Grooming Long Haired Cats With Mats

Cats have earned a reputation as effective self groomers but that doesn t mean they don t need your help in staying clean and healthy.

Grooming long haired cats with mats.

Most groomers recommend a wire slicker brush an undercoat brush with a combination of wide and narrow teeth a finer toothed comb to go. While it may be the most expensive this is a professional grade model which is intended for regular grooming use. Cats with long hair are prone to tangles which can develop into mats if you don t take care of them quickly. If your cat has sections of matted fur you can probably take care of the problem yourself.

Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work. For short haired cats even the grooming requirements are very lax all you need is a weekly brushing and regular nail trims. Take your feline to the vet or groomer if you can t untangle the stubborn mats. This can lead to dry scaly and sometimes irritated skin.

Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time. Best cat hair clippers for matted hair. You need to brush your cat often as well as bathe your cat on a regular basis to. Old infirm overweight and long haired cats in particular are more susceptible to tangled fur which can become clumped mats or knotted dreadlocks.

Why matted cat fur is bad. See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats. It s because it ll work on all cats or even dogs. If you have a long haired cat it might be a different story entirely.

If her fur is bad enough that the mat is just one giant stretch of knotted hair that s a situation that probably calls for a professional as shaving her fur might be necessary. Healthy and tangle free cat fur allows for a continuous air flow to your cat s skin. Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander. The pet republique dematting tool is another great choice if you want to remove those nasty looking matted fur on your pet cat.

Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it. For that reason long haired cats need to be groomed more often than short haired cats. Your long haired cat may have trouble getting mats out of its fur. Grooming long haired cats requires some specialized tools.

If your cat has stopped grooming altogether this could be a sign of a serious health issue and a trip to the veterinarian is in order.