Cats bathroom issue

Question
My non-fixed indoor cat (roughly 10-12 in age) is some type of long-hair breed (looks like Maine Coone mixed with something else) and sometimes she has this problem where she will get stool stuck in her fur after using the litter box. She will then proceed to drag her bottom across the tiled and carpeted floor trying to remove it. When someone in my family tries to assist her in removing the stool with toilet tissue, she will attempt to run away from us. Once we are finally able to catch up with her, it's a risk of injury to us to help clean her up (the cat has a natural stand-offish anti-social personality and does not hesitate to use teeth and claws to keep you from touching her when she doesn't want to be and/or knows her behavior has upset you). Is there anything we can do where it's easier to clean her up? We have the same problem when giving her baths to the point we basically let her groom herself. Only one person in the family "dares" give her a bath, that member of the family is now living on their own.

I know we have the option of having her fur shaved and kept clipped close in the back by a groomer/vet, but that goes back to her natural personality as being hostile. Is there anything we can use to calm/sedate her during bath time and/or when she experiences these bathroom "accidents"? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.  

Answer
Crystal,

At age 10-12, she is probably to old to spay, but some of her anti-social behavior, especially around her rear is due to the fact that she is still dealing with her hormones.

Clearly, clipping her back end is desirable.  You will have to check with a vet about what they might recommend for gentle sedation.  I have heard that phenobarbitol and valium can both work (valium also stimulates the appetite in cats), but your vet may have some better choices.

You can also try a pet grooming shop.  Some are very good with recalcitrant animals and know the tricks of the trade in gently restraining cats who would rather be somewhere else.  To be fair, if you do take this route, warn them ahead of time that you have had problems bathing and grooming the cat.

Some vets will offer a grooming service as well.  If your vet does, knowing the cat, things could work out that way.

One other thing you might consider is having your vet sedate her and clip the back end (a 10-15 minute process) on an office visit.  This should last for some time before you might have to have it repeated.

One caveat about popular non-prescription methods to sedate cats, is that once cats figure out that the substance is messing with their head, the cat will usually fight it and the sedative can have the opposite effect.  I am thinking of herbals like Rescue Remedy or Bach's Flowers.

Good luck & best regards... Norm.