What Causes Matted Cat Fur? A Guide To Preventing And Removing Matted Cat Hair
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Matted fur can be uncomfortable for cats, causing skin irritation and even infections if left untreated. Dusts collected for long periods on cats can cause the hair to become heavier and thicker. Similar to dust, cat dandruff can also collect on their fur and around the house. If your cat has this problem, you should check out my article how to get rid of cat dander in new house. I do use scissors on my cats’ mats – I ALWAYS make sure I know exactly where their skin is and then I cut through the mat and brush the rest out.
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Throughout this process, talk to your cat in a soothing tone and reward them with a treat. If at any point they get stressed, stop the process and then try again. Mats occur in cats with hair long enough to get tangled as they move and shed. Other times, something dirty or sticky starts the mat, and hair continues to join the party over time. Wet food, debris like mud or small twigs, and even a little poop left behind can start a mat.
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Like curly-haired humans, Lioyryan says that the undercoat of a cat can't expand and relax in humid or moist conditions. Especially during peak shedding season (spring and fall), this could easily cause matting. "A cat's natural defense against matting is grooming with their tongue, teeth, and paws," explains Lindsay Butzer, DVM, and Zesty Paws Spokesperson. This can be a lot of work for particular breeds of cats and can become more difficult as they age, gain weight, or with the changing of seasons. Small mats that aren't too tight to the skin can often be carefully combed out by hand. Removing mats from cats takes a steady hand, a lot of patience, and sometimes more than one person to keep the cat calm.
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Methods to deal with these fur tangles include brushing, combing, trimming, or seeking professional grooming assistance. The key is patience, gentleness, and a dose of positive reinforcement. Matting can be caused by various factors, from lack of grooming to dietary choices and health conditions.
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Then progress to alternating between a few brush strokes and a treat during brushing sessions until your kitty becomes more comfortable. We have received a lot of inquiries about mats over the last few months. So I have linked the posts on our social media channels about mats, including more general tips. Your location helps us to provide the most accurate and up-to-date product information.
Elderly cats can still develop Arthritis even at a healthy weight, but delaying the onset by maintaining your cat at a healthy weight will help. This explains why your cat’s hair tends to mat most frequently in areas of high friction. A healthy cat can nearly completely bend her spine to clean every nook and cranny. However, cats’ movement deteriorates with age, making it more difficult to brush those hard-to-reach regions.
Matted cat hair can form a noticeable clump in your pet’s fur. Sometimes having your cat’s fluffy hindbits professionally groomed or trimmed helps prevent mats. Read on to find out some causes of matted fur and tips for treating matted fur on cats. If your cat has severely matted fur, we don’t recommend trying to deal with this yourself at home. Instead, make an appointment to see your vet, who’ll be able to advise you on the best course of action. Cats are one of the most hygienic animals on the planet, spending roughly five hours of their day grooming and cleaning themselves.
Cat owners should talk to their vet for an accurate diagnosis. This will help you know how to help them and prevent future mats. With short-haired cats, a small slicker brush may be used next to slowly and gently brush through any remaining tangles. Certain breeds of cats (Persians, Maine Coons, and other long-haired breeds) are more likely to develop mats due to their coat types. When fine strands of cat hair get knotted and tangled, they often turn into densely entwined mats that refuse to separate.
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But don't worry; regular grooming and attention to these factors will help prevent matted cat hair and maintain your feline friend's coat beautifully. Also, mats that are so tight to your cat’s skin that you cannot get your fingers of a comb underneath will also need to be removed by a vet, usually under sedation. They will need to be cut out, but it is too dangerous to try this at home as you could easily cut and hurt your cat. If this sounds like the situation you’re dealing with, definitely leave it to a professional.
Cat hair is one of the best parts about a cat; with hundreds of thousands of hair per square inch, it’s what gives a cat its color and fluffiness. Matted cat hair is one of the most common cat problems, which can prompt a higher frequency of hairballs. If your cat has matted fur, check out this helpful information on how to deal with it. When embarking on a DIY grooming session for your feline friend, it's essential to be cautious.
Cat fur is more than just a pretty feature; it's a complex system. Think of it as a sophisticated layer of protection that guards against temperature extremes, and environmental elements. We independently pick all the products we recommend because we love them and think you will too. If you buy a product from a link on our site, we may earn a commission. Janelle is a cat mum to two resident adventure kitties, Lyra and Atlas, and numerous cat and kitten fosters. Janelle and her furry family enjoy filling their days with hiking, kayaking, and seeking out the best cat-friendly destinations around the Pacific Northwest.
Always brush from tip to tail, the same as you would when stroking your cat, and if your cat gets stressed out leave it for now and try again tomorrow. It may take a little getting used to but will make your cat happier and healthier in the long run. Ideally, you should establish a regular brushing routine to help your cat get used to being groomed and relieve any stress and anxiety. It is also possible that there is no major issue with your cat, such as ongoing arthritis or obesity, but rather that your feline is just feeling a little under the weather. Just as when we feel sick we might lose interest in activities we usually enjoy, so do your cats. It is also possible that stress can make your cat self-groom less, but this does depend on each individual cat.
Also, if you have a cat that is predominantly an indoor-only pet, they will shed a little all year round, rather than in one go. Therefore, indoor cats may be less prone to matting because of consistently shedding a little, rather than a lot. Though mats can look (and feel) like a big problem, they can be worked out of your cat’s coat quite easily if you’re willing to put a bit of patience into the process. A few things can contribute to a cat’s coat becoming matted.
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