elderly cat stopped grooming himself

[Labobo]

We have a gorgeous boy who is fifteen. He is in great spirits, healthy appetite but definitely slowing down and is on daily meds. Recently I've noticed his hair is matted even though I groom him every other day. And he now has dried mud on his stomach from going out into the garden. I left it 24 hours to see if he would groom himself but he hasn't. I know cats hate baths but I can't leave him grubby.

Does anyone know the best way to clean him up? I tried a damp flannel but it's not shifting the mud and I don't want to use soap incase he starts to wash again. He's currently on my lap helping me work and purring for England.

Damp e cloth? It picks up more dirt than a flannel.

That's a good idea. I'll try that.

Ah, bless him. I've used water based, perfume free wet wipes on my old cats when they've been a bit grubby.

I recorded my old boy this morning purring like an engine

Damp cloth and a really thorough brush twice a day. I had to do it for my old lad when he couldn't manage any more. And a regular claw clip which he was a lot less happy about!

My Old Lady has completely given up grooming herself.

Can't recommend a Furminator highly enough. Once a week and no more mats or clumps falling out.

Might be an idea to mention it to the vet as well. Arthritis can be a bugger for flexibility (voice of experience!) and sometimes cats reduce grooming because it is uncomfortable to contort themselves into the required positions.

I second the PP who says get advice. Stopping normal grooming behaviour is generally a sign of pain in cats. Arthritis or oral pain. It's worth getting your OAP kitty checked over.

My kitty has arthritis and has stopped grooming, she just can't reach most of her body any more. She can't have anti-inflammatories because it sets off her diarrhoea.
She's ok generally and stays in her bed on the heat pad most of the day and I give her a bath twice a week. At first it was like bathing an octopus with teeth and claws but they soon get used to it and just put up with it.
I give her a good old comb when she's dry. If he's not grooming the claws will have to be cut too or they will grow into his pads. I just take the sharp tips off with cat claw clippers, don't go too low.

Thank you all so much. I didn't realise there had been so many replies.

I agree it could well be arthritis. He needs a lift service now to get onto high surfaces (likes to sit on a bar stool to supervise DC having breakfast) and he doesn't contort his body much at all any more.

He also used to love being combed but now seems to find it uncomfortable, which made me wonder if he's a bit sensitive. I'm going to look into the Furminator.

Good tip about his claws. They keep getting stuck on things these days. I find them shed about the house too. He's really not going to like me for doing it, but I'll have a go.

He also used to love being combed but now seems to find it uncomfortable, which made me wonder if he's a bit sensitive. I'm going to look into the Furminator.

This is my boy. He's 18, arthritic, and he's skin and bone because he has IBD. Furminators are brilliant but way, way too painful for him - anything but the softest brushes cause him pain... and the softest brushes don't work. He's on painkillers but they only do so much.

I just snip off the matted fur every few weeks. It isn't generally recommended because it's easy to cut them, but I have a technique and he's had no cuts in the two years I've been doing it.

Thank you @HeyDemonsItsYaGirl. I'm sorry your old boy finds it too uncomfortable. I had a look at the furminator but it didn't look any better than the comb I use. I wondered about getting a baby's hairbrush, just to collect the surface stray hairs. Might help a bit.