was the sweetest, most funny and social cat ever, came to his name, always sneezed adorably in my face, liked to poop in the tub, and inspired 3 of my friends to all get their own persian cats from rescues just because of how fucking cool he was. He was my best bud for 12 years and i miss him all the time, thanks for the joy, Oy.
He sounds like he was a great cat, I’m sorry you had to lose him. Do you have any interesting/funny stories about him? (if you’re comfortable with the subject ofc)
@Sandwich_People thank you for the condolences. He was the best cat I've ever met and I'm sure there's absolutely no bias in that statement lol. Well the first night I met him he came out of the fog with his big yellow eyes and I could barely see him with his all black fur, my mom goes what the heck is that thing? I said "no way ive always wanted a one of these cats! He looks like he ran into a wall really fast" I went inside to get some food and he just followed me in and started meowing at me in the weirdest way I've ever hear, a very clear slightly raspy "reaahr," anyways i gave him a tiny piece of cheese and we were instant buds, and anytime I had cheese after that he'd try to steal and it succeeded more than a few times lol. Sorry for ranting a bit, but thanks for asking. It was nice to reminisce :)
I like how, even though the pooping in the bathtub was probably annoying, you mentioned it right along with the good stuff; shows you really care about him :). Also ✨mrowl✨
When my cat makes messes outside of the litter box she hides in my shower. I don't love cleaning them up from in there but it's not carpeted and by its nature is easy to clean so I've never told her off. That and she only does it when something upsets her or her litter box hasn't been emptied fast enough.
@@tootiredforthis1omg you were blessed with your neighbor’s unwanted Persian that story I’ve never heard what a mean fool to just evict the sweet angel but as they say his loss as it sounds you ended up with amazing treasured moments with Oy❤
Persians, like Pugs, have absolutely wonderful personalities... I just wish the breeders would all get together and decide to change the breed description to exclude super-pushed-in faces, and to encourage longer faces for better breed health!
My first thought. I hate to see the dogs and cats like this. It is not comfortable for them and very often becomes a health issue. Pugs, for instance, are great dogs, but the difference between one 100 years ago and now, is almost unrecognizable.
Couldn't put it in better words. It makes me mad to see such kitties and i always lack better politer words. I understand the love for their personalities and maybe some amount of face structure, but this feels way beyond acceptable things to do to an animal.
I think persians used to have normal faces so they should just go back to the way they were originally. People should stop breeding for defective qualities period.
There are some breeders who breed doll-faced Persians. They have a short nose but not completely brachycephalic, so they can still breathe normally, and they look a hell of a lot better than the regular Persians. There's a popular Instagram cat, Percy the Persian, who's from a doll-faced lineage.
When you gave him those pets after removing the huge mat i started to tear up!! From being scrunched and scared to expanding to a floppy furry baby, He looked so relieved ❤️ You're doing amazing things, thank you for what you do.
Uff yes that moment touched my heart too. How he was so resignated and wweak and tired before, and when the heavy mat was off and she touched him, he stretched his back so high, so relieved, that was emotional for me xd
it was for sure given something I dont care how well behaved ur cat is there is difference between well behaved and acting zoned out or almost to slow like its lethargic.@@becky931
Oh my god that is one depressed and defeated-looking cat at the beginning. That time in the wild must have really broken his spirit. A persian, above any other breed, would have an exceptionally terrible time as a stray. I really love how, during the shave, you could mistake him for a plush, he was so docile! Then when you put him in the bath his personality immedoately came out with a vengeance. Thank you for leaving a spot open for situations like Sheldon's!
In my experience, when cats realize they really NEED to be bathed/groomed, they will often put up with more than they ever would under normal conditions.
@@Tim85-y2q Fair enough. I don't think I've ever bathed my cats without them very much needing it. Most recent example; my shorthaired boy cat got into the trash and got tangled up in fly tape. After I got the tape off of him, he was covered in glue. I had to bathe him multiple times to get it out! He did that "woe is me" yowl the whole time. Luckily, he's a very well-behaved kitty and mostly put up with it. My longhaired girl cat gets her poo stuck in her fur from time to time and I need to bathe her back end. She does that yowl and struggles, but doesn't try to scratch or bite. They mostly stick to the yowling and struggling.
I knew longhairs involved more work but your cat videos have really enlightened me on how much more work is needed from their humans. I have always loved longhairs and have much respect for them and their managers - but luckily I got adopted as a cat daddy by a shorthair family.
I grew up with Persians in the 1950’s and their faces were not pushed in. As much as they are now. They loved being brushed which my mother did every day. One was white and the other red and white. They were very sociable and the white, Snowy, spent so much time sleeping on the second floor of our dollhouse that my dad had to reinforce it! He was a big cat. Thanks for everything you do to help cats and dogs.
I did an emergency groom on a Persian mix that was an indoor only cat then her owners moved suddenly leaving her outside. She was 4 and had never been outside before. The only reason the neighbors were able to catch her was because she eventually matted up so much, she could no longer move her legs. That was a thick rock hard, disgusting mat. She was such a sweetheart after I got everything off.
Poor thing. She deserved better than to be left behind like that. We moved to Houston, but our family pets went first with my mommy and my aunt. They got to our new home first. Me and my siblings stayed at our Grandma’s house for a week before we flew down, after the family pets went down there.
@@KimJongUnnieso are these ones. There's no way in hell this Persian got that matted just from being outside for a little bit. It looks identical in Madden to a kitten that I adopted from someone who hadn't combed it once in 7 months.
@@ferretocious vanessa indicated that the cat was outside for maybe about a week, which is definitely a lot of time for a long-haired cat that can't groom itself to get in pretty rough condition. also, the fact that the owners immediately went out of their was to schedule a groom rather than leaving him in that condition, since he's clearly still mobile, or simply giving up on finding him says a lot about how much they care to ease his discomfort. the point is, it's easy to pull very different conclusions from a single video, and we can't ever fully know what's truly going on or what the family's situation may be. all we can do is be relieved that the animal is receiving care in that moment and hope for the best.
Haha, my exact thought. He probably thought "So I went AWOL and now my family has sent me to the US Marines, so here comes the high and tight haircut before boot camp" in a state of absolute resignation. I hope he was happily surprised when returned to his family in way better condition than before.
For the dire condition Sheldon was in his behaviour was phenomenal! And of course Vanessa worked yet another miracle! So happy poor Sheldon was rid of all that mess!
@@sharonbrown6595it appears that Persian Cats are bred to be completely dependent on human care to live. Problems with being able to groom themselves or even breathe easily seems a terrible thing to me.
Sheldon appears to have hidden under something that added to his terrible matting on his back and head. If his owners hadn’t found him and an outstanding, loving groomer he would have died of it.
@@wandapease-gi8yoit seems really messed up that people bred these card to be so utterly incapable of caring for themselves. Is it even possible for a Persian cat to survive in the wild? It's such a cruelty.
They definitely do. Had to help out an elderly relative with their cat. They were doing her best with the cat but kitty was spicy and relative wasn't fast and scared of her. So I had to remove her matting. It was a process for sure... But eventually she learned to put up with it, and actually presented herself to be brushed and checked for mats, as much as she hated it and tried to kill me lmao.
that poor kitty, his whole demeanor just screams 'im miserable but i know this human is helping me so ill just lay here and take it' im guesing he must have gotten wet while he was escaped. maybe it rained on him. harrowing experience for a cat. glad to hear you keep emergency spots available. even as much as i have watched both channels its still incredible the love and compassion you have for animals every time ♥
@@kyliewalker6647 she actually does MANY of her grooms FREE. She's about helping the animals and owners, not just about getting paid. Not everyone is like you ❤
Sheldon is amazing, he reminds me so much of my old boy Rusty. He left this world a few weeks before Christmas in 2019 but the memories were great. He was a menace of a kitten to my parents, very spicy boy then after my little brother was born he became his guardian. He lived up to 14 and loved sitting with dad watching Doctor Who, bolting in at the theme. Seeing Sheldon was like seeing Rusty again.
@@dovie2blue while im no professional and know very little about pet grooming i have noticed that whenever ppl deal with matting they never start with shears. i think its cause shears wont actually work on the matting. notice how she doesnt even try to go through the matting but around it, cant really do that with shears without greater risk.
This is so sad. Your patience and sweet kindness toward this poor cat is to be sincerely commended. I’m sure he felt much better when finished. I’ll bet he took a long nap when he got home.
Sheldon was a real trooper! He deserves 10000 cat treats! My old Himalayan, Remy, used to love having his face washed! I'd say, "OK, pal. Face wash time." He'd run in front of me into the bathroom, jump up on the vanity and assume the position. "Ready, Dad!" He had really oozy eyes and I think the wash cloth and warm water were heavenly for him. I miss him.
