What Causes Matted Hair?
1. Debris can cause matted fur. Because indoor cats live in a temperature-controlled environment, they shed year-round.
Over time, the hair on the floor combined with bits of dirt and debris can cause matted hair.
2. The litter box can be part of the problem. This is especially true for long hair cats. Clumping litter gets stuck in the long hair of their "pants" on their back legs.
3. Your cat going outside might contribute to matted fur. If your cat goes outside, they might get into something sticky, like tree sap stuck in their coat.
4. Being overweight, having arthritis, or a condition that makes it painful for your cat to move can cause matted fur. If your cat is a bit overweight or has arthritis, both of those conditions could make it hard for your cat to reach all of their bits and pieces.
5. Cats can get lazy. Believe it or not, there are some cats that are just lazy about their grooming, especially if they have long hair.
8 Tips for Removing Mats from Long-Hair CatsBefore you start, you need to understand that de-matting a cat's fur can be a slow process depending on how many mats and knots you're removing.
You may have to do it in multiple sessions to keep the process from hurting your cat. Read on for some helpful tips on how to remove that pesky, matted fur.
Prevention 1. Brush regularly. The best thing you can do to help prevent your cat from getting matted fur is to brush them regularly and help them with their grooming.
When you first notice a mat forming, tackle it immediately before it gets worse.
2 Address litter clumps in hair. Most long-hair cats have lovely, fluffy hair on their back legs. Unfortunately, those pantaloons can get matted easily from using the litterbox.
Sometimes having your cat's fluffy hindbits professionally groomed or trimmed helps prevent mats.
Stay Away from Scissors Many cat owners are tempted to get out the scissors and get rid of the mat immediately, but this is not recommended. Scissors can potentially cause pain.
We all love our kitties and we don't want to see them in pain or discomfort for any longer than necessary.
Using scissors on matted hair in a long-hair cat can cause more problems than they solve.
Scissors, especially those with sharp points can injure your cat, making the problem worse.
If you feel like you can't tease the mat out with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb or brush, it's best to consult your vet or a professional groomer.
Some severe cases of matting may need to be shaved, but that's a decision best left to the professionals.
Prevention is Key As with many things, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The best way to address mats in long-hair cats is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Have a grooming session with your kitty every other day or so. It helps them with their coat, while also creating a bonding moment for the two of you.
If you do have to remove some matted fur, do it slowly and gently. Don't just pin the kitty down and take a brush to them.
Encourage them to look forward to your grooming session by using treats!
