Ok Mom's with Cats and Kids, I Need Your Advice on Cat Hair......

We have 2 maine coon mixes and we actually found the solution. We cut their hair every spring and summer. After experimenting with regular men's hair clippers, my husband bought pet clippers on amazon. They were about $30. It works so well. The cats don't mind it now that they are used to it. My husband just locks them in the bathroom one at a time and trims then and it's over in 5 minutes. One of my cats even purrs while it is getting done. Then we vacuum the bathroom and the fur is all gone. After we make sure they get a treat. They stay cooler for the summer and shed less. Or you can bring them to a groomer, but we found doing it at home less traumatic than taking them on a car ride to a strange place to get their hair cut. Also, you can put extra tall baby gates in front of your son's doors to keep the cats out of their rooms. We ended up doing that.

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I hate to tell you this, but you'll need to brush "G" every day. I know it sounds like a pain, but you have to. I have a dog and a cat. I actually use the hose to the vacuum cleaner and vacuum them every other day in the summer and other shedding seasons. Brush them everyday too. It cuts down on the animal hair more than you'll ever know. Try the vacuum trick though. My animals hated it the first few times.. but giving them a treat after helped and now they love it!

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We have a Maine coon, too. He sheds a LOT, and is a very loving pet. There are frequent cat-hair "tumbleweeds" rolling around the hardwood floors downstairs, but the cat hair on the clothing is minimal since closet doors are always shut. the brushing helps, but for the most part it's just fighting a losing battle or stop trying to wear black. hee hee

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I have a large, fat cat too & I cant keep up w/ the hair. He sleeps on my daughters bed every night. It helps to put the comforter in the dryer on No Air for 30 minutes. You can see all the hair in the dryer catch afterwards.
I inquired at my pet salon about grooming him. They said it would cost about $60 to bath & deshed him. Of course its not permananet but will cut down on the mounds of hair dramatically. Every summer I try to wash & brush him outside at least once. I use a large tub like the ones for drinks during a party. He tolerates it well but who has the time. I can say that it really worked so Im sure the groomer will help.

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I second the suggestion of brushing the cat. It's a pain but it helps.

I have little cheapy flannel cat blankets on everything. Black ones to match the black comforters, white for the white ones, etc. I just wash them daily and my clothes no longer get to lay on the bed.

I think cat hair is just part of having cats.

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It sure sounds like you already have plenty to do; 2 kids, working full time and then there is Joe.

Would the cat let the oldest boy comb him, every day? Or take the cat to a groomer.

D.
I'm 60 years old, been married to the same man for 38 years, have two grown sons and one daughter-in-law.

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I have three cats (including a himalayan), three dogs, a ferret and hedgehogs....and I used to foster many MANY cats and dogs for rescue organizations....so I know where you're coming from :). Its inevitable that you will have fur everywhere. I keep my cats out of the bedrooms as much as I can, and they are trained not to go in the crib (although sometimes they slip up).

I keep up the best I can with my dyson animal (the BEST vacuum ever...the rotating brush tool for surfaces like the couch is the best for removing hair)....and use the swiffer daily. Just use the tool on his bed daily to vacuum up the hair.

I also try to get the himalayan shaved (lion cut) although it gets pricy. I borrowed a pet clipper to do it myself -- their skin is very thin, so if you decide to do this, be careful. My shorthair cat even likes to be shaved -- he purrs when he is getting it done!

Another thing you might want to do is get a tool that removes the fur deep on their body....the furminator should work (i recently saw it at the grocery store).... or at the vet's office we used to use a rake. Ask your vet, or other friends to recommend a good comb/brush to remove the undercoat.

Yet another suggestion is to buy one of those mats that vibrate when a cat jumps on it....and put it on his bed when he's not in it. The cat will then not take the chance to jump on the bed for fear that the mat is still there.

And we've also had success with ssscat automated cat deterrent which detects movement and sprays the cat with air. You buy air refills for it. I've used them on the dining room table and counter top before for my cats and they worked well.

Hope this helps.

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H.-

I am the proud owner of a cat named Salem and I love him dearly. I can sympathize with you as well. You cannot be free of any hair when you own a cat, but there are certainly ways to minimize it.

I suggest that you take your cat outside and brush the hair off him. Try to brush as much as you can. I would do it daily. It only takes 5 minutes.

