A ? for the cat people here about grooming a long haired cat to get out the matts.

[elocs]

My cat is 17 years old and has long hair, the first long haired cat I have ever had. One of the things I like about cats is that they are low maintenance and so I've just never been into combing her and as she has gotten old she is not good about grooming herself.

Last summer I gave her a lion's cut and that took care of it, but this year I have neglected it and she has lots of those matted knots in her fur. Is there any other way to get them out other than pulling them apart one at a time because that involves lots of screaming, mostly by the cat in spite of my being careful.

Any good tips?

[joneschick]

1. I used carrot oil to get mats out of my daughters hair

--but I'm not really sure if it would be safe for a cat. Pretty sure my daughter did not complete the grooming by licking any remaining oil :hi: good luck

[joeybee12]

2. Hey! I'm lloking for tips also! I have two long-haireds who just turned 15...

I don't know if it's so much they don't groom that they scalp and hair changes when they get older, like people, and they start geting matts when they hadn't had them before...any tips are appreciated.

[HopeHoops]

3. Crew cut blade on a barber's hair clipper. That will take care of the problem.

You could also use a pair of Fisker shears. They're pretty good at de-furring critters.

[Brickbat]

4. I have a rough collie...whenever he gets mats, I just cut them out.

[elocs]

5. I'm leery about cutting since the cat has thin skin and little nicks explode into quarter sized ones

I've had that happen in the past when I though I was being very careful in cutting her fur with the scissors. A tiny nick suddenly blew up into a large one. I have some human hair clippers, but they don't work well on fine cat fur.

In the past I have worked at pulling apart each mat, but there are so many this time. All the fuss and carrying on by the cat reminds me of trying to comb my daughter's hair when she was a kid and the ordeal that would be.

I thought that maybe there was something I could put on each mat to help to loosen it up so it would come apart more easily. In the past I have combed this cat and come up with enough hair to make another cat.

[supernova]

6. Olive oil or mayo

may help. But then you'd have to bathe the cat afterwards.

Perhaps a gentle detangler like Johnson's no more tears?

I'm all for clipping, but keeping as far away from the skin as possible.

[spinbaby]

7. Regular grooming with a Furminator

The existing mats, you'll have to cut out. Then go over the cat regularly with a Furminator. Don't buy the Furminator in a store--you can get them for a fraction of the price on line.

[supernova]

8. So they work well?

I've looked a the Furminator in the store, but been put off by the price. $40-50$. Yikes!

[spinbaby]

15. Check on line

I got mine from Amazon for, I think, about $14. It's the greatest for grooming cats.

[elocs]

9. I think I once bought one but took it back because it didn't seem to do anything.

I'm thinking I may just have to take her to the groomer and get her clipped and shaved again.

Funny, the last time I had that done and I came back at the end she was just sitting on the table, letting the woman comb and blow dry her without a fuss.

[TommyO]

11. I have an older Maine Coon that had a pretty bad case of matting

I tried cutting them out, brushing them out, the only thing that worked was a trip to the groomer to have a lion cut done - he looked bizarre for the first few weeks, once his hair started growing back in, I made sure to scratch him, and brush him every day to prevent future matting. He loves the attention!

The groomer was so impressed with his temperament (he's a major-league, calm as a cucumber, people-person) that she said he's welcome back any time, though we haven't had to head back again.

[Curmudgeoness]

13. I had the same experience with a Furminator. No huge piles

of fur, and harder to use than a wire brush. I have also tried cutting them out, and cut the skin, and felt absolutely terrible. I took a huge chunk of skin, poor baby. I still cut them, but only what I can keep above my fingers, which are between the skin and the scissors. That is a start. Then I just slowly work it out with a human comb, and I don't do it for long at one time. It may take me six tries to get one mat out. But I also brush him daily, just can't brush his belly and back side---which is where I get the problems.

A friend had her older long-haired cat groomed with a lion cut and that worked really well. I am tempted to do that with my kitty next time I find lots of mats. It seemed the ideal solution.

[lunatica]

10. Give her another lion's cut

I used to babysit a very old cat and I would take small scissors and cut the hair mats and brush around them. It was amazing how her fur looked better than it did with the matted fur. And she loved the grooming too, letting me roll her over on her back of tummy and purring the entire time.

Just do it pretty often and don't let the matted fur get to big. If you do it often just a few scissor snips will keep the fir looking good.

[davsand]

12. Go to a sewing store and buy a seam ripper.

It is a little "J" shaped blade that is sharp down inside the hook of the J. Put the cat on your lap and work that little blade AWAY from the cat's skin. It will cut thru the matted hair easily and it will let you break up that clump without pulling on the the hair. It will also allow you to remove the matted hair without having to cut a big chunk out of your cat's coat--leaving a bald spot.

A buddy of mine used to be a shelter manager for the local Humane Society, and she taught me this little trick when my Maine Coon (RIP, TillieYouBitch!) matted up one time. That cat was so ill tempered there was not a groomer in town that would touch her. It was my problem and I needed help!



Laura

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. I can vouch that works well.

Or, if mats are really bad, one more trip for a lion cut and THEN discipline in regular combing out the fur.

fortunately,my one long haired cat adores being groomed, and will not move an inch when I do it.

An ounce of prevention and all that.

[elocs]

17. I know, I know, but this just kind of snuck up on me. She was fine a couple of months ago and then

kablooey! She looks ok, but when you pet her you can feel the knots of mats.

[elocs]

18. I may give that a try. Currently I just grasp the mat and pull it apart from side to side.

When I pull the mat apart it comes out in clumps, but it is a tedious process that the cat does not appreciate and is quite vocal about it.

Amazingly my cat did quite well with the groomer and was sitting like a queen while being blown dried and combed.

[elocs]

16. Here is my cat's lion cut from the summer of 2009:

She does have one brown eye and one green eye. I'm probably going to have to do this again.

[DeepBlueC]

19. nail scissors (small curved ones)

can you afford a groomer? Sometimes a vet tech will do it at your home on a freelance basis...usually cheaper and easier on you and the cat. No harm in asking. Good luck.