I have a 2 year old little girl cat and she gets the WORST matted fur all over her chest, tummy, and back. She baths often and I even try and wash her often so she doesn't get too clumpy. I would brush her but I think it hurts her. She gets really pissy when I try. Should I just go get her shaved for the summer? Any ideas would be great!
2006-08-15 05:15:41 · 19 answers · asked by Hannah 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Well I think that you should take her to the vet and ask a doctor to do so. If not, maybe go to a pharmacy and buy things to stop it. But i think the best thing to do is to go to the VET.
2006-08-15 05:20:57 · answer #1 · answered by Mel M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cut out the mats and start brushing her daily. You may have to try a few brushes to find one she likes. Let the cat come to the brush. I just hold out the brush and let my cats rub on it and after they make friends with the brush, I brush them more vigorously. As soon as they seem tired of it, I stop. Now it is to the point that when they see me with the brush they come running, but it took a while. At first they wanted nothing to do with it. I have 2 long hairs and a short hair who have never been to a groomer or had a bath other than the bath they give themselves. I always get comments on how nice their fur is. It just takes regular brushing.
2006-08-15 12:24:56 · answer #2 · answered by korbbec 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All long haired cats get matted fur, you need to take your cat to a good cat care place and have it given a bath, and a trim along with lanolin treatment, that will reduce the number of knots etc that it gets, also , you must try to brush it gently at least twice a week to keep the fur from matting, and bathe and treat its fur at least once a month at the groomer.
2006-08-15 12:23:14 · answer #3 · answered by Pete 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My cat does that too,... He will let me brush him for a little bit... Try using a hard comb as opposed to a wire brush... I actually used one of those black unbreakable combs they used to give you on picture day and it removes much of the excess dead hair.
Just brush lightly and pull up in small strokes... you will be amazed at how much extra hair there is.
If you start by petting her and rubbing her head, she may get more comfortable with the idea of you combing/brushing her.
As far as the matted areas, I usually slowly and carefully work on them a little bit at a time with a small pair of scissors, until they are gone. Then with a little brushing they should stay away.
You really should not wash the cat very often if at all. This might be part of the problem, if not dried thoroughly and properly!
Good luck!
2006-08-15 12:25:18 · answer #4 · answered by freaknerd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are special de-tangling brushes that don't hurt the cat. Once you've taken her to the vet and gotten all the tangles out, please get one of these brushes and brush her regularly with it so the problem doesn't come up again. If she doesn't like it, do it anyway (as gently as possible) and give her a treat or two when you do. You may just need to deal with having her upset at you for a little while, since it's for her own best interests that you're brushing her -- whether she understands that or not.
2006-08-15 12:25:48 · answer #5 · answered by thejanith 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldnt wash her unless she is completly brushed out bcos it makes matting worse. Best to shave her off if its 2 hard for u to brush. Get them to leave a little fur on face, tail and bottom of legs so she can still clean herself. Start brushing reg once she has been cut, get cat used to it.
2006-08-15 12:22:46 · answer #6 · answered by nicole 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bathing won't remove the matts, it causes a process called felting which binds the hair together. Never bath her unless you have combed all of the knots out first.
Comb her, but be gentle. Like combing a little girl's hair, hold it at the base so you don't pull it. You can get her shaved but you still need to comb it to help prevent furballs and it will grow back. If you groom her regularly she will get used to it.
2006-08-15 14:40:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to have both my cats shaved for the same reason, the fur that came back in doesn't seem to mat as easily
2006-08-15 12:21:47 · answer #8 · answered by Susie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a Maine Coon kitty and she got really ratty on her back. I called the vet and told him and he said try to comb it (not happening she hates the comb) or cut it. So, I cut a little piece at a time and kitty would clean herself and losen so I could cut a little more and it went away about a week later and never came back.
Shaving isn't really that good for a cat. Especially if he is an outdoor cat.
2006-08-15 13:55:33 · answer #9 · answered by Lost 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
keep her indoors for a while to make sure that her fur gets a break from being matted so often. then if her fur does not get any better then take her to a vet and see what the problem is
2006-08-15 12:25:47 · answer #10 · answered by tokio hotel fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take her to the groomer and get her shaved if it is extremely bad and then after that start brushing her at least once a week to keep her fur from matting.
2006-08-15 12:39:35 · answer #11 · answered by macleod709 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