ALSO, invest in one of those 3m sticky rolls. They help tremondously. You can buy even the store brand. It does not matter which one you get, just as long as it can pick up the loose hairs. I also roll it on my cat and he loves it. He thinks he is getting a massage which is great cause its benefitting you and him. Please try my suggestion and you will see how much easier it is especially when you hands are full. Even your oldest son can do it. It will minimize and control the hair situation to a great degree. I wish you the best.

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Hi H.,
I use a product that is very effective in removing car fur and any smell from furniture. In five minutes or so you should be able to clean, deodorize and remove all cat hair. I spray on and wipe off with a paper towel. This is easy to do daily. Contact me if you want to hear more: ###-###-#### or www.LiveTotalWellness.com/L.
L.

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I love maine coons, they're beautiful cats!! I'm a technician at a cat only hospital so i'm around cats all day every day, plus i have 2 at home. I can tell you that having hair everywhere comes with the territory of haveing a Maine Coon (we have a client who used to breed them and has about 10 Maine Coons!! Imagine that hair!). Brushing daily is always a good idea and should reduce the shedding you're seeing. Giving him a bath will often help too, but usually only for a day or 2 after the bath.
There's always the option of a "lion cut" which is when they are shaved down to basically be a short haired cat except for their mane and feet and tail. Some people think it looks kinda silly (i think its kinda cute on some cats!). We do it a lot for cats who get matted easily and owners have trouble keeping up with brushing. If you're uncomfortable doing it at home (I'd be careful if you do because most cats have very thin skin and it's cut easily! i've seen it happen many times when people try to groom at home!) you can call a groomer or your vet to see if they do it.
We also usually keep the bedroom doors closed during the day when we're not in there to keep the dander and cat hair down in them.
But as for an easy fix, having a daily brushing routine is the best bet for reducing the hair, but sorry to say the shedding will never ever stop! :)
Hope that helps!

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Keeping pet hair under control is an on going job...
A few ideas:

You can limit the cat by keeping the bedroom doors closed especially when no one is in those rooms..
OR
Before making the beds, put the blankets in the dryer on fluff with a softner sheet...this will remove the cat hair. After making the beds, cover them with lg. flat sheets for the cat to lay on...to be removed at bed time.
If the cat hasn't slept with you, then in the morning just run the lg. sheet in the dryer before replacing it back on the made bed.
or
You may want to avoid laying out your clothes for work on the bed. As you pick out what you want to wear, hang it on door knobs or a hook and when you are ready to dress, do it in the bathroom..

Pets are wonderful but they do cause a lot of extra work...

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I absolutely LOVE the furminator! I've found if I brush my cat every 2-3 days with it, hair is gone! and it doesn't seem to bother him either...

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HI H.,

I have a mainecoon / angora mix of my own, i have falled in love with the Furminator!!! She also loves it and it removes sooo much hair! She is an indoor cat but i take her outside on her leash and brush her there so it doesn't get everywhere. I also get her lion cuts, but it tends to get pricey and it's really hard to find a good car groomer!! If anyone has any suggestions in Suffolk County for a good cat groomer let me know!

:)

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As a cat "mommy", my only advice is brush G more often :lol:. Teach your boys how to brush him and let them do it whenever they want. My 3-yr-old daughter loves to brush our cat (with supervision!)

I know folks who take their their cats to the vet for a haircut in the summer, but I've never done it, so I don't know how well it would work for you.

Good luck!

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I have three cats and I find I have similar problems with that too. I have an extra blanket on my bed (their favorite spot) for that purpose.

As far as limiting cat hair and shedding goes, there is stuff at wal_mart that cuts down the ammount cat's shed. This time of year it's to be expected. Cat brush maybe.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. I limit my cat's access to certain rooms.

Nanc

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The only thing that I can think is the following: comb him out more than once a week; hang your clothes up rather than laying them on the bed; and vacuum like crazy. if you can afford it, invest in one of the Dyson vacuum cleaners and get the accessories-they'll help you keep the cat hair on the comforters and furniture to a minimum. Otherwise, close the doors to the bedrooms so he can't get in and shed all over the beds. For carpets, I like this stuff made by Arm & Hammer that breaks the static charge on pet hair so it's easier to vacuum up (I can't remember the name of it right now). You might be able to use it on the couches and comforters, too-check the label.

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