Matted Fur On Long Haired Cats

The fatter the cat the more difficult it could be for it to groom every spot.

Matted fur on long haired cats.

Your cat will usually experience matted hair on hard to spot areas where it isn t usually groomed such as behind the ears the groin into his arms or around the collar area. Lift the tail with one hand and run the brush gently over the mats pulling as much loose hair out of the clump as possible. Work your way down to the base of the mat as you untangle the top. What are matted fur clumps the clumps are basically tangled hair.

If the brush doesn t seem to work use both of your thumbs and index fingers to pull apart the matted fur. These tangles are not only unsightly they can also cause discomfort facilitate skin disorders or harbor worms mites or other pests. Over time small mats can turn into large clumps and dreadlocks causing your cat pain and suffering for no reason. Matted fur can happen to cats with all lengths of hair.

Regular brushing is recommended for your cat s coat health and most knots and mats can be removed this way. Using a wide toothed comb. Brush the matted hair away from the cat s anus. Long haired old or sickly cats usually require a little assistance from their owners with the process.

The goal is to unknot tiny portions of the mat at a time. Matting occurs more in spring and autumn when cats are molting. Although most short haired or younger cats should be able to keep themselves mat free without issue. Keep in mind that shedding dead hair is normal and it s a process that cannot be avoided.

Some mats may loosen with a few strokes but stop brushing if the hair doesn t move or the cat seems uncomfortable. If left for long your cat won t only look messy but he ll experience the following. How to unmat cat fur. It s more severe with long haired cats who have excessive fur that falls out.

Dubswede how to remove mats from a longhaired cat 1. Outdoor cats and long haired cats are more likely to develop mats than short haired indoor felines. On the other hand frequent movement can cause the fur to mat as well. If the mat is one large clump sometimes pulling it apart allows the brush or comb to better untangle the hair.

Matted fur occurs more frequently in long haired cats but this doesn t mean it won t happen to short haired cats. Sprinkle a little cornstarch or talcum powder in the area of the mat and gently work it around with your fingers. If the cat resists take a break and speak in a soothing voice petting the cat until it relaxes. Prepare the matted area.

Gently pull the mat up away from the skin so you can see where the skin is. The places where matting is most common include the chest in between the legs the neck or anywhere where the cat s fur most meets friction. Old infirm overweight and long haired cats in particular are more susceptible to tangled fur which can become clumped mats or knotted dreadlocks.