Matted hair cuts off the supply of oxygen to the skin and creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria maggots lice and fleas.
How to get rid of bad matted cat fur.
Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work.
Instead get a detangler that s made specifically for cats.
Take your feline to the vet or groomer if you can t untangle the stubborn mats.
You can buy pet detangler spray at your local pet supply store or online.
Although matted cat fur is commonly found in long hair cat breeds short haired cats can also develop mats in their coats.
Matting is most common in medium haired and long haired cats but short haired breeds with thick fur can also suffer from the problem.
Adding water to the mats can actually make them worse.
If this drastic step is necessary be sure to maintain a regular program of brushing and combing when the coat grows back to prevent future problems.
Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time.
Our cat boo a 14 year old female domestic shorthair tabby has always had soft nice fur.
Spritz a bit of this onto the mats.
To detangle cat fur examine the whole cat for matted fur and try to break it up with your fingers.
Dead hair mixes up with the stuck up debris and dirt on its skin thus forming into even larger mats.
Most cats shed their fur during spring and fall.
Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.
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.
Really stubborn mats can be broken up with specialized mat rakes or by cutting the mat out with a pair of scissors.
And if these are left un brushed the amount of matted and entangled hair increases resulting in it becoming even more matted.
Cat matted fur can be a real problem for cat owners and it can be difficult to keep mats at bay or get rid of them especially if your cat is particularly sensitive to brushing or clipping.
If you cannot untangle everything that way use a brush to gently break up the ends of the mat working inward.
Buy a detangler spray for your cat s fur.
Mats are clumps of hair that form when loose hair gets tangled onto the rest of your cat s fur.
Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander.
A few days ago i bathed shampooed and conditioned her.
Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention.
If your cat has sections of matted fur you can probably take care of the problem yourself.
When this happens matting and fur entangling worsen.
I noticed a couple of weeks ago that apparently out of nowhere the fur all over her body had become very matted.
But there are plenty of solutions for cat mats it s just a matter of experimenting with different courses and seeing what works for your kitty.
See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats.