Matted fur - please help!

[missbonita]

My Siberian cat is brushed a few times a week and really hates it, (unlike her sister who is brushed every night and begs for more.) She also doesn't groom herself very well. The result is a few matted bits I've had to cut out which has made her even crosser.

Does anyone have any advice. She bit me yesterday when I was trying to brush her belly - she's never ever bitten or scratched before.

Any advice much appreciated.

I have various brushes, a small matt splitter and often resort to scissors too. Hopefully my long haired cat will shed some of his excess fur now it's coming into spring and brushing will be easier

I will look into a matt splitter - sounds painful! :(

www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/matt-splitter-for-small-matts

Get a professional to do it!

There are loads of dog groomers here but can't find a cat one. Very annoying

I have never seen anyone that grooms cats - is that a thing? I had no idea.

Vet nurses may groom kitty for you, I would try a zoom groom rubber brush as well.

My vet will apparently shave them under sedation - think they call it a lion cut

My car used to go the vets annually for sedation and a shave, she was evil and untouchable vet thought she was feral, we got her as a kitten from the cats protection though so don't know her background!

Cat not car...I can't even drive!

My vet also offers it under sedation. Not sure I'd go down that route though unless absolutely necessary. Have been considering it for my oldest furry friend

Shaved under sedation sounds like a risky google search!

I think I'll try doing it at home fist (protective gauntlets?) but may result to a pet groomer. I'd like her to learn to accept it but I guess that may not happen.

I have a professional cat groomer who comes to my house. I think I'm in the wrong job!

My maine coon absolutely hates being brushed with any of his cat brushes or combs but doesn't mind at all if I do it with with my tangle teaser!

My two Persians aren't huge fans of brushing, I manage but they still get the occasional matt.
I've worked out the 'problem' areas and tend to try and get those brushed more frequently (leg joints/armpits, behind the ears etc).
If I do have to snip out a matt, I always slide a comb underneath the knot as a barrier between the delicate kitty skin before I cut, better safe than sorry!.

Another heads up for a tangle teaser. We tried lots of ' cat brushes/ groom do dahs before trying one and lo and behold- she doesn't mind it !

I use a tangle teaser on my Persians and they don't mind it. They love a going over with the furminator. But they have to be held to be comes with a metal comb. I had awful trouble with knots until a groomer taught me how to groom them properly.
I've recently got a zoom groom, which they like. But it makes their coat look awful afterwards. (Though I might have over groomed them)

I once cut one of mines neck, so I do any trimmed with thinning scissors.

See my thread...I have an ungroomable Maine Coon! I've had MC for years and alwats been able to snip/trip/comb out matts but Obie has the thickest coat I have ever seen on a cat, and he won't ;et us, or any of his women (he moonlights in several houses)

It costs us £150 to have him shaved under sedation, and we do it twice a year! Afterwards he looks dreadful for a week but feels great and he is so much happier. I have bought every grooming tool on the market with no success (I groom his sister ok).
Cats skin is very thin so you have to be so careful if you do it yourself with scissors, so I just suck up the cost and the embarrassment. It takes the vets several hours to do him!

My dog groomer does cats too. Some do.

I think if you have an uncooperative long hair a clip under sedation is inevitable.

We had three Persians who all hated grooming with a passion. It must’ve cost my parents a fortune.

My long haired cat has an annual shave under sedation as he goes loopy when they turn the electric razor on - it’s being done a bit earlier this year as I’ve been ill and hospitalised for the past couple of months and DH dropped the ball with grooming him.

Thanks for all these replies - so so helpful. I will try the zoom groom and other and before I look into the groomer/sedation route. I have located a cat groomer not too far away.