We have had cats for years and thought we knew everything there was to know about them until - we decided to give a home to a sweet little tri-colour Persian whom we have named Amy. She is so gorgeous but we are having such a problem keeping her looking gorgeous because she hates being groomed. With a short haired cat we never had a problem but poor Amy, she looks like she has been dragged through a hedge backwards and forwards most of the time and we just don't know what to do. She doesn't mind too much about being brushed and combed on her back but she will not let me do her tummy, underarms and under back legs. It seems to hurt her even though we are very gentle. She hasn't got any knots, yet, but her underfur looks so scraggly. She looks so neglected but she isn't. She eats well, plays well and is otherwise, a lovely little 6 month old kitten. We dry-shampooed her at the weekend and her top fur came up lovely and soft and sweet-smelling. It's just this underbelly. Please can anyone give us a few tips on how to help us groom a little kitten who will end up hating us if we can't help her. She does clean herself but with the long fur she has quite a problem and doesn't bother much with personal grooming, as I've heard most Persians don't!

Hi and welcome to the forum, also welcome to the world of Persians. The trick is to show her who is in charge from the beginning. The underbelly, armpits backs of legs have to be done otherwise you are gonna end up with one knotty kit

You have to develop a way of being gentle yet firm and strict with the kit at the same time. In other words when doing the difficult areas and she tries to jump away, do not let her. Just keep bringing her back and starting again, and again, and again. Keeping your calm all the time, soothing voice, gentle strokes and loads and loads of patience will pay off. If she thinks she can shoot away every time you do these areas and you let her, she will know she can get away with it. Firm but fair, gentle and tons of patience is the key

Get her used to it as a kitten and it will give you less hassle when she is adult (Same applies to bathing and hairdryers eek

My first cat was a colour point persian and he was fab with grooming and would lay flat out on his back for me to do his tum. I was very lucky. My second persian was a chinchilla which we gained when our mother in law moved to devon she was a elderley cat and didnt tolirate grooming well. We had to get her underneath cut back at the vets as she would have ripped us to shreads and got to stressed. Our third cat was a exotic and although his coat was not long it was very thick and at moult time e use to loose so much hair. He didnt mind short sessions so i did little and often with him. I think they do get use to it more if groomed from the kitten stage and some might not like it but do tolirate it.

Thanks for some very good advice with this grooming problem. Pleased to say that it has worked and Amy and I had a very good session tonight, with me being stricter and she having to grin and bear it!! We have ended up with a sleeker kitten who is now sitting atop her cat-pole with her beautiful tail wrapped around her beautiful, fluffy little body looking like she has just won a Miss World trophy! She looks slightly grumpy, but I dare say she will get over it by snacky time!

Now I just have to initiate her into the joys of having her face washed, because she doesn't like that either! Think we might leave that for another day! Just until she gets used to having her tum brushed. Guess we let her get away with too much because we were all getting too stressed, and, we thought we were hurting her.

Thanks again. I'll let you know how things are going.

Well done you! I bet she looks fab! Can you post piccies sometime? It is good to get them used to a routine as a kitten it makes life so much easier as they get older, and I am all for an easier life I dont know about you, lol