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.

You're right, she does need her butt shaved. I guess it just depends on how
well she'd tolerate it -- you could do it if you have the right clippers and
someone to help you hold her. Shave around her butt and also down the back of
her legs. Vets usually call it a "baboon cut" or "sanitary clip".
I never had much luck with groomers. I'm sure there are some out there that are
experienced and do well with cats, but Cherokee was pretty fractious and
usually had to be sedated, so we just stuck with vets.
Sherry