My little baby, too. She will smash her cute little face into it. We have to do it a couple times a day and she just LOVES it. I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you had each other in your lives ❤️
Look at that chill face he is so darn cute... and he was such a good boy! 🎉 I would be afraid to put that hoodie thing around their neck and mouth like that especially with this breed. What is the purpose for the happy hoodie?
That poor kitty looked totally defeated at the start of the groom, he was a real trooper for enduring all that. Thank you for making his life a lot more comfortable. ❤❤
Over-breeding breaks my heart. The animal suffers, yet the demand used to be high for a 'couture' pet. You end up with dogs that can't walk, and cats that can't breathe.
@@reptoidfancy666 :It is not from overbreeding. It is from breeding to please the cat show judges. This is a Persian from show lines. The same happens with dog breeds. The judges want them "Too typey', which ends up being a caricature of the original breed, and it mocks the breed standard.
@@georgeshackelford5111 overbreeding and inbreeding is what ruined fancy goldfish for me. I will admit I didn't help the problem because I was breeding blue egg phoenix's. It took years of noticing that my fancy goldfish developed so many health problems and died so young compared to my standard comets that my dad and I kept together that were all over a decade old, over a foot long and happily swimming / living in our 400G tank, and finally having to cull more than half of the fish that my breeding pair produced because of deformations and health concerns but I clued in that what I was doing wasn't right. I stopped breeding those fish and I stopped buying the fancies. As for dogs I wont go to a breeder that goes for show dogs. Are my goldens perfect examples of their breed? no but they are healthy and perfect to me.
His body language looked almost lethargic to me... with all that matting, I can easily imagine that moving around was uncomfortable for him, if not outright painful. He must have been so relieved when it was all gone!
The best part was when Vanessa took off that back mat and how Sheldon just stretched with pleasure when she scratched him. I've also got the "Soft Kitty" song stuck in my head now.😅
It's such a blessing when groomers do that. We have a lady in the cat rescue I halp with that grooms. She does this and it's been so helpful with some of the strays we get.
I really appreciate that you speak to most of the pets you're working on as though they're patients in a hospital. Telling them everything you're going to do, and doing, in a calm manner. Maybe they don't understand anything besides the tone, but it's just.. really nice and loving of you.
@@BorksmithandTheBeefsame with kids as well If they get a cut and your like ‘its fine’ they’ll be fine If you freak out and rush around to get bandages or something they’re gonna be screaming and crying
agree. Got a kitten a couple of years ago and she was in a similar shape. An emergency shave was the best option but she didn't mind at all. She was so happy afterwards. Now we keep things in check with a combing once a week and daily soft brushing.
I remember when I was young, we had a Norwegian Forrest cat, and my mum didn’t brush it. It was like a turtle, a whole shell all over. So I sat down with scissors and started cutting it away. Took me so many days to get most of it off. Thankfully our cat was very well behaved and just laid down and chilled. But fuuuuuck me I felt so bad for it. And no, I couldn’t afford clippers nor going to a groomer as I was a child, and did the best I could 😢
@@SupportMensMentalHealth I did it with nail scissors :) the normal scissors wasn’t pointy and sharp enough to get close to the skin without cutting the skin 🙊
Your cat probably was extremely grateful that someone cared enough for him to sit down and just attempt to care for him and get rid of the matting. It doesn’t matter how you managed it, only that you did it.
My friend's Persian was lost for like 3 or 4 days and came back absolutely a mess. She found out that none of the groomers in our area will take cats at all. I think she had to have a friend help shave him down. She does a great job of keeping him brushed at home thankfully.
It is incredibly stressful for a cat to get groomed. The noice of the clippers is scary, the blow dryer is terrifying, the bath feels like drowning is close at hand. So the usual thing that people do in these circumstances is to take the cat to the vet and have the cat shaved under anaesthesia.
@@carol_english Yeah she was asking me about things she could do because if he gets a mat, he gets really stressed when she tries to get rid of it. I said you can try getting a script for gabapentin and see if it calms him enough at home, or just go get him shaved at the vet with anesthesia.
@@carol_english it depends on the cat’s health. most of the time if their matting is that severe they probably aren’t healthy enough to wake up from being sedated. so no it’s usually not a good idea, and that’s mostly why vets refuse to do it.
You really are incredible. That poor darling man didn’t realise that the brief foray into the wild would end so terribly for him. Thanks for helping such a beautiful boy.
As a former persian owner who groomed cats daily I was horrified by the condition of that cat. There is no way that degree of matting occurred in just a week or two from having escaped home. But wow, your care, empathy and way with him to get it sorted was amazing to watch. Thank you for taking care of him.
Was going to say the same thing. One week will not get their hair matted to that amount. They need to take their cat to a groomer at least once every couple months, honestly. I had a cat that wouldn't groom himself and I shaved him myself, and he was the sweetest boy. It's not that hard taking care of your pet.
I have dogs come into the shop I work at and owners try and use any/every excuse for why their dogs is so atrociously matted. It angers me to no end how neglectful some individuals can be towards their pets
I’m no expert, but if it was years of matting, wouldn’t he have been scared of the shave? He was stressed, but incredibly tolerant of being groomed for the most part, leading me to believe it wasn’t that long since someone groomed him. Am I off base here?
I never thought a cat grooming video would be such a harrowing drama. The sadness, the hope, the bout with bath time, the exhilaration. I give it 2 thumbs up.
Poor boy. I cared for two Persians. They could start to mat in DAYS. They learned to enjoy the brush. Especially after they learned it didn't have to pull.
No idea what the commenter thought they read, the comment referred to getting the cats to like being brushed, and said matting could happen in days, which to me referred to brushing daily.
Oh my goodness, as a lifelong Persian caregiver, this level of matting is quite severe and wouldn’t happen in just a week - depending on how cottony the coat is, this is weeks if not months of neglecting coat care.
Her: "I don't really care what it looks like in the end here" The end result: does the absolute most detail, looking absolutely amazing and a brand new cat 😂 Great job as always 🎉
As someone who had severely matted hair at one point (curly hair combined with depression and aversion to showers), i can tell you Sheldon was RELIEVED to be rid of all those mats!
@@kwpp7 depression combined with a noise sensitivity. And the fact that i have to take cold showers because hot showers will have me sneezing for the rest of the day.
"Nope, you're not going anywhere. Sorry about your life" xD This made me crack up. Poor kitty must have felt a billion times better after the groom. Thank you Vanessa for all that you do for the furry creatures and educating us humans on how to take care of them better.
I have one, C.C. (Cindy Clawford). She's as high maintenance as her name implies. If I didn't brush her daily she would be just as matted in no time. The matting happens more quickly than you might think. These kitties definitely require routine brushing and a long-term commitment.
My grandmother had a long hair cat who wasn't a breed, but she was very unpredictable about being touched in any way. My grandma ended up with severe scratches on occasion. "Fluffy" had to be shaved about once a year. 😏
I am SO happy that people are breeding less and less flatfaced Persian cats. I got a rather long nosed persian myself and he's the healthiest of all my cats (Maine Coon, 2 Persians, Sphinx).
That poor cat! You did an awesome job with him. He reminds me of a cat that showed up at my house. Her mom was moving and she somehow ended up in someone's car and was taken a few cities over. While she was going crazy trying to find her cat i was furious that someone would dump a Persian. Thankfully i was able to contact a Persian rescue in yet another city and their vet found her chip so her owner was contacted and probably broke the sound barrier driving from San Jose to Sacramento just days before the move to San Diego which had been delayed because she was looking for her baby fearing the cat might be hiding in furniture in storage. So very very happy it all came together and they were reunited.
That’s FAST big able to break the sound barrier while driving considering Bay Area traffic! 😂 That’s a very happy ending story! You’re very kind to take the cat in & take time to search for the owner. I’m sure the owner is forever grateful. 🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼
That poor cat. Any breeder producing cats with characteristics that mean they can't look after themselves should be ashamed of themselves. I'm glad you were able to give him some help.
Thirty years ago Persian standard was a round head and face with a shorter nose, but not anything like this. You could find that there was such a thing as a "Peke-faced Persian" which apparently is now what everyone thinks of as a Persian. Old-style Persians still need brushing daily but they could groom themselves.
Sadly, for the last several decades the Cat Fancier Association has pushed for more and more "peek" for the Persian face causing the terrible respiratory systems as well as the loss of their ability to groom. Thankfully, the "doll face" Persian and Himalayan breeds are coming back into style and the CFA is no longer pushing for the peek face.
