How to De-Mat a Cat

You can either cut, shave, or comb through mats in your cat’s fur during de-matting. Dead skin cells, clumped dead hair, outside debris, and any other dirt your cat has rubbed up against can all be found in mats. Cat mats are not only ugly, but they hurt your cat as well. If not removed, they can cause skin irritation and infection.

The process of de-matting a cat is often unpleasant for both the cat and the person doing it. Since mats are frequently challenging to remove in one session, it’s crucial to go carefully and exhibit patience. Even if this method is the simplest and least painful, you might want to solicit the aid of a helper.

Before You Begin

Most cats groom nearly constantly (or so it seems), and it’s not just due to vanity.

Licking their fur helps cats maintain good skin and encourages their sebaceous glands to create oil to moisturize their fur.

Typically, grooming maintains the fur clean and hinders the development of fleas. However, mats can occasionally develop if something gets stuck in a cat’s fur or if it doesn’t take care of itself. The cat may experience pain from these hair clumps. Mats are more likely to form on some cat breeds (Persians, Maine Coons, and other long-haired varieties).

A trip to the clinic is necessary if your cat has stopped grooming altogether as this may indicate a significant health problem.

1 However, if there are a few hard matted fur patches, you should be able to remove them at home

It requires a firm hand, a lot of patience, and occasionally more than one person to remove mats off cats while maintaining the cat’s composure.

what you require
Start with a cat that is calm. You don’t want to decide to take out a mat in the middle of a game since you risk getting seriously hurt by claws. Obtain the following tools before you begin:

Sharp-edged scissors
a comb with fine teeth
atomizer or conditioner
Cat food made of cornstarch

Get the Matted Area Ready
Apply some cornstarch or talcum powder to the mat area and use your fingers to gently rub it in. To observe where the skin is, gently remove the mat away from the skin.

If the cat continues to fight you, stop and talk in a calming tone while patting it until it calms down. If your cat starts to become anxious during the procedure, simply repeat this soothing motion.

Slice the Mat
Holding the scissors perpendicular to the skin, slowly move the blunt-nosed scissors along the skin into the mat; the bottom blade should slide along the skin. Cut the mat into pieces. Try not to tug the hair while cutting, and make a neat cut.

Praise your cat for being patient by giving it a small reward.

Repeat cutting after moving the scissors about half an inch. The separated mats should be worked apart with your fingers as soon as you can because any loose pieces will just pull right off.

Brush the Mat

To prevent the comb from yanking hair out of the scalp, begin by holding the base of the mat down with your thumb and forefinger using the split piece of the mat in your non-dominant hand.

Start at the very tip of the hairs and gently work your way through the mat piece with a fine-toothed flea comb. Work your way down into the mat, occasionally only using the comb’s first three or four pegs to remove particularly obstinate areas.

How to Avoid Cat Problems While De-Matting

Give your cat one last goodie before calling it a day. Don’t push it all at once; depending on how bad the mats are, it can take several days to remove them altogether, and you’ll need your cat’s cooperation and tolerance.

Short-haired cats may then have any leftover knots brushed through slowly and delicately using a little slicker brush.

Cats that are seriously matted need medical intervention. All impacted mats are removed from affected cats’ hair coats after a brief sedation. If this dramatic measure is required, make sure to keep up a consistent routine of brushing and combing until the coat grows back to avoid further issues