How can I get rid of my cat's mats?

Question

We just got a cat. She's about 2 years old and friendly. We can finally brush her but she has about 7 or 8 clumps of hair on her. She is a long hair and obviously wasn't brushed regularly. Besides shaving her or using scissors, does anyone know how to get rid of the clumps? Maybe a spray on conditioner or something?

Answer 1

No please do not use a spay or conditioner this will only make the problem worse

Grooming your cat regularly with a brush or comb will reduce the occurrence of mats in the fur. Unfortunately, many cats wind up with matted fur because they hate to be groomed. Here's how to deal with the problem, which occurs most often in longhairs.


Steps:
1. Attempt to remove the fur mat after the cat has eaten. Cats tend to be more relaxed after meals.

2. Adopt a calm and soothing demeanor as you approach the cat. Have your manicure scissors hidden in your pocket as you pet the cat.

3. Once the cat is relaxed, try to work out the fur mat with your fingers. Pull out the scissors if that doesn't work.

4. Snip down the middle of the fur mat, far from the skin. It's quite easy to snip the skin accidentally on longhaired cats, so work carefully.

5. Slowly work apart the fur mat with your fingers. Snip away a little more if necessary. Reassure the cat in a soothing voice as you snip. If she becomes upset, stop and come back to the task later.

6. Once you've worked apart the fur mat and it's clearly away from the skin, cut it off.

7. Reward the cat's cooperation with a kitty treat.

8. If the cat has several fur mats, remove them at separate times. The cat will quickly lose her patience after you remove the first fur mat. Build trust with a gentle approach and kitty treats to make future encounters easier.

9. Bring the cat to a professional groomer if the cat is unapproachable, if the fur mat is in a delicate area or if the mats are extremely tangled.

Answer 2

Becky C is right. Getting the mats wet by bathing or using a water based spray will only make them worse.

Please do not use scissors on your cat. The mats are very close to the skin and cats have very thin skin. The danger of puncture with a wriggling cat (and she will wriggle) is extrememly high. Even bandage scissors with blunt ends won't work because you can't get close enough with cutting skin.

The vet tech at your vet's office is experienced in using clippers to take the mats off.

Answer 3

There are very fine toothed wire combs that you can buy at a pet supply store. You have to be very carefull and gently tease the mats. You may still have to resort to scissors but if so, use them very sparingly. Clip little bits of the mats at a time untill the whole thing is gone. It will grow back in no time. Of course, once the mats are gone, you have to make sure to brush every day. If you will be bathing your kitty then be sure to rinse very well as soap/shampoo can cause mats.

Answer 4

Sometimes if you brush their fur really thoroughly, the mats will come undone . . . but the cat probably won't sit still for that, as brushing that hard hurts the cat. It's quicker and more painless for the both of you to just use scissors.

Answer 5

You could try a baby shampoo de-tangler... but cat fur has an undercoat (short soft hairs) and a top coat (long guard hairs) that weave together quite tightly in a mat. You might just have to have her professionally groomed. Don't worry, it will grow back!

Answer 6

Only remedy I know of is to trim them out with scissors and then keep her brushed. Once they get to that point they're impossible to get out and can cause health problems if they are in the wrong areas!

Answer 7

use some spray in conditioner and slowly comb through it like you would you hair and if thta doesnt work wet the mats and put conditioner on it and brush through it then wash out the conditioner,

Answer 8

Hey PoopDoll: Listen to this girl, Becky C. She knows her sh!t.


Thanx I have a short haired silver tabby and I tried your advice and it worked like a charm!

Answer 9

warsh it and comp it while its wet and blow dry it