Mats are clumps of hair that form when loose hair gets tangled onto the rest of your cat s fur.
How to get matted knots out of cat fur.
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.
Apply some baby oil talcum powder or corn starch.
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.
Dead hair mixes up with the stuck up debris and dirt on its skin thus forming into even larger mats.
Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.
As clumps get larger they put pressure on your cat s skin making it painful to lie down.
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.
To detangle cat fur examine the whole cat for matted fur and try to break it up with your fingers.
Locate each knot and try to undo them or at least loosen them with your fingers.
Either way it s imperative to move slowly and methodically with either scissors or clippers.
Healthy and tangle free cat fur allows for a continuous air flow to your cat s skin.
If you cannot untangle everything that way use a brush to gently break up the ends of the mat working inward.
Why matted cat fur is bad.
When this happens matting and fur entangling worsen.
The reason mats develop is that cats naturally shed their dead outer fur to make room for newer hair to grow.
Although matted cat fur is commonly found in long hair cat breeds short haired cats can also develop mats in their coats.
Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention.
Most cats shed their fur during spring and fall.
When you brush your cat you should try to combat the knots especially when the fur is already matted by loosening them.
Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it.
And if these are left un brushed the amount of matted and entangled hair increases resulting in it becoming even more matted.
Really stubborn mats can be broken up with specialized mat rakes or by cutting the mat out with a pair of scissors.