@@bigredc222 Yes! The munchkin "breed" is so horrible for the poor babies. Most end up with severe dysplasia and then live out their lives in pain. What really crumbles my Temptations are people who see a "cool" cat and rush to a breeder having done absolutely no research whatsoever. (this goes for dogs, too.) Had a friend, had being the operative word, who had never been a guardian to a cat. She saw the Bengal cats and immediately had to have one. She was "talked into" buying 2 F1 males. I tried to tell her to not do it, to get a sweet kennel kitty, but she had to have those Bengals. Of course, she couldn't handle them and would punish them (hence the "had a friend") and took them to the vet for euthanasia. Luckily the Vet refused and basically took the cats away from the dingbat. The vet took the cats to a rescue similar to Big Cat Rescue where I'm told they're living the high life. Do your research!!!
based on what she said it seems like he normally gets groomed on a fairly regular basis so he’s probably used to it. still matting this severe is smth most cats would still be stressed out by so he’s a very good kitty in this
There is no way that was just 1 week outside! I’m in agreement with some others on here, not sure you got the whole story from his owners. But so grateful you were able to help Sheldon!!!
yes, it will be! Cats fur is so fine and they like to go under and through things like bushes and ground works. I had a friend with a long haired cat which went outdoors and if she didnt brush it every day it would get the most awful mats in its fur - and it was capable of grooming itself with other cats who joined in!
The thing that makes me the most suspicious is that his fur is generally very clean, even in the mats. I have a long haired kitty who goes outside and she brings in ALL kinds of dirt and debris on her fur. If this guy had gotten matted from being outside he should have had a lot of dirt included in those mats.
You'd be surprised. I have domestic long-hairs who are indoor only, and if you aren't diligent in brushing them as regularly as they'll allow, they're going to get mats. Sometimes you can stop the matting, and sometimes you can't. I get chunks shaved out of them routinely. Sometimes giving them a bath (when they need it) can make the matting accelerate by a crazy amount. A Persian getting wet in the rain will do that for sure.
One of our cats, not a Persian, but very long haired & unable to groom herself due to various reasons from before we got her, will get THE most incredible mats sometimes even only over a couple days. When my late husband was sick she had to be sedated by the vet then shaved. (She would’ve taken my face off if I even tried!). I now wear my husband’s Kevlar oven mitts & groom her quickly each morning even though she HATES it. Just a few seconds prevents the matting. We BOTH hate doing this but better than risk sedating her at her age. It took only a few days for her to develop matts that weren’t as terrible as this but were very bad :(.
@Vocalinds I mean, it isn't like the owners took him right from outside to the groomer. It is possible the owners did bathe him if he was severely dirty to avoid dirtying the home, and got out most of the dirt at that point.
My second cat, Tigah, was a rescue that was about to be put down but I said 'No'..he was sedated and groomer was ill so Vet assistant snd I shaved him down. He was the most loving and well behaved cat..he had a tear drop marking on his nose..since he died I dream of him often. They are amazing animals.
I'm definitely more of a dog person, but this groom was absolutely heartbreaking. He was so good for you despite his condition. He had to feel better and showed it. Thanks for doing this service. You're amazing.
@@soundspark It's something we're constantly working on. If we're petting her and she starts mouthing/biting we immediately give her one of her toys or her blanket instead. She's starting to figure it out, but still has her days. She's still a puppy and we've had dogs before, so it's expected
@@soundspark She's not aggressive, thank God. Most of her teeth are in but she has some back ones that aren't fully out. Whenever I'm out for a walk with her, she just goes right up to people and wants to say hi and be stroked
My little kitty got out about a year ago--she came out to see me, got spooked by a loud noise and took off. She was gone one day and then I found her under the next door neighbor's car, meowing at me. One day, and she was sticky and smelled like car all over. I called 15 groomers in my area--no one had any emergency appointments for cats. Dogs galore, but nothing for cats. I ended up taking her upstairs, bathing her twice and rinsing her three times. It was hell, but I got it all off and she was happier after. Since then, I have made sure that if I leave the door open for anything, I put her in a room for a few minutes. Poor Lilah kitty!
My family growing up had a mean old tom cat that fell into a catch basin full of dirty oil in our neighbor's garage. He didn't get too much oil on his head but he was covered everywhere else and of course couldn't clean himself. He was always spicy but he was in such a bad predicament that he allowed my mom to bath him multiple times until the dirty oil was all removed. After that he never ventured back to the neighbor's garage and he remained his spicy self for many more years! 🐱
There was Hell Toupee!! And I completely agree worth others, that kitten is a saint. What a beautiful temperament. Also, Sheldon! Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur...
. . . Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr. Poor baby! He began with such a repentant look on his face! He’s so precious, and you are a miracle worker.
I’ve had 4 Persians over time and they are affectionate, sweet cats. Considering how bad the matting was, Sheldon behaved very well. I had a Himalayan kitty get out the front door, and we never found him. I’m glad Sheldon was able to get back home.
At the moment, my husband and I are fostering a flat faced Persian named Smushy. He was found on the streets in Baltimore not only injured, but severely matted. The rescue gave him a shave, treated his injuries and he was placed with us for recovery. He...definitely is not great at self grooming past his paws but he's super tolerant of brushing and being bathed! We suspect that much like Sheldon, he was an escapee but sadly no one has shown up to claim him.
"Vanessa: You're not going anywhere I'm sorry for your life... Sheldon: Woeeee! Woeeee! Ahhhh! Ahhhhhhh!" He's such a good boy. Poor thing had quite the misadventure. You did an amazing job!
Sheldon is rethinking his life choices after escaping the house 😉 What a sweet boy ❤ You are so amazing with these animals and I strive to have as much patience and compassion as you have 🤗🤗
Oh Sheldon, what were you thinking! You left a nice warm safe home to spend a week in.... a cyclone? a bog? The ninth circle of Hell? I don't know, but I'm glad he's home! Great job with his groom Vanessa! He's so pitiful in the bath 🥺 Vanessa saying "I know, I know... Next time don't escape your house" to Sheldon's squished up angry face just did me in! 😭
Once you got the back matting removed and he could feel being scratched without it pulling he stopped hunching up as much and seemed more relaxed. Even the bath wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated it being It was easy to see how much better he felt at the end of his groom. Your kindness and expertise triumphed once again. Lucky Sheldon.
The huge amount of matting on his back almost looks like a turtle shell, with how it was all one congealed mass. Poor sweet cat suffering with the mats due to his escapade outside for a week. Thank you so much for taking the time on your day off to help this cat out! Obviously you can't work 24/7 however it's wonderful that you were able to come in for this client and help him feel a thousand times better.
@@jydeinden Vanessa slipped in the audio and said he'd been out for a week and the corrected herself with "or however long." I don't think she knows how long he was out. He "didn't see a brush" b/c he was escaped, nevertheless.
That cat deserves a medal!!!! He was SOOOOO good for SOOOO long!!! Bless his poor little cotton paws!!!! Bravo for working so quickly, smoothly & efficiently with him. You truly are impressive. I have SO much respect for you!! ❤❤❤
In between all my “aww, baby’s” and “poor Sheldon’s” I giggled a bit when you first put him in the tub. With his paws and the happy hoodie on, he looked like a little sloth. I’m glad he’s feeling better.
So glad that you commented on the problems these cats have re self-grooming. Of course, the long term solution is responsible breeding to return to the original body type, which had a normal face… Thank you for sharing your experiences on line.😊
What a good baby! That poor thing! That first hunk of pelt was insane. He HAD to have known you were helping him and it must have felt worlds better afterwards. You’re a hero!
that matt that came off his back literally looked like a rug or something! The poor kitty! I'm so proud of you for helping him out! I cried when I saw how much happier he got as you shaved him. I'm so greatful you helped him out and I think he was as well.
As a cat lover, this groom was so saticfying to watch. You did such a wonderful job with him and the mess he was in. I'm sure he will be feeling so much better now .Thank you for what you do !
poor sweet Sheldon! He seems so deflated and defeated. You can tell that he knows that you're helping him and knows he'll feel better soon. Such a sweet little furball!
Sheldon reminds me of a teenager who snuck out to a party, got drunk for the first time, and finally came home and spent the next two days regretting their life choices with a massive hangover.
AND is so grateful after all.
I did that once, 36 years ago. 😂
Like the prodigal son
If ykyk
Sheldon did not do this to himself, he's OBESE and he has not been groomed in months, that's NEGLECT. There's nothing funny about animal abuse.
@@kyliewalker6647 Did you not even listen? He escaped the house and was missing for several days. I didn’t say anything about him being obese. Calm tf down.
him in the happy hoodie is like a depressed tube sock 😭
Spot on.. no happy socks in this area 😂 but still so sweet for the grooming session ❤
I was once asked to foster a 18+yo Persian, found in a box on the garbage dump. He was shaved, besides his head and the vet cs were amazed he even survived that. He was very skinny and feeble, and very senior. It turned out he was also completely incontinent. I gave him a dishwashing tub with towels, a warm water bag and a little blanket, and changed that every time he told me he had a little accident. I would either wash his little toosh or bathe him and he was always really content to be in warm water. He was so grateful. I was able to hospice him for 10 weeks. He even started walking around the block once in a while. I had to leave him with a sitter for a weekend, and that was when he chose to depart. She was quite upset but there wouldn't have been anything she could have done better than she did. Old Will won't ever be forgotten. He was quite the character.
There was another animal on the poor cat's back.
❤
Thank you for giving him love and care in the end 💜 Persians and their close cousins Himalayans all have quite the character, the expressions I get from cleaning up their backends (my one is a senior with mobility issues so this is fairly frequently) make it clear they do not appreciate this invasion of privacy 😂 but also that they appreciate the help. They always seem so confuddled with existence and life, I love them so much.
Thank you for making his last weeks better ❤
Reminds me of when I was the go-to catsitter of the neighbourhood before I moved away.
One time, I was caring for an elderly black cat with suspected dementia. And that week I just had this feeling she wasn’t going to stay around. A few days in, she passed away. Her owners were actually surprised by it, which in turn surprised me, to be honest. She really had an air about her, that she was already leaving… And this was actually the first time I was ever around for the death of a cat, so it’s not like I could have known/recognised the signs from a previous time.
Another interesting thing is that I had called her owners right before she passed, because I had found her in one of the dogbeds, uninterested in eating and refusing to move. I called her owners because I knew this was no good. Before her owners could decide whether they were going to come back early etc she passed away and the phoneline and all connections in the house cut off. She took the system with her, silly Sara…
Two emergency grooms at the clinic I worked at will always stick with me.
First one was an old girl quite literally ditched on a neighbour as the owners moved away. About 17 years old, probably never groomed in her life. Poor girl was so scared and exhausted, she just allowed me to shave off two football-sized mats that were hanging off her back, clean up her filthy bottom and made her as comfortable as possible without sedating her. Was a functional shave, not a fashionable one. Saw her again a month later for a check up and she was doing so well! Whole new, albeit old, cat.
Second was a ridiculously pretty dilute calico show Persian. This girl's parents absolutely doted on her! Brushed and combed every day, bathed every week. She was gorgeous beyond reasoning. Family went on holiday with explicit instruction to the sitter....which they promptly ignored. Parents come back and immediately rush her into the clinic because she was so unbelievably matted. Her bottom had such terrible fecal mats, it actually prevented her from physically being able to poop. Cat was traumatized, quite ill, uncomfortable and given a hideous but necessary clip. It ruined her for the show ring, she was just too scared of strangers after that sitter to be handled the way she need to be in shows. Her coat took so long to recover from that.
As a professional pet sitter I'm disgusted someone did that to that cat. I specialize in cats. That has me seething to take on a client and literally allow that to happen to a defenseless creature.
Did the second family sue the sitter? Not only did they lose on a "business" opportunity, but what the sitter did is animal cruelty.
Poor cat and poor family, at least I see that they really did care about their cat if they rushed her to emergency.
If someone did that to my cat they’d go missing
@@MoonSt0n3 I came here to say the same thing and I don't even like my cat that much. (She is loved, just a little brat. I have stories, let me tell you)
So bad she couldn't poop? Nah that's animal abuse I hope they took legal action against the sitter.
it's literally so funny to me that once the cat started feeling better, he started complaining so much 😭😭😭😭 cats are always like that, they're adorable
That's not exclusively a cat thing.
@@marietighe6328 🤓☝
@@marietighe6328 they didn’t say it was
“GRR I WANTED TO BE SAD”
Yeah they’re so dramatic! 😂
That cat was SO well behaved! He definitely KNOWS he's being helped. He's so laid back and calm. Such a good kitty!
100% he knew he was getting much needed help. I wonder how much stress is from being unable to communicate appreciation, except in the form of docility.
What a sweet boy. I miss my white Persian Mush. He used to get the lion cut too. They are wonderful cats.
@omy319 I had a white Persian cat who was 24 when she passed. Her name was Sheba, and her previous owner had her as a showcat, and dumped her at the pound when she was too old to show. That's a terrible thing to do to an animal. Poor baby.
I cant even imagine how uncomfortable especially the first mat was to get shaved! He definitely realized right away he was being helped, probably because he was familiar with the process of grooming already
@@ssr8555 I think this is true.But also, I say this from fifty years with persians, he was literally scared shitless, clearly visible. Some persians seem so calm,but simply are too scared when they see no real chance to escape a potentially frightening situation.Persians often think first instead of
clawing and biting.They tend to be reasonable.And that is often bad for them, because dumb or raw humans cannot "Read" them. But if
one time really unleashed, beware.... My sweet Silverkitty scared big stray tomcats up garages and trees,ripped their fur and they dared not to come down as long as she was in sight.What was their crime ? They try to look at her beloved little princess,12 week old silver Kitten.
Some called her "Silver Lightning",she was fast as Supergirl.Never lost a fight.A lioness of a mother. But this were the "oldfashioned" Persians,not so inbred, or lets say maimed if one looks at their noses.This should be illegal.
I was actually happy to see him getting more zesty during his bath. He looked just so tired and done during the shave.
I know right? He was just so resigned during the shave. Poor thing. I wonder what he really got up to lol
Right? I was worried he had been over medicated with some sort of chill pill.
@@barbibarnum whatever chill mode he has I need it in my life 😆 100%
I think he was freezing up as a coping mechanism.
@@lyrielswaine7466fr😂
Definitely a hangover situation. I certainly hope he had fun out there, and has learned from his cat-astrophic week away.
That pun though 😹
That degree of matting took WAY longer than a week!
Here for the puns
Poor Sheldon. I'm glad he got home safe and sound, and I was SHOCKED at how well-behaved he was for the whole groom, even counting the tantrum in the bath. What a good cat, I'm sure his owners are very happy to have him home again.
We've all reached that point of just being done. Frankly, he was better behaved than some two-legged adults! Way to go, Vanessa. Excellent job - he looks so much more comfortable.
He kinda seemed a bit traumatized by his trip out. Some cats just get out by mistake and panic. They get lost and skittish and eventually get hungry enough that they risk asking a strange human for help. Best thing you can do for that cat is take them somewhere their humans can reclaim them, or they become street cats and beggars who fight over territory for food and start spreading diseases to other lost cats.
Outdoor cats are at huge risk of these same things and should be kept contained for their and others safety. Catios are growing popular for this reason! I'm glad Sheldon made it back safe, because my grandmas cat did not. Someone started feeding him a could blocks down and he never made it home. We eventually found him when he was hit by a car. If those same people had taken him somewhere they could have read his chip and possibly even found our missing cat papers taped around. Most 'strays' aren't stray, they have a family and are missed.
What a good kitty. He knew she was just trying to help.
He seemed sedated, comatose - thankfully 😅
those homeless-days must have taught him a lesson or two 😂
Poor kitty, i had a persian walk into my house after a neighbor didnt want to deal with him anymore after ~6 years and JUST LET HIM OUT. He looked a lot like this at first, but let me shave and bathe him with only sad mrowls as protest and looked so cute wrapped up like a towel burrito. He instantly claimed me as his person and was the sweetest, most funny and social cat ever, came to his name, always sneezed adorably in my face, liked to poop in the tub, and inspired 3 of my friends to all get their own persian cats from rescues just because of how fucking cool he was. He was my best bud for 12 years and i miss him all the time, thanks for the joy, Oy.
He sounds like he was a great cat, I’m sorry you had to lose him. Do you have any interesting/funny stories about him? (if you’re comfortable with the subject ofc)
@Sandwich_People thank you for the condolences. He was the best cat I've ever met and I'm sure there's absolutely no bias in that statement lol. Well the first night I met him he came out of the fog with his big yellow eyes and I could barely see him with his all black fur, my mom goes what the heck is that thing? I said "no way ive always wanted a one of these cats! He looks like he ran into a wall really fast" I went inside to get some food and he just followed me in and started meowing at me in the weirdest way I've ever hear, a very clear slightly raspy "reaahr," anyways i gave him a tiny piece of cheese and we were instant buds, and anytime I had cheese after that he'd try to steal and it succeeded more than a few times lol. Sorry for ranting a bit, but thanks for asking. It was nice to reminisce :)
I like how, even though the pooping in the bathtub was probably annoying, you mentioned it right along with the good stuff; shows you really care about him :).
Also ✨mrowl✨
When my cat makes messes outside of the litter box she hides in my shower. I don't love cleaning them up from in there but it's not carpeted and by its nature is easy to clean so I've never told her off. That and she only does it when something upsets her or her litter box hasn't been emptied fast enough.
@@tootiredforthis1omg you were blessed with your neighbor’s unwanted Persian that story I’ve never heard what a mean fool to just evict the sweet angel but as they say his loss as it sounds you ended up with amazing treasured moments with Oy❤
Persians, like Pugs, have absolutely wonderful personalities... I just wish the breeders would all get together and decide to change the breed description to exclude super-pushed-in faces, and to encourage longer faces for better breed health!
My first thought. I hate to see the dogs and cats like this. It is not comfortable for them and very often becomes a health issue. Pugs, for instance, are great dogs, but the difference between one 100 years ago and now, is almost unrecognizable.
Couldn't put it in better words. It makes me mad to see such kitties and i always lack better politer words. I understand the love for their personalities and maybe some amount of face structure, but this feels way beyond acceptable things to do to an animal.
I think persians used to have normal faces so they should just go back to the way they were originally. People should stop breeding for defective qualities period.
There are some breeders who breed doll-faced Persians. They have a short nose but not completely brachycephalic, so they can still breathe normally, and they look a hell of a lot better than the regular Persians. There's a popular Instagram cat, Percy the Persian, who's from a doll-faced lineage.
They were bread to have the smooshed face.
When you gave him those pets after removing the huge mat i started to tear up!! From being scrunched and scared to expanding to a floppy furry baby, He looked so relieved ❤️ You're doing amazing things, thank you for what you do.
Uff yes that moment touched my heart too. How he was so resignated and wweak and tired before, and when the heavy mat was off and she touched him, he stretched his back so high, so relieved, that was emotional for me xd
You can tell he was willing to endure anything that would make him feel better. He was a very good boy.
But somehow weak, no ?
@@kreteraketedon't need a fighter in barbershop🤣
@@kreteraketeMay have gotten medicine from the vet for grooming?
`yeah there is no way this cat wasn't given some kind of sedative. Understandable though.
it was for sure given something I dont care how well behaved ur cat is there is difference between well behaved and acting zoned out or almost to slow like its lethargic.@@becky931
Oh my god that is one depressed and defeated-looking cat at the beginning. That time in the wild must have really broken his spirit. A persian, above any other breed, would have an exceptionally terrible time as a stray.
I really love how, during the shave, you could mistake him for a plush, he was so docile! Then when you put him in the bath his personality immedoately came out with a vengeance.
Thank you for leaving a spot open for situations like Sheldon's!
Omg the kitty’s face at 5:01 broke my heart, just “I’m done with everything”
Still better behaved than my non-matted cats. I recognize that “I’m being tortured!” yowl that he gives in the bath.
Cats + huskies = the bath-bane chorus.
That was my cat today, she’s also a Persian she does not like her baths, she yowls like a human 😂
In my experience, when cats realize they really NEED to be bathed/groomed, they will often put up with more than they ever would under normal conditions.
@@Tim85-y2q Fair enough. I don't think I've ever bathed my cats without them very much needing it. Most recent example; my shorthaired boy cat got into the trash and got tangled up in fly tape. After I got the tape off of him, he was covered in glue. I had to bathe him multiple times to get it out! He did that "woe is me" yowl the whole time. Luckily, he's a very well-behaved kitty and mostly put up with it. My longhaired girl cat gets her poo stuck in her fur from time to time and I need to bathe her back end. She does that yowl and struggles, but doesn't try to scratch or bite. They mostly stick to the yowling and struggling.
The drama… that’s when you know the kitty is feeling a bit better, even though he doesn’t like the bath.
I knew longhairs involved more work but your cat videos have really enlightened me on how much more work is needed from their humans. I have always loved longhairs and have much respect for them and their managers - but luckily I got adopted as a cat daddy by a shorthair family.
I grew up with Persians in the 1950’s and their faces were not pushed in. As much as they are now. They loved being brushed which my mother did every day. One was white and the other red and white. They were very sociable and the white, Snowy, spent so much time sleeping on the second floor of our dollhouse that my dad had to reinforce it! He was a big cat. Thanks for everything you do to help cats and dogs.
1950???? How old are you??? 😭😭😭
@@cupcakeblush4537 How old do you think she is? You say it like you're surprised she's still here... Also, use your context clues. . . Rude.
@@lizzybeary what are u yapping about?? 😭
@@cupcakeblush4537 are you 14
@@skeletonwitch. 17!
I did an emergency groom on a Persian mix that was an indoor only cat then her owners moved suddenly leaving her outside. She was 4 and had never been outside before. The only reason the neighbors were able to catch her was because she eventually matted up so much, she could no longer move her legs. That was a thick rock hard, disgusting mat. She was such a sweetheart after I got everything off.
Those owners are disgusting.
Poor thing. She deserved better than to be left behind like that. We moved to Houston, but our family pets went first with my mommy and my aunt. They got to our new home first. Me and my siblings stayed at our Grandma’s house for a week before we flew down, after the family pets went down there.
@@KimJongUnnieso are these ones. There's no way in hell this Persian got that matted just from being outside for a little bit. It looks identical in Madden to a kitten that I adopted from someone who hadn't combed it once in 7 months.
@@ferretocious Yeah I think there was definitely some neglect that went down before the escape.
@@ferretocious vanessa indicated that the cat was outside for maybe about a week, which is definitely a lot of time for a long-haired cat that can't groom itself to get in pretty rough condition. also, the fact that the owners immediately went out of their was to schedule a groom rather than leaving him in that condition, since he's clearly still mobile, or simply giving up on finding him says a lot about how much they care to ease his discomfort.
the point is, it's easy to pull very different conclusions from a single video, and we can't ever fully know what's truly going on or what the family's situation may be. all we can do is be relieved that the animal is receiving care in that moment and hope for the best.
Poor Sheldon just gave up on life and accepted whatever was coming to him once the happy hoody was installed. 🐈⬛
Haha, my exact thought. He probably thought "So I went AWOL and now my family has sent me to the US Marines, so here comes the high and tight haircut before boot camp" in a state of absolute resignation. I hope he was happily surprised when returned to his family in way better condition than before.
Some days I could use a happy hoodie 😂
I suspect he's exhausted from the stress of being outside. It must have been very frightening to a house cat.
I think Sheldon knew she was helping him. Which of course doesn't preclude the occasional outburst.
😂😂😂
I'm so grateful you brought up two of the major issues with brachycephalic cats. Education is so important.
Oh my gosh…is that sound him breathing??!!! And I was stressed out too. 🤣Poor Sheldon, hurts my heart for him.
The stretch and arching of his back once the top layer was off was so relieving to see, looks like he already felt so much better
Ggg
That really was the best, wasn't it? So sweet.
The sudden temperature change must have been a bit of a shock, too.
Yes!! This!!! Was looking for this comment. He looked so relieved 😢
I bet you he coul breath better that was why the relief he felt
For the dire condition Sheldon was in his behaviour was phenomenal! And of course Vanessa worked yet another miracle! So happy poor Sheldon was rid of all that mess!
He probably felt so so much better getting rid of all the mats. Wow he was so so matted eh ?
@@sharonbrown6595it appears that Persian Cats are bred to be completely dependent on human care to live. Problems with being able to groom themselves or even breathe easily seems a terrible thing to me.
Sheldon appears to have hidden under something that added to his terrible matting on his back and head. If his owners hadn’t found him and an outstanding, loving groomer he would have died of it.
@@wandapease-gi8yoit seems really messed up that people bred these card to be so utterly incapable of caring for themselves. Is it even possible for a Persian cat to survive in the wild? It's such a cruelty.
@@hillbillypowpowthat’s humans for ya, if it’s cute why not breed it and they often overlook the health problems it’ll bring.
What an adorable little lump 😭 I’m so glad he was found and helped out
Wow. He definitely understood you were helping him even though it was uncomfortable. What a sweet and smart boy.
He sure did.
the shaking in the end says otherwise
@@KingCrimson82 you'd be cold too if I just shaved off your clothes in winter
Yeah, I've never seen a persian behave this good during grooming. Most of them are hissy just for getting close.
They definitely do. Had to help out an elderly relative with their cat. They were doing her best with the cat but kitty was spicy and relative wasn't fast and scared of her. So I had to remove her matting. It was a process for sure... But eventually she learned to put up with it, and actually presented herself to be brushed and checked for mats, as much as she hated it and tried to kill me lmao.
that poor kitty, his whole demeanor just screams 'im miserable but i know this human is helping me so ill just lay here and take it' im guesing he must have gotten wet while he was escaped. maybe it rained on him. harrowing experience for a cat. glad to hear you keep emergency spots available. even as much as i have watched both channels its still incredible the love and compassion you have for animals every time ♥
I know poor baby 😭😭
These breeds that can't even have a chance of survival without being dependent on humans make me sad
she is being paid, it's not compassion. I doubt she'd spend an hour clipping animals for free.
@@kyliewalker6647 She has many videos where she does just that 🤦♂️
@@kyliewalker6647 she actually does MANY of her grooms FREE. She's about helping the animals and owners, not just about getting paid. Not everyone is like you ❤
Sheldon is a PRO. The tolerance he showed is next-level.
I wonder if using shears at first would be a little easier?
Sheldon is amazing, he reminds me so much of my old boy Rusty. He left this world a few weeks before Christmas in 2019 but the memories were great. He was a menace of a kitten to my parents, very spicy boy then after my little brother was born he became his guardian. He lived up to 14 and loved sitting with dad watching Doctor Who, bolting in at the theme. Seeing Sheldon was like seeing Rusty again.
@@dovie2blue while im no professional and know very little about pet grooming i have noticed that whenever ppl deal with matting they never start with shears. i think its cause shears wont actually work on the matting. notice how she doesnt even try to go through the matting but around it, cant really do that with shears without greater risk.
This is so sad. Your patience and sweet kindness toward this poor cat is to be sincerely commended. I’m sure he felt much better when finished. I’ll bet he took a long nap when he got home.
Sheldon was a real trooper! He deserves 10000 cat treats!
My old Himalayan, Remy, used to love having his face washed! I'd say, "OK, pal. Face wash time." He'd run in front of me into the bathroom, jump up on the vanity and assume the position. "Ready, Dad!" He had really oozy eyes and I think the wash cloth and warm water were heavenly for him. I miss him.
♡♡♡
My little baby, too. She will smash her cute little face into it. We have to do it a couple times a day and she just LOVES it. I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you had each other in your lives ❤️
What a sweetheart ❤
Sweet story. I'm missing my Himalayan Dukie Bear. He was such a sweet boy.
Look at that chill face he is so darn cute... and he was such a good boy! 🎉 I would be afraid to put that hoodie thing around their neck and mouth like that especially with this breed. What is the purpose for the happy hoodie?
That poor kitty looked totally defeated at the start of the groom, he was a real trooper for enduring all that. Thank you for making his life a lot more comfortable. ❤❤
Maybe it’s the unhappy hoodie this time.
Over-breeding breaks my heart. The animal suffers, yet the demand used to be high for a 'couture' pet. You end up with dogs that can't walk, and cats that can't breathe.
yeah people will spend thousands of dollars for these breeds but wont fork up money for frequent vet & groom visits. such a shame
Agreed. End this kind of over breeding now! It's so awful
@@reptoidfancy666 :It is not from overbreeding. It is from breeding to please the cat show judges. This is a Persian from show lines. The same happens with dog breeds. The judges want them "Too typey', which ends up being a caricature of the original breed, and it mocks the breed standard.
It happens with all "trendy" animals. Look at Arabian horses 😢
@@georgeshackelford5111 overbreeding and inbreeding is what ruined fancy goldfish for me. I will admit I didn't help the problem because I was breeding blue egg phoenix's. It took years of noticing that my fancy goldfish developed so many health problems and died so young compared to my standard comets that my dad and I kept together that were all over a decade old, over a foot long and happily swimming / living in our 400G tank, and finally having to cull more than half of the fish that my breeding pair produced because of deformations and health concerns but I clued in that what I was doing wasn't right. I stopped breeding those fish and I stopped buying the fancies. As for dogs I wont go to a breeder that goes for show dogs. Are my goldens perfect examples of their breed? no but they are healthy and perfect to me.
14:23 This was a distincly clear "Noooo", especially for a cat. Poor sweety 😒.
15:37 This even more so...and rightly so. No one should be fingering an animal.
Being moody gets you the hoodie, but no trouble means no bubble. His surrender is testimony to your gentle touch.
That was a perfect rhyme
Absolutely. Love it!! ❤
She should put this on her merch 😂
Sheldon looked, and surely felt, so much better after the groom. He was such a well-behaved cat despite his water tantrum. I'm glad he made it home.
His body language looked almost lethargic to me... with all that matting, I can easily imagine that moving around was uncomfortable for him, if not outright painful. He must have been so relieved when it was all gone!
@@Kasey113Sheldon was high as a kite!
I am a retired animal grooming teacher, I am super impressed with your ability to keep the cat calm. You are a feline whisperer!!
I think the happy hoodie works better on cats than dogs, since most cats kind of freeze whenever they have something on their body/head
Thank you for helping this cat. You have a kind heart.
He didn’t look stressed, he looked a bit dead!!!! Thank goodness he meowed a bit to let us know he was ok! Good job. 🇬🇧🐶
All Persians look a bit dead, moving a lot is not their thing. :P
@@FoxfireGreen 😻😻
He looks so handsome in the end!
I want Sheldon’s drugs!
@@utuberhodazombie
Sheldon being an absolute ambassador for his breed. Potato mode with a slight hot potato moment. He must feel so much better.
The best part was when Vanessa took off that back mat and how Sheldon just stretched with pleasure when she scratched him. I've also got the "Soft Kitty" song stuck in my head now.😅
The cat was very well behaved. You kept saying “don’t bite me”, and this poor kitty never even moved! ❤
Then she said something like "You probably can't bite me anyway, with your flat, pushed in face" 😂😂
The fact that you leave space in your grooming schedule for emergencies says so much about your character!🥰
She sacrifices her days off for emergency grooming. So it's not her regular grooming schedule with open spots.
Absolutely 🐾🐈🇦🇺💗
👏 👏 👏 👏 👏!
It's such a blessing when groomers do that. We have a lady in the cat rescue I halp with that grooms. She does this and it's been so helpful with some of the strays we get.
yes. everything she has done for the past two years say a lot about her character! :)
I really appreciate that you speak to most of the pets you're working on as though they're patients in a hospital. Telling them everything you're going to do, and doing, in a calm manner. Maybe they don't understand anything besides the tone, but it's just.. really nice and loving of you.
Me too 🥺 I hope it's reassuring to these lil guys ❤️
If you're calm, those around read that energy and respond. If you freak out, it makes things worse.
It always makes things worse.
@@BorksmithandTheBeefsame with kids as well
If they get a cut and your like ‘its fine’ they’ll be fine
If you freak out and rush around to get bandages or something they’re gonna be screaming and crying
it is very sweet, though i would really not be happy to hear my doctor say "your in pretty rough shape dude"
@@jonasdrejerjensen I chuckled. You're probably right, but I'd appreciate the honesty!
Honestly, the way he looked at you at times during the shaving, I swear he was showing utter gratitude for helping him ❤️ 🙀
agree. Got a kitten a couple of years ago and she was in a similar shape. An emergency shave was the best option but she didn't mind at all. She was so happy afterwards. Now we keep things in check with a combing once a week and daily soft brushing.
i think the cat did poor thing
Sometimes . . . You are an angel. 😇
Wow, we can actually hear him breathing. That's scary.
Those were looks of "I hate this...but this lady has freed me...but I hate this...pity me..."
Bless your heart for helping this poor kitty
I remember when I was young, we had a Norwegian Forrest cat, and my mum didn’t brush it. It was like a turtle, a whole shell all over. So I sat down with scissors and started cutting it away. Took me so many days to get most of it off. Thankfully our cat was very well behaved and just laid down and chilled. But fuuuuuck me I felt so bad for it. And no, I couldn’t afford clippers nor going to a groomer as I was a child, and did the best I could 😢
you're a hero!!!
Well done. I'm sure your kitty was grateful 😊
You could have done it with nail scissors for all he probably cared, you did an amazing and kind thing for him and that makes you a wonderful person x
@@SupportMensMentalHealth I did it with nail scissors :) the normal scissors wasn’t pointy and sharp enough to get close to the skin without cutting the skin 🙊
Your cat probably was extremely grateful that someone cared enough for him to sit down and just attempt to care for him and get rid of the matting. It doesn’t matter how you managed it, only that you did it.
My friend's Persian was lost for like 3 or 4 days and came back absolutely a mess. She found out that none of the groomers in our area will take cats at all. I think she had to have a friend help shave him down. She does a great job of keeping him brushed at home thankfully.
