Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Matted long hair cat

56 replies

StrawberryFizz26 · 22/02/2021 23:03

I've noticed over the past week or so a few matts on my big fluffy ginger boy, I've managed to get most out by gentle brushing but he's got quite a big one on either side, kind of in the middle of his body and just down from his back.

I've been looking on line at brushes to remove them but I'm worried they are too big.

I feel terrible, and will defo be upping his grooming routine. Does anyone have any tips on how to remove them?

I'll be googling local cat groomers tomorrow too.

Pic of him in his new fave sleeping spot, the dogs cage Smile

Matted long hair cat
OP posts:
JennysWell · 22/02/2021 23:14

YouTube has some videos. If it’s really bad try picking at it with the end of a grooming comb. Must confess, I cut some out of my cat, and keep on top of it now using this brush www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01KM4S2BW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

CodMouth · 22/02/2021 23:54

You can get a dematting comb that looks like a rake. It removes tangles easily as the hooked blades do most of the work.

Emmelina · 23/02/2021 01:14

He’s beautiful! My Lupin is very long haired, we find in winter with the undercoat thickening he’s really prone to matting. We now have a furminator from pets at home to groom him with, he loves it. It gets through the different layers!

Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 07:04

Thanks all, I'll check out YouTube.

Would one of these work?

www.petshop.co.uk/Furminator-Deshedding-Tool-for-Large-Cats-With-Long-Hair?quantity=1

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2021 10:04

Where about a in the country are you OP? I know of a few good groomers.

Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2021 10:05

No a furminator will not work on long haired cats. You need a metal comb or grooming rake and a tangle teaser.

1starwars2 · 23/02/2021 10:20

How old is he? When my Dad's cat started to matt, vet said it was first sign of arthritis, not grooming herself properly.
If he's older it might be worth investigating.

Caramel81 · 23/02/2021 10:25

My Maine coon used to get mats on his belly as the fur was curlier there. I would brush him off every day but he would still get a couple every now and again which I would have to snip with nail scissors (I wouldn’t advise this if your cat isn’t very docile and will stay very still during it as you have to cut right next to the skin). The cat groomers/vets will be able to clip them off for you and then you can get a finer toothed grooming brush which will hopefully help

Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 10:49

He's 3 in April.

None of the groomers round here will help me due to the restrictions, I'm in the UK toddlertesplease North West

I'll call the vet!

OP posts:
LongPauseNoAnswer · 23/02/2021 10:54

We brush our long haired cat every day and he sometimes gets matts even with a thorough brushing every day. If we can't get it out with the metal comb we cut it if it's not too close to the skin. We also have a tangle teaser for him.

Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 10:57

I have a tangle teaser, a metal comb and do try to brush him regularly, he had some in his mane and I did cut those out with nail scissors but these are pretty bad.

I'm waiting on the vets calling me back, hopefully one of the nurses there will be able to do it.

OP posts:
LongPauseNoAnswer · 23/02/2021 11:02

Looks like you have all the right equipement @StrawberryFizz26

We have to brush our boy every single day, maybe if you do it daily it will help prevent them in future but like I said, we do our boy every day and he still gets matts.

Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 11:08

longpausenoanswer fingers crossed. I feel like a terrible cat mum :-)

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2021 13:33

There is a good groomer in Widnes. Called happy dogs and cats. My friends cats are booked in for tomorrow.

LongPauseNoAnswer · 23/02/2021 14:35

@StrawberryFizz26

longpausenoanswer fingers crossed. I feel like a terrible cat mum :-)
Aww don't feel bad, it can be very hard to groom a long hair properly. They don't exactly sit and let you do it, unless it's that special spot under the chin Grin
samlh · 23/02/2021 15:00

Hi OP.

Whereabouts in the northwest are you?

Groomers can operate as long as it's for the welfare of the cat and not cosmetic grooms (We had Leo groomed 3 weeks ago for that reason).

He is a long haired persian and even though we groom him daily, he was still getting matted and his poop was sticking to his behind because the hair was too long.

We have the CATIT long haired grooming kit. It was about £30 but you get decent combs/brushes in there.

Unfortunately, Leo hated his daily groom at first, but now he just sits there and lets us get on with it (It might be the treats at the end but bribery works every time!)

Hope all goes okay xx

dementedpixie · 23/02/2021 15:05

I'm in Scotland and can't find a groomer to do mine and his matts are getting much worse. He hates me touching his tummy or going near him with scissors and I get scratched or he acts like he will bite me. He has had to be clipped twice in the past due to matting.

I ended up calling the vet yesterday and he is booked in next week. At least they have the option of sedating him if he gets upset by being clipped.

Allergictoironing · 23/02/2021 18:12

Groomers can operate as long as it's for the welfare of the cat and not cosmetic grooms (We had Leo groomed 3 weeks ago for that reason).

Yes, I actually work in Covid restrictions advisory at the moment and welfare grooming is definitely allowed e.g. mats, very thick coated dogs being stripped or clipped when the weather gets warm, claw trimming for those who don't do their own etc.

Wolfiefan · 23/02/2021 18:17

Would a zoom groom work?
I think there is a furminator for long hair?
I used to use a wide toothed grooming comb. The teeth of it could turn so it pulled a lot less.

Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 18:19

I've had the dog groomed as a welfare case but the 2 people local to me have both said no. I've asked on a FB group and as a back up have him booked in with the vet next week.

toddlerteaplease thanks for the tip, depending on what I get back from FB, I'll check them out, they're over an hour from me so hopefully I'll be able to find someone local to help.

Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 23/02/2021 21:43

There seems to be a huge shortage of cat groomers. There's one a 40 minute journey from me but the last time I tried to take him there I was contacted (just before I got there!) To say her son had covid so we had to turn around and go home. Meanwhile my poor cat has puked in the carrier and had crapped in it too by the time I got home.

It was so stressful for both of us that I don't want to travel that distance again. Other ones are shut or don't do clipping. It will have to be a vet cut instead

Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 22:29

Ah dementedpixie that's really shit (no pun intended) poor kitty!
They've quoted me between £30 - £130 at the vet, depending on whether he's going to be sedated or not, he's pretty chill to be fair I guess it just depends how bad they are.
Not having much luck on finding anyone local either.

OP posts:
Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 22:30

samlh I'm Cheshire way, where did you get your boy groomed?

OP posts:
Original poster
StrawberryFizz26 · 23/02/2021 22:32

dementedpixie why the hell did they leave it so late to let you know? They must have known he'd been for a test.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 23/02/2021 22:32

I was quoted £70- £125 depending on whether sedation was needed. Depends if he tolerates the clippers I suppose