How To Groom A Cat With Matted Fur

Matting can affect both longhaired and shorthaired cats and it s important that all cats get frequent grooming from their owners.

How to groom a cat with matted fur.

Longhaired cats develop matted fur more easily than their shorthaired counterparts do. Dental issues the easiest place to start your investigation into why a senior cat isn t autogrooming as often is their mouth. Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it. If your cat has sections of matted fur you can probably take care of the problem yourself.

If her fur is bad enough that the mat is just one giant stretch of knotted hair that s a situation that probably calls for a professional as shaving her fur might be necessary. How to safely remove matts and how to prevent future matts from occurring. When a cat no longer shows an interest in grooming it s important to look for the underlying causes as an old cat with matted fur may be indicative of an underlying health issue. If you have a longhaired cat brush it at least once and possibly twice per day.

Really stubborn mats can be broken up with specialized mat rakes or by cutting the mat out with a pair of scissors. This can lead to dry scaly and sometimes irritated skin. While a lack of grooming sometimes is just part of old age many times there may be a medical cause for it in your elderly feline. Dubswede how to remove mats from a longhaired cat 1.

To detangle cat fur examine the whole cat for matted fur and try to break it up with your fingers. Illnesses such as hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties. If you cannot untangle everything that way use a brush to gently break up the ends of the mat working inward. Usually grooming keeps the fur clean and prevents fleas from taking hold.

Using a wide toothed comb. When your cat notices this change they start to groom more which could increase the amount of hair they ingest and cause other health problems. These clumps of fur can be painful for the cat. Dr magnifico a small animal veterinarian explains why cats fur becomes matted.

Certain breeds of cats persians maine coons and other long haired breeds are more likely to develop mats. Take your feline to the vet or groomer if you can t untangle the stubborn mats. Brush your cat s fur frequently.