It is incredibly stressful for a cat to get groomed. The noice of the clippers is scary, the blow dryer is terrifying, the bath feels like drowning is close at hand. So the usual thing that people do in these circumstances is to take the cat to the vet and have the cat shaved under anaesthesia.
@@carol_english Yeah she was asking me about things she could do because if he gets a mat, he gets really stressed when she tries to get rid of it. I said you can try getting a script for gabapentin and see if it calms him enough at home, or just go get him shaved at the vet with anesthesia.
@@carol_englishbe quiet
@@carol_english it depends on the cat’s health. most of the time if their matting is that severe they probably aren’t healthy enough to wake up from being sedated. so no it’s usually not a good idea, and that’s mostly why vets refuse to do it.
I had the same issue with mine. I had to go to a vet shop to get sedation medication so I could shave her myself. Poor baby
watching him finally start to raise his back to the scratches nearly made me tear up, what a good boy. SO patient.
You really are incredible. That poor darling man didn’t realise that the brief foray into the wild would end so terribly for him. Thanks for helping such a beautiful boy.
As a former persian owner who groomed cats daily I was horrified by the condition of that cat. There is no way that degree of matting occurred in just a week or two from having escaped home. But wow, your care, empathy and way with him to get it sorted was amazing to watch. Thank you for taking care of him.
My thoughts exactly! Someone is not caring for their cat.
Was going to say the same thing. One week will not get their hair matted to that amount. They need to take their cat to a groomer at least once every couple months, honestly. I had a cat that wouldn't groom himself and I shaved him myself, and he was the sweetest boy. It's not that hard taking care of your pet.
Matting like this would be over a couple of years, not a couple of weeks
I have dogs come into the shop I work at and owners try and use any/every excuse for why their dogs is so atrociously matted. It angers me to no end how neglectful some individuals can be towards their pets
I’m no expert, but if it was years of matting, wouldn’t he have been scared of the shave? He was stressed, but incredibly tolerant of being groomed for the most part, leading me to believe it wasn’t that long since someone groomed him. Am I off base here?
I never thought a cat grooming video would be such a harrowing drama. The sadness, the hope, the bout with bath time, the exhilaration. I give it 2 thumbs up.
He was screaming the song of his people in the bath
I was waiting for the "exhilaration" part to come and was disappointed by the end. Cat still seemed pretty sad and depressed at the end.
Aww, that's just his face-look. He felt much better really!
Hah, two thumps up. That got me wondering what if Siskel and Ebert had instead chosen to review pet-grooming videos.
Poor boy. I cared for two Persians. They could start to mat in DAYS. They learned to enjoy the brush. Especially after they learned it didn't have to pull.
really? long haired cats overall need to be often groomed because of matt, even if they clean themselves you have to help them with their fur!
No idea what the commenter thought they read, the comment referred to getting the cats to like being brushed, and said matting could happen in days, which to me referred to brushing daily.
How did you figure out how to not make it pull? (I don't have any cats but your statement made me curious)
Oh my goodness, as a lifelong Persian caregiver, this level of matting is quite severe and wouldn’t happen in just a week - depending on how cottony the coat is, this is weeks if not months of neglecting coat care.
Exactly! :))
You did a beautiful job taking care of poor Sheldon thank you for sharing 💕
I can't believe how calm that poor kitty is. What a massive job that was. You are simply amazing!
Her: "I don't really care what it looks like in the end here"
The end result: does the absolute most detail, looking absolutely amazing and a brand new cat 😂
Great job as always 🎉
As someone who had severely matted hair at one point (curly hair combined with depression and aversion to showers), i can tell you Sheldon was RELIEVED to be rid of all those mats!
100% sympathize with you.
What causes aversion to showers? Just takes too much energy?
@@kwpp7 severe depression
i want to say haha stinky as if i'm not in the exact same boat
@@kwpp7 depression combined with a noise sensitivity. And the fact that i have to take cold showers because hot showers will have me sneezing for the rest of the day.
Sheldon is so lucky to have your gentle and compassionate care.
"Nope, you're not going anywhere. Sorry about your life" xD This made me crack up. Poor kitty must have felt a billion times better after the groom. Thank you Vanessa for all that you do for the furry creatures and educating us humans on how to take care of them better.
Sheldon was quite well behaved, all things considered! Thank you for taking time out of your weekends to help animals in desperate need.
Poor sweet baby.... I have never seen a more despondent-looking cat on your channel. Thank you for giving him such tender loving care.
I have one, C.C. (Cindy Clawford). She's as high maintenance as her name implies. If I didn't brush her daily she would be just as matted in no time. The matting happens more quickly than you might think. These kitties definitely require routine brushing and a long-term commitment.
That's funny, cos we used to have one called Clawdia Sh!tter :) (so named because she HAD to have multiple litter boxes)
Cindy Clawford lol
We have a CC, too! He is named Cassius Clay since as a kitten he would box everything ❤
I had a CC, too. She was 15 when I got her, and I think it meant Crazy Cat.
My grandmother had a long hair cat who wasn't a breed, but she was very unpredictable about being touched in any way. My grandma ended up with severe scratches on occasion. "Fluffy" had to be shaved about once a year. 😏
I am SO happy that people are breeding less and less flatfaced Persian cats. I got a rather long nosed persian myself and he's the healthiest of all my cats (Maine Coon, 2 Persians, Sphinx).
That poor cat! You did an awesome job with him. He reminds me of a cat that showed up at my house. Her mom was moving and she somehow ended up in someone's car and was taken a few cities over. While she was going crazy trying to find her cat i was furious that someone would dump a Persian. Thankfully i was able to contact a Persian rescue in yet another city and their vet found her chip so her owner was contacted and probably broke the sound barrier driving from San Jose to Sacramento just days before the move to San Diego which had been delayed because she was looking for her baby fearing the cat might be hiding in furniture in storage. So very very happy it all came together and they were reunited.
That’s FAST big able to break the sound barrier while driving considering Bay Area traffic! 😂 That’s a very happy ending story! You’re very kind to take the cat in & take time to search for the owner. I’m sure the owner is forever grateful. 🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼
And you blessed person helped!
Phew. Good ending indeed.
I just love a happy ending and an adoring owner. You totally rock for the rescue! 🤗
He is a beautiful cat! I honestly thought he handled it very well. No whipping take!
That poor cat. Any breeder producing cats with characteristics that mean they can't look after themselves should be ashamed of themselves. I'm glad you were able to give him some help.
Thirty years ago Persian standard was a round head and face with a shorter nose, but not anything like this. You could find that there was such a thing as a "Peke-faced Persian" which apparently is now what everyone thinks of as a Persian. Old-style Persians still need brushing daily but they could groom themselves.
Sadly, for the last several decades the Cat Fancier Association has pushed for more and more "peek" for the Persian face causing the terrible respiratory systems as well as the loss of their ability to groom.
Thankfully, the "doll face" Persian and Himalayan breeds are coming back into style and the CFA is no longer pushing for the peek face.
I hate it, the short legged cats drive me crazy too.
@@bigredc222 Yes! The munchkin "breed" is so horrible for the poor babies. Most end up with severe dysplasia and then live out their lives in pain.
What really crumbles my Temptations are people who see a "cool" cat and rush to a breeder having done absolutely no research whatsoever. (this goes for dogs, too.) Had a friend, had being the operative word, who had never been a guardian to a cat. She saw the Bengal cats and immediately had to have one. She was "talked into" buying 2 F1 males. I tried to tell her to not do it, to get a sweet kennel kitty, but she had to have those Bengals. Of course, she couldn't handle them and would punish them (hence the "had a friend") and took them to the vet for euthanasia. Luckily the Vet refused and basically took the cats away from the dingbat. The vet took the cats to a rescue similar to Big Cat Rescue where I'm told they're living the high life. Do your research!!!
@@Kaemea She has more money than brains.
I have never seen such a well behaved cat.
Niether have i
based on what she said it seems like he normally gets groomed on a fairly regular basis so he’s probably used to it. still matting this severe is smth most cats would still be stressed out by so he’s a very good kitty in this
You are not just a groomer, you are a miracle worker!
That cat was absolutely pitiful. God bless you for the compassionate care you give these suffering animals!
There is no way that was just 1 week outside! I’m in agreement with some others on here, not sure you got the whole story from his owners. But so grateful you were able to help Sheldon!!!
yes, it will be! Cats fur is so fine and they like to go under and through things like bushes and ground works. I had a friend with a long haired cat which went outdoors and if she didnt brush it every day it would get the most awful mats in its fur - and it was capable of grooming itself with other cats who joined in!
The thing that makes me the most suspicious is that his fur is generally very clean, even in the mats. I have a long haired kitty who goes outside and she brings in ALL kinds of dirt and debris on her fur. If this guy had gotten matted from being outside he should have had a lot of dirt included in those mats.
