We are usually only obsessively meticulous about brushing Louis Catorze during the warmer months, when he moults and scratches a lot. But, because his skin and fur are generally much healthier when he is brushed regularly, we decided to step up his grooming régime a few weeks ago, at around the same time that we started the hot water steam thing.
The good news is that handfuls of fur come off his body when he is brushed, which surely HAS to make a positive difference to his skin health, yes? The bad news is that he still loathes being brushed, which means I have to grit my teeth and adopt the Stranglehold of Death before I can get the brush anywhere near him. Needless to say, these now-daily sessions of torture leave me drained, pained and bleeding from the eardrums, and I wish we didn’t have to do them.
My mum told a long time ago that, when you brush your cat, you should leave the brushed-out clumps of hair in the garden because birds use them to line their nests. This didn’t seem very likely – after all, my mum also tells me that you can get cancer from plastic water bottles that have been left overnight in the car – but a couple of reliable fellow cat freaks have confirmed that it is, indeed, a thing. So, much to Cat Daddy’s disgust, I have been doing my civic duty by emptying the contents of Catorze’s brush outside, and the very thin silver lining to the dire grooming sessions was that at least the birds would benefit from it all.
Below is a picture of a clump of Catorze’s brushed-out hair from at least two weeks ago. Oui, Mesdames et Messieurs: IT IS STILL IN THE GARDEN. I really thought that there would be a few takers for some warm kitty fur, given that we remain in the depths of winter. But it seems not.
Cat Daddy: “Ha! The birds of TW8 would rather freeze than go near his shitty fur. Not even the rats want it.”
Oh dear. It’s a good thing Sa Maj is utterly unaware of his fur not meeting the exacting standards of the local wildlife. And, even if he were aware, I don’t suppose he would be remotely bothered.
Too early for nesting? I have a Shire horse, and in spring when he is shedding, I can make a whole small animal out of my brushings— perhaps a white rabbit with no ears.
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An actual Shire horse? That is amazing! I dare say you must get infinitely more hair from him than I do from 3kg Catorze! How much does he weigh?
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He weighs about 1450 lb and is 28 years old, which is pretty old for a heavy horse. We’re both retired, and he is leading the good life, except for some arthritis, with a nice family. I try to see hm once a week for grooming and foot care. I’ve been to the National Shire Horse Show in England a couple of times. I love them all.
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Maybe when it’s mating season for the birds and they start building nests to hatch eggs, they won’t be so particular! 😉
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I hope that’s what it is! I feel a bit bad that our poor boy has such undesirable fur (although Cat Daddy isn’t that surprised).
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I think it’s a bit too early for the birds – keep at it!!!
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Birds in the spring. Mice and other rodents in the fall. Poor Louie is out of season
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