Grooming help needed for matted ragdoll

[Goodiewhemper]

Morning, we have an indoor ragdoll who is very timid and sensitive. He got out before Christmas and got quite wet and has developed quite a lot of matts which I am struggling to remove. He has never been a huge fan of grooming but loves his tummy rubs. Whenever he got matts before I could remove by a combo of working out with my fingers, splitting the matt and gentle brushing.

This is not working this time. I suspect at some stage I tugged to hard or hurt him somehow and now he just won't stay still if I start grooming him. He will still allow belly rubs but as soon as the brush comes out he is off. I am always really careful and gentle so I am finding this really stressful. I have spoken to the vet but they have said to keep at it as to groom him he would need sedation and they are not keen.

So if you have a similar beastie and you have been found a way to manage the matts please share your tips and best tools. Both my cat and I will be very grateful.

I have long haired Persians and I feel your pain. You could try a professional groomer. Mine have a maintenance groom
Every 3 months or so. I have clippers for if they get any matts in between. Sometimes it's just easier to shave it rather than mess around with combs.

My friend has an extremely grumpy cat that always behaves beautifully for the groomer.

Try and get him comfortable with being brushed again. One of my cats is semi longhaired and needs regular brushing. She's prone to collecting slugs and twigs (she goes out).
I got her used to the brush with slow exposure, literally one brush and then a treat. If yours is spooked by even seeing the brush start with just fussing him with the brush in sight and don't try to use it, then build up.
Mine now loves a brush and willingly succumbs without treats.
With mats, I was told if you can cut part of it off, cats can often groom out the remainder. So don't try and cut it at skin level as you might accidentally nip them, but cut the top half of the mat off.

Mine hates the noise of the shaver, so out comes the scissors, and give him a very careful hair cut.

Pet shaver with a ceramic blade, just shave the matts straight out

My long haired cat got quite matted when she was a little older so she had a lion cut at the groomer and it grew back in lovely condition. Although might be a bit cold at the moment! Other than that I guess clippers at home would work. Good luck!

Find a cat groomer although they can be in short supply. During covid when I couldn't get to the groomer my cat did end up at the vet and needed sedation to remove matting.

The groomer I have just started using managed to get rid of them without sedation and used a mix of combing, clipping and scissors.

I have a matted mess of a birman who goes into kill mode if he so much as sees a cat comb. I have to send him to the vet to be sedated and shaved. He comes back with furry boots and looks so cute! He quite likes being shaved too as he hates his fur and pulls it out with his teeth. He’s a psychotic weirdo.

I don't like sending my Persian to the groomers as a previous cat was treated a bit roughly by one 🥺. I know this one can be a bit naughty as well so I tend to take care of the grooming.

I would also recommend getting clippers and taking the mats off. Trying to do it with a brush is just painful for them and now I just buzz them off. I didn't buy a fancy one, just a Wahl one and that's worked well.

It is also good when it's hot, as I can just give him a summer haircut too. Unfortunately I'm a terrible groomer and he won't be on any pet food ads any time soon 😂

I have a mobile groomer and she is very gentle with my cat. He tries to kill me but doesn't even scratch her. She's bloody expensive though although still cheaper than vet sedation

We take our very long haired Ragdoll to the groomers for a lion cut once a year. She is always much happier after it and can groom herself. She looks really cute too😻

If he's really bad I would honestly get him done under sedation at the vets so you have a clean slate to work with. Then you can build up positive associations with grooming again.

Matts are so painful and brushing will be really sore for him - so anything you do now will just be reinforcing to him that brushing is bad.

I've been here with my ragdoll. I asked the vet who said:

Get one of these:

Mikki Dog, Puppy, Cat Matt Splitter - Dematting and Detangler Tool - Removes Knots and Matts amzn.eu/d/4uxu8rc

I found it didn't remove the worst matted bits but it worked as a guard so I could snip them out with sharp scissors knowing I wasn't going to nip his skin.

Once I'd managed to get his coat looking good again I got one of these and use it a couple of times a week. He's never matted again.

Deal: JASWELL Pet Grooming Tool Dematting Comb for Dogs& Cats 2 Sided Undercoat Rake for Easy Mats &Tangles Removing amzn.eu/d/esU1l5p

Obviously I brushed him before but nothing has been as effective at removing loose hair as this tool. The other bonus is the house doesn't get covered when he malts because I'm dealing with it a source!

Good luck, it's not much fun for your or the cat.

My groomer says not to use a tool like your 2nd link. I did have one but my cat hated it and wouldn't tolerate it at all. She used a wide toothed comb and a furminator alongside her clippers for the worst bits

@dementedpixie I had a wide tooth comb before and a special ragdoll brush but they didn't work as well and he got mats. Only 'the rake' (as we call it) works.

He doesn't mind it. I'd say he tolerates it rather than likes it but if it stops the awful and painful mats then so be it.

I suppose you use whatever works for them. My cat has a crazy candy floss undercoat and I think the rake just pulls the hair and it hurts him

The fur the groomer removed last week

Much appreciate all the replies and tips. I would take him to a groomer in a heartbeat if I could find one. No one seems to be grooming cats anymore where I live or in the surrounding area and the vet won't sedate him unless the mats get much worse.

Maybe a little vetenarian approved CBD oil might help keep him calm. We tried Feliway but it doesn't seem to help much.

I caressed him a little this evening, followed by a few dreamies which he loved so I will work at building his confidence again for the next few days. I guess gentle and slow is the way to go. I have ordered one of the blades as recommended and a detangling spray from Amazon. Any recommendations for cat clippers? I am confused by the range on Amazon as they seem to be all targeting dogs - are cat clippers different? 😳

What area are you in?
I only found my groomer through my neighbour even though I'd searched for one myself

I'm in Ireland. My vets used to have a cat groomer working with them but she has retired. I have contacted various groups, pet parlours etc but no joy unfortunately.

That's funny as my groomer did her training in Ireland. Luckily (for me) she's now working in Scotland

I give treats straight after grooming. Usually she only gets one treat a day.

I had to use nail scissors to cut out for one of mine in the past took a few weeks

Can you try a different vet?

I just have a £15 amazon pet clipper, its a ceramic blade i think which means you won't nick the skin and i use it without the guard on, takes 2 seconds to shave a matt clean off