See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats.
How to fix a very heavely matted cat.
Keep your cat calm.
Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time.
Cats are very good at grooming themselves.
It helps me help so many others.
Matting occurs more in spring and autumn when cats are molting.
Keep in mind that shedding dead hair is normal and it s a process that cannot be avoided.
Matted fur occurs more frequently in long haired cats but this doesn t mean it won t happen to short haired cats.
Mats should be taken out as soon as possible.
What causes matted cat fur.
Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander.
It tends to occur on parts of your cat s body where there is a lot of rubbing or movement like between the legs under the chest under the tail and around the collar.
How to shave a matted cat.
Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention.
Mats can also form on the shoulders and hindquarters from the pressure of lying down.
Over the years your furry companion may fail to groom himself as well as he used to possibly leading to matted fur and dandruff on his coat.
Once this mat occurs more fur continues to collect creating a significant mat.
Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.
It is essential that your cat starts out calm such as after a hearty meal and remains so as you remove the knots and tangles.
When a cat s fur begins to shed the loose fur gets tangled up with the guard hair.
Begin gently brushing out the top with your brush or comb working in one direction.
Cats just love to groom themselves.
If your cat has developed mats in its fur you ll need to remove them right away to keep.
Fur can become matted for a variety of reasons.
How to treat seriously matted fur on a cat.
Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work.
Removing matted fur can be a time consuming and potentially painful process and many cats will not respond well to it.
A little help grooming will help prevent these issues but visit the vet to rule out a medical cause.
Once you find one hold about three quarters of the mat against your cat s skin with your free hand allowing only the very top of the mat to remain free.
Unfortunately they can t always prevent tough tangles from forming in their coats.