You'd be surprised. I have domestic long-hairs who are indoor only, and if you aren't diligent in brushing them as regularly as they'll allow, they're going to get mats. Sometimes you can stop the matting, and sometimes you can't. I get chunks shaved out of them routinely. Sometimes giving them a bath (when they need it) can make the matting accelerate by a crazy amount. A Persian getting wet in the rain will do that for sure.
One of our cats, not a Persian, but very long haired & unable to groom herself due to various reasons from before we got her, will get THE most incredible mats sometimes even only over a couple days. When my late husband was sick she had to be sedated by the vet then shaved. (She would’ve taken my face off if I even tried!). I now wear my husband’s Kevlar oven mitts & groom her quickly each morning even though she HATES it. Just a few seconds prevents the matting. We BOTH hate doing this but better than risk sedating her at her age. It took only a few days for her to develop matts that weren’t as terrible as this but were very bad :(.
@Vocalinds I mean, it isn't like the owners took him right from outside to the groomer. It is possible the owners did bathe him if he was severely dirty to avoid dirtying the home, and got out most of the dirt at that point.
My second cat, Tigah, was a rescue that was about to be put down but I said 'No'..he was sedated and groomer was ill so Vet assistant snd I shaved him down. He was the most loving and well behaved cat..he had a tear drop marking on his nose..since he died I dream of him often. They are amazing animals.
I'm definitely more of a dog person, but this groom was absolutely heartbreaking. He was so good for you despite his condition. He had to feel better and showed it. Thanks for doing this service. You're amazing.
Agreed, and I'm also a dog person. (We currently have a 6-month old female puppy who thinks biting everything is a good idea 🤦🏻♀️)
Now is the time to train your dog.
@@soundspark It's something we're constantly working on. If we're petting her and she starts mouthing/biting we immediately give her one of her toys or her blanket instead. She's starting to figure it out, but still has her days. She's still a puppy and we've had dogs before, so it's expected
@@bruinsgirl3398 Be careful not to reward aggressive behavior.
@@soundspark She's not aggressive, thank God. Most of her teeth are in but she has some back ones that aren't fully out. Whenever I'm out for a walk with her, she just goes right up to people and wants to say hi and be stroked
Watching you groom the kitties is providing me much comfort. As I grief the loss of my cat seeing how you love your clients is heart❤warming
My little kitty got out about a year ago--she came out to see me, got spooked by a loud noise and took off. She was gone one day and then I found her under the next door neighbor's car, meowing at me. One day, and she was sticky and smelled like car all over. I called 15 groomers in my area--no one had any emergency appointments for cats. Dogs galore, but nothing for cats. I ended up taking her upstairs, bathing her twice and rinsing her three times. It was hell, but I got it all off and she was happier after. Since then, I have made sure that if I leave the door open for anything, I put her in a room for a few minutes. Poor Lilah kitty!
My family growing up had a mean old tom cat that fell into a catch basin full of dirty oil in our neighbor's garage. He didn't get too much oil on his head but he was covered everywhere else and of course couldn't clean himself. He was always spicy but he was in such a bad predicament that he allowed my mom to bath him multiple times until the dirty oil was all removed. After that he never ventured back to the neighbor's garage and he remained his spicy self for many more years! 🐱
There was Hell Toupee!! And I completely agree worth others, that kitten is a saint. What a beautiful temperament. Also, Sheldon! Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur...
Purr, purr purr
. . . Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr. Poor baby! He began with such a repentant look on his face! He’s so precious, and you are a miracle worker.
😂
I love you describing the shaving as looking for a point of entry! Poor kitty! Thank you for the care you put into your work.
Haha I was waiting for the big bang references 😂 It's funny because I could imagine the cat with Sheldon Coopers voice
Even with the bath tub snit, he was amazingly well behaved and must feel so much better.
You are so gentle. And it makes my heart ache- thank you for lovingly caring for these pets who need a firm but tender hand!
15:40
"Please be calm for three seconds"
"NOOOOOO!!!!"
I’ve had 4 Persians over time and they are affectionate, sweet cats. Considering how bad the matting was, Sheldon behaved very well. I had a Himalayan kitty get out the front door, and we never found him. I’m glad Sheldon was able to get back home.
😭
At the moment, my husband and I are fostering a flat faced Persian named Smushy. He was found on the streets in Baltimore not only injured, but severely matted. The rescue gave him a shave, treated his injuries and he was placed with us for recovery. He...definitely is not great at self grooming past his paws but he's super tolerant of brushing and being bathed!
We suspect that much like Sheldon, he was an escapee but sadly no one has shown up to claim him.
Poor poor Sheldon! Thank you for helping him 💝🐾
"Vanessa: You're not going anywhere I'm sorry for your life...
Sheldon: Woeeee! Woeeee! Ahhhh! Ahhhhhhh!"
He's such a good boy. Poor thing had quite the misadventure. You did an amazing job!
Sheldon is rethinking his life choices after escaping the house 😉 What a sweet boy ❤ You are so amazing with these animals and I strive to have as much patience and compassion as you have 🤗🤗
lol you'd think they would but cats are cats lol
@@Alien_cat_taco right!! Lol
"No regrets!" - pretty sure that's a cat motto.
The scratch after taking that big pelt off, and his reaction 🥹❤
His transformation is amazing!
My cat would never!! Lol that cat was so incredibly sweet and tolerant. Wow! I know he feels so much better! You are absolutely amazing with animals!!
“Sorry aboot your life” cracked me up 😂 poor thing he has such a sad face and his lil meows broke my heart. Thank you for helping him
I hope that we see more of Sheldon in the future. I want to see him with his fur grown out and well taken care of. It will look so pretty ❤
Oh Sheldon, what were you thinking! You left a nice warm safe home to spend a week in.... a cyclone? a bog? The ninth circle of Hell? I don't know, but I'm glad he's home! Great job with his groom Vanessa!
He's so pitiful in the bath 🥺 Vanessa saying "I know, I know... Next time don't escape your house" to Sheldon's squished up angry face just did me in! 😭
It makes my heart glad to see people care for animals in need of help. Thanks you guys for caring... ❤😊
Once you got the back matting removed and he could feel being scratched without it pulling he stopped hunching up as much and seemed more relaxed. Even the bath wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated it being It was easy to see how much better he felt at the end of his groom. Your kindness and expertise triumphed once again. Lucky Sheldon.
The huge amount of matting on his back almost looks like a turtle shell, with how it was all one congealed mass. Poor sweet cat suffering with the mats due to his escapade outside for a week. Thank you so much for taking the time on your day off to help this cat out! Obviously you can't work 24/7 however it's wonderful that you were able to come in for this client and help him feel a thousand times better.
a week? this more looked like a cat that havent seen a brush in a month
@@jydeinden Vanessa slipped in the audio and said he'd been out for a week and the corrected herself with "or however long." I don't think she knows how long he was out. He "didn't see a brush" b/c he was escaped, nevertheless.
That cat deserves a medal!!!! He was SOOOOO good for SOOOO long!!! Bless his poor little cotton paws!!!! Bravo for working so quickly, smoothly & efficiently with him. You truly are impressive. I have SO much respect for you!! ❤❤❤
Sheldon could definitely tell you were helping. How sweet
In between all my “aww, baby’s” and “poor Sheldon’s” I giggled a bit when you first put him in the tub. With his paws and the happy hoodie on, he looked like a little sloth. I’m glad he’s feeling better.
Gosh, me too. I felt so bad for laughing 😂
So glad that you commented on the problems these cats have re self-grooming. Of course, the long term solution is responsible breeding to return to the original body type, which had a normal face…
Thank you for sharing your experiences on line.😊
What a good baby! That poor thing! That first hunk of pelt was insane. He HAD to have known you were helping him and it must have felt worlds better afterwards. You’re a hero!
what a sweet baby boy. thank you for leaving time in your day for these babies. gods bless you
He was so good for the shave! It must have been scary for him. Even hating the bath he didn't go too crazy. What a trooper.
that matt that came off his back literally looked like a rug or something! The poor kitty! I'm so proud of you for helping him out! I cried when I saw how much happier he got as you shaved him. I'm so greatful you helped him out and I think he was as well.
As a cat lover, this groom was so saticfying to watch. You did such a wonderful job with him and the mess he was in. I'm sure he will be feeling so much better now .Thank you for what you do !
What a sweet Kitty considering the state of him, thank goodness people like you help these furrbabies out with expertise and compassion ❤❤
poor sweet Sheldon! He seems so deflated and defeated. You can tell that he knows that you're helping him and knows he'll feel better soon. Such a sweet little furball!