Over time small mats can turn into large clumps and dreadlocks causing your cat pain and suffering for no reason.
Short haired cat fur matting.
Although most short haired or younger cats should be able to keep themselves mat free without issue.
Matting occurs more in spring and autumn when cats are molting.
Matted fur occurs more frequently in long haired cats but this doesn t mean it won t happen to short haired cats.
Removing matted hair from your cat 1.
The help of a pet parent is often required to remove tangled bunched up hair.
Long haired old or sickly cats usually require a little assistance from their owners with the process.
Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it.
If your cat doesn t like brushing have him get used to it through touching him at first.
Although matted cat fur is commonly found in long hair cat breeds short haired cats can also develop mats in their coats.
How to unmat cat fur.
Hold under the mat s surface so that you won t be pulling their skin.
The reason mats develop is that cats naturally shed their dead outer fur to make room for newer hair to grow.
Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.
This can lead to dry scaly and sometimes irritated skin.
Long haired cats are more prone to mats than short haired cats.
Start from the base of the mat using a straight comb.
Use the proper tools when brushing your cat s hair using a rubber brush for short haired cats and a long tooth metal wired brush for cats with longer hair.
Keep in mind that shedding dead hair is normal and it s a process that cannot be avoided.
Mats are clumps of hair that form when loose hair gets tangled onto the rest of your cat s fur.
Once you get under the mat hold the hair at the base of the mat near the skin so you don t pull their skin and then slowly pull the comb up through the mat to loosen it.
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.
Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention.
If mat has just started to form the best thing to do is to simply brush it out.
With short haired cats a small slicker brush may be used next to slowly and gently brush through any remaining tangles.
You can also gently pick individual mat parts out of your cat s skin.
In short a simple mat can mess up your cat s whole system.