Mats in fur

[SabrinaThwaite]

I’m looking after my mum’s cat whilst she’s in hospital, although I suspect I’m going to be taking her on full time. She’s a short / medium haired tabby with a thick coat. She had a few mats that are really dense, almost like felt, that I’ve been carefully snipping out as there’s no way I can detangle them. At least they don’t seem to pull at her skin, and she looks like she’s in good general health (we think she’s about 15).

Any tips on how to stop these mats forming? I’ve picked up a detangling brush and she’s getting a good brush a couple of times a day.

Just keep brushing. Ours is 16 and get them from time to time. Grooming can get difficult for them as they get older.

She doesn’t seem very into grooming, it has to be said!

If they really won't tolerate prolonged brushing, I just shave the matts off. It saves distress All round. My cats were very compliant. But some mats did have to be shaved.

Thanks all.

I think the vet has shaved them off before, she has been prone to them for a while. So I think I'll stick with snipping them out (there's only another 3 or 4 left, I don't have clippers) and plenty of regular brushing as she is quite compliant.

You can get a furminator brush which is extremely useful for removing the underfur. I usually brush her and then trim the mats.

I have a furminator that I use on my own cat so I'll giver it a go on mum's cat. She's cooped up in one room at the moment to keep her separate from my cat, she's delighted when people go in to spend time with her and seems to take being brushed as part of her quality time.

Daily brush should keep on top of it. If the mats are too close to the skin to cut off completely - just cut part off and with brushing and maybe the odd bit of self grooming they will disperse.
I have a semi longhaired cat too who also loves being brushed!

Thought I should add the obligatory cat tax.

She is a very sweet cat.

I bought a mat splitter to deal with this problem.

That blade looks a bit scary @Bjorkdidit

Is it easy to use?

It mostly depends on whether you can hold on to your cat, it might take two of you.

But you just need to tease it through the knot, making sure it's parallel to the skin and not right close up to it so you're at risk of cutting the cat. If someone else holds the cat and you hold the knot and try and loosen/cut the fur near the skin, that usually works.

Here's my knotty little madam. But brushing should help, if she'll let you.

So I’ve had a good comb through with the furminator and there’s so much loose fluffy undercoat. Cut a few more mats out too.

She is a sweetheart.
I think cats can sometimes get a bit arthritic when old which can make grooming harder. You can get food supplements that help. I'd also ask the vet to check her teeth and mouth next time your Mum takes her in case there's a soreness that's making her groom less.

I’ve started adding Yumove to her food, but she is pretty sprightly and can certainly jump easily. Unlike my similarly aged Siamese, who has always been rubbish at jumping (and is also spectacularly clumsy).