My Long Hair Cat Has Matted Fur

Keep in mind that shedding dead hair is normal and it s a process that cannot be avoided.

My long hair cat has matted fur.

These clumps of fur can be painful for the cat. If your cat has developed mats in its fur start by trying to work out the tangles with a wide toothed comb and pet detangler spray. If you cannot untangle everything that way use a brush to gently break up the ends of the mat working inward. The matted clumps can vary in size from barely noticeable to very large clumps.

This can lead to dry scaly and sometimes irritated skin. Overweight old or sick cats can have a hard time reaching all areas of their bodies for grooming. Take your feline to the vet or groomer if you can t untangle the stubborn mats. But sometimes if something becomes stuck in its fur or a cat neglects its grooming mats may form.

To rule out such issues visit the vet with your kitty to check for signs of a medical problem. When your cat notices this change they start to groom more which could increase the amount of hair they ingest and cause other health problems. However if this doesn t work clip off the mats. Matted fur occurs more frequently in long haired cats but this doesn t mean it won t happen to short haired cats.

The hair gets so knotted and tangled up that it becomes a hard bunch of hair. Often it looks as though the hair has been glued together. First some background on how your cat got into this trouble. Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it.

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. You might also start adding more oils into your cat s diet for example fish oil capsules if they prefer this to coconut oil treatment. The clumps are basically tangled hair. Really stubborn mats can be broken up with specialized mat rakes or by cutting the mat out with a pair of scissors.

Dry food has been linked to matted fur problems and some owners have reported a positive change in fur health after switching away from a dry food diet. When using clippers on your cat tighten your grip around its scruff to prevent it from biting or scratching. Hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties. Certain breeds of cats persians maine coons and other long haired breeds are more likely to develop mats.

The best ways to treat an elderly cat with matted fur dandruff. Your vet will also check your senior feline. To detangle cat fur examine the whole cat for matted fur and try to break it up with your fingers. If your cat has sections of matted fur you can probably take care of the problem yourself.

Matting occurs more in spring and autumn when cats are molting.