Long haired cat and matting

[SlatternIsMyMiddleName]

Good evening.

I have had a variety of fabulous cats over the years and currently have my first long haired cat.

i have noticed that he has big mats of fur between his front paws, where his chest would be and on his tummy. I have never had to groom a cat before and going forward will do so, but is there anyway of dealing with the current mats other than cutting them out?

I have cut a few bits out and he has so much fur you wouldn’t notice.

I used to shave big mats off. It was Easter than trying to comb them out. My long haired Persians had a professional groom about e dry 3 months. I brushed with a tangle teaser and metal comb in between.

Thanks.

DH did suggest the shaver, but I wasn’t sure if that was a step too far!

With my big long-haired boy we tried all the brushes and combs. His fur was really thick and to get to the undercoat we found a metal comb best. Also had to wait till he was fast asleep and do a little each day.

Once or twice we resorted to cutting the matt out. I miss grooming him!

We tease it until he bites us. Then snip. Then if that fails it's off to the groomer to be shaved. Half price if you hold him down yourself and full price if they have to get a second person in to hold him. He is a very angry cat.

We had a long haired cat who was prone to matts. She hated being brushed too.

After a very traumatic case of a vet nurse insisting on combing out the matts, we went for the clipper.option. She used to find the vet quite traumatic so I ended up buying expensive vet’s clippers and did it at home when necessary. it still took two people, one to hold and one to clip but this meant we could easily just get any small mat out before if get bigger and needed a vet’s trip. Saved a lot of grief and the clippers paid for them selves over time.

we had this clipper and it was brilliant. Don’t forget clipper oil and to sharpen the blade every couple of years.
https://amzn.eu/d/5d5DMQd

Thanks for the advice everyone. Clippers seem like the way forward.

Two approaches.
Get him used to a brush. Don't start brush him. But give him treats and associate the brush with good things. Brush once, treat. Gradually build up.
Secondly - dealing with mats. I think brushing pulls, cutting part of it off can be enough to let the cat groom the rest. Don't try and cut close to the skin.
Ideally get him used to being brushed. My semi long haired cat now loves it.
Occasional daubs of hairball paste/hairball food not a bad idea either. Hairballs can be a serious problem for long haired cats..

I teased them by hand then pulled out the knots. Some I had to cut out. A thread unpicked works well to break up the matts.

Get a metal comb going forward. I have a persian and that's the only way to keep on top of knots.