People with cats - HELP!!!

Okay, got a question.. as you know (or don't!!) I have 4 cats.. all adorable, but one is a long haired cat (Norwegian Forest cat). Now Tom is about 8 years old and very set in his ways. He was also abused as a kitten so I have to be quite gentle with him, the problem is because he doesn't go out his fur gets matted in the winter, I'm starting to brush him every day, but he hates it; he bites me, scratches me and hisses at me, that doesn't really bother me, but I know it stresses him out. What I'm doing at the moment is having a bowl of cat milk there whilst I brush him so he associates me brushing him with milk, but I was wondering if anyone had any better tips on how to brush him with the least possible amount of stress.
Any tips????

Tash

Tash - a friend had a cat with similar problems but he was really long haired. She did just as you are doing - trying to associate brushing with food. She used soft cat treats that he loved. It did work but it took about 4 - 6 months before he was somewhat comfortable with it. He never did get completely comfortable with brushing. Also - she started with a visit to the vet. The vet cut out all the matted hair and snarls so that when she started trying to brush him it didn't really pull and hurt too much.
Now my 2 cats are different. If I get the brush out they will rub up against it they love it so - but they have never been abused either.

Hope this helps
Kathleen

Thanks Kathleen, at least I know that this is the right thing to do. I usually pull his matted bits out myself.. more scratches and bites during those winter months!! My vet won't cut his hair, I've asked. I have actually drugged him once.. but that really isn't good for him and I don't like the fact that I have to drug him, it's unnatural for a cat!! I guess the abuse has something to do with it, it took me about a year to build up some trust, so I don't want to ruin it because I want him to look nice. Although the matted fur is so uncomfortable for him.
I'll look into some cat treats!!
Thanks

Tash

As far as scratching you goes, you could invest in those "Soft Paws" if they sell them there. They're like fake fingernails for cats. You glue them on and they keep the cat from being able to claw furniture or whatever. But if he hates to be brushed, he might be even worse about trying to put soft paws on him.

One of my cat gets matted hair. I will snip it off as best I can. I wait until he's lazy and comfortable and then, just go for it before he knows what I'm doing. I also try to brush him like that, just a little at a time.

Becky

Try to use wet sponge ore very soft wet brush, he'll associate it with licking.

Nat

Spot doesn't like to be brushed and nips while I am brushing him. I give him a toy that he can bite till his hearts content. He knows, that if he wants to bite something while I am brushing him, he takes out his little anger mgmt problems on his toy- not my hand.

Afterwards, if he was a good boy, he gets treats.

Gorgeous cat eeyore

Kathleen

Yeah, he thinks so too. It's got a big of an ego. LOL He's a turkish angora mix. His fur is so soft...softer than any other cat's fur...it's very fine too and doesn't tangle or matt that much at all.

Thats what we have to do with my cat when he needs his nails cut. We get him as he sleeps! He's usually so zonked out that he never notices!

My cat loves to be brushed though. He cant get enough of it.

Catnip, buy some or grow it, they love it , they sniff it and eat it, its marijuana of the cat world.

Dawn