Is plucking bad?

[skunklionshow]

I’m still getting the hang of bunnies VS pussy cats.  So here’s my question….

If my cats have fur that is slightly above their hairline (i.e. poking out). I’ll pluck it.  Not like plucking eyebrows, more like if its loose its loose and it comes right out!

So lately Jessica has been getting the plucking treatment from me.  She’s seems alright w/ it and doesn’t get nipping.  The only issue is that she has a white undercoat, so she looks a little odd if I bluck some of the loose fur out.  I don’t do it regularly, just as needed.

Yesterday, after I picked up Leo from the vet, a piece of his mane was loose.  It came right out.  I teased the vet about doing a "Samson/Delilah" on my Leo.

So if its loose…is it ok?

[BinkyBunny]

Yes.  Loose fur that just comes right out is totally fine. Both Bailey and Jack prefer to be plucked over brushing, while Rucy only likes to be brushed.  If it weren’t for plucking, Jack  and Bailey would be a mess.

Many bunnies at the shetler are molting . It’s a plucking fest.

You do have to be careful not to pull out hair that’snot ready as that’s "ouch", but usually what comes easily is game for plucking.

[MooBunnay]

My boyfriend is a big bunny plucker – I’m more of a brusher myself. He can sit for hours plucking those loose hanging pieces out – its probably nice when they are sheeding, especially for the warm season, to get those extra pieces out that are clogging up their coat – and also I think its good because then they don’t ingest that fur.

[osprey]

One of my kids is a plucker.  She’ll sit with the bunnies, petting them and just pulling at the loose fur, and end up with a ball of fur in her hand when she is done.  Plucking seems to work particularly well with our rex, as she is hard to brush well because her fur is so dense.

One of the people in our rescue swears by using a pair of rubber dish washing gloves as a way to defuzz rexes, but I have never tried it.

 

[BinkyBunny]

One thing I’ve noticed is I can become OCD with their loose hair.  It drives me crazy when I see a loose hair sticking out (almost ready to launch out on its own).  And if my bunny is not in the mood for plucking, I try to sneak and get it.  But my sneaking never works very well – I reach  out…my hand almost there…bunny moves…reaching…reeeaaaching…bunny moves.   Sometimes I’ll bribe them and pet them working my hand over that stray hair and try and get it before they get wind of my evil plan.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Haha, Jen, you crack me up! Too bad I’m the same way!!!

[Gravehearted]

I get like that too Binky!! Especially when it’s the clumps of fur that are just saying PLUCK ME!

[skunklionshow]

Trichotillamania is a psychological disorder inwhich people pluck out their hair on their body, head, eyebrows, and eyelashes.  Its an OCD disorder often called "trich" (sounds like trick) for short.

I’m thinking that maybe we have a form of lago-trich….can we start a forum support group?

PS good to know its ok and that it’s molting season.  She’s crazy shedding right now!

[BinkyBunny]

HAHAHA!!! Lago-trich support group! That’s funny. “Step away from the bunny. Step away from the bunny.”

[Gravehearted]

he he, that’s too funny! Poor Hareiette, she sat still for about 30 minutes while I brushed, plucked and even lint rolled her yesterday. I think I pulled off enough fur to make a nice sweater and she was such a good girl. Feeling very pretty, she paraded around the living room – but much to my dismay she was all shaggly again! ooo boy!

[skunklionshow]

I think I need to join the support group….I’ve been plucking my girl w/ her current molting and she looks kinda scraggily.  She has a black top coat w/ white under coat and so when she is molting she looks kinda spotty like.  She looks a "hot mess" as my students would say.  Not to mention my underweight cat looks pretty crappy too w/ her shedding and the heat wave.  Unfortunately, my cats don’t allow a good pluck!

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