Matted fur...advice?

[Naughtykitty]

Hi,

We recently got a long haired cat. I've been brushing him but he won't let me touch his belly. I've now noticed that he has three mats of fur under his armpits and I keep trying to get the out but he won't let me get near them! What should I do? If I leave them it will just get worse won't it?

Take him to the vet and get a vet nurse to clip it off. Also get his bloomers and bum trimmed to stop and poo nuggets sticking!
You can't leave them as they will get worse. Could you get a professional groomer to come every few months and give him a good going over? I have too long haired Persians, who have very easy coats as long as I stay on top of it. But having a professional every 3-4 months really helps. And you'd not believe how much fur she combs out.

Oh can you get cat groomers? I had no idea! I will look into that! X

Also buy a furminator they are very good for pets with long hair. :) My cats use a groomer, she collects them and drops them off afterwards.

You need a metal comb/ dog rake to deal with the undercoat. Furminators ony do the tip. Non branded deshedding tools are just as good and much cheaper than furminators. My groomer comes to my house.

Mine keeps getting matts along her sides at the minute. It’s where she keeps rolling around on the floor because it’s too hot. I’ve been using a small pair of clippers (actually a beard trimmer that DP doesn’t use anymore) to break up the matts and then combing the remnants out. Whether that’s an option depends on whether your cat tolerates the noise. It’s far easier than trying to brush or cut them out and far less uncomfortable for the cat.
If they get quite bad and the clippers aren’t an option you may need a vet to remove them, possibly under sedation.

Wow I have a long haired moggy - he's got clumps I need to sort out be he gets the grumpy bears when I try it - often resort to scissors and combing

Please don't use scissors!!! So dangerous!! If they will withstand the noise, use an electric shaver to clip at them - much safer :) there are many cat groomers around. I've a great one in Gloucestershire area. I'm lucky my raggy literally lets me lie her on her back on my lap and comb away to her hearts content :)

OP do you have a mumfie trimmer? I used mine on a cat once quick and painless for both parties.

My neighbour has her long haired cat shaved at the start of the hot weather,
It literally just has a fluffy face tail and lower leg. Looks ridiculous but won't be groomed

Yes don't use scissors. I cat fatty's neck. She wasn't bothered but I was devastated. Stupidly too her to the vets who charged £200 for stitches.( stupid because it would have healed very quickly on its own) I panicked.

My neighbour has her long haired cat shaved at the start of the hot weather, It literally just has a fluffy face tail and lower leg. Looks ridiculous but won't be groomed

Is the cat's name Obie? Are you Thelma?

Our long haired cat doesn’t like being brushed at all. She also gets matts under her armpits, you can’t leave them as they just get worse.

I ended up buying the same clippers as the vet has. Very expensive but will pay for themselves over a few years and also saves the trauma of making sure the cat is in when I want to go to the vets. And of course the trauma of the miaowing all the way there and back!

These are the ones I have, they we’re a good investment as I can get matts as soon as they appear, I also clipped most of her belly to help in the hot weather.

Andis Agc Super 2-Speed Professional Animal Clippers www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009WM6SGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DzAzBb03B0A74?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Sadly not, id love to be one of his wives😂

No this is a bog standard but very fat tortie, he looks ludicrous

idiotcat is not very conscientious about his personal grooming and often gets mats, he also is not keen on any grooming assistance

What he will tolerate is a normal plastic comb and I often go over him when he is on my lap and have a small pair of sharp scissors at the ready. If you find a mat then try your best to separate it from the rest of the fur and often you will find the comb can get between it and the skin and you can snip away with impunity above the comb with no worries about snipping any actual cat

Even if you don't get it all then getting the worst of it off seems to stop it going too dreadlockish.

It can take me a couple of weeks to get him tangle free as he won't tolerate any moving, so I can only do the side he presents to me. And he only lets me brush his tummy with my hairbrush it's not mine anymore, but don't tell him when he is falling asleep on my bed.

He was quite tatty earlier on in the Summer since he had had a very busy & outdoorsy Spring and I had not realised he had got so unkempt and there was a good deal of snipping that had to be done...but he looks lovely now.
All Maine Coone a-like and floofy!

maybe a picture....