Mats & seam rippers

A day or two ago, Jack talked about using a seam ripper to disentangle
mats. Well, I've tried it on Smudge. It's very effective, and at first
I was quite happy. However, to say that Smudge doesn't like it is a
major understatement. She tried to bite me several times! After that,
I tried to do it very slowly and gently, but she was already too ****ed
off to put up with it any longer. Right now she's outside working off
her aggression, and hopefully not moving in with someone else.

Those things are a major undertaking! No wonder cat grooming is so
expensive. But aside from the money (which is a consideration), I'd
rather be the one doing it, because I think it would be more traumatic
for her if I brought her someplace and had a stranger shave her.

Joyce