I just love a good attention grabbing subject. But it is a
semi-serious situation. I haven't had any problems with any of my cats
needing anything more than an occasional brushing. Even my longhair
Nipsy hardly sheds and barely needs to be brushed.

But sick little Jackie (IBD with chronic diarrhea) has developed
clumpy areas on just one side of her butt. A closer examination (I
must love her very much) reveals that the hair is matted and cannot be
combed out. So I tried cutting some of them away and accidently cut a
bit of her skin. I simply can't tell where the hair leaves off and the
skin begins.

I called the vet but the normal three vet practice is down to one vet
because of the holidays and this is hardly an emergency. They gave me
the name of a pet grooming place (some stuffy sounding place that must
mangle poodles) that will do it, undoubtedly for some insane fee.
She'll likely come back in curlers. They haven't even returned my call
from yesterday.

Do folks just get an electric clipper and shave that part off? She is
not going to sit still for this I can reasonably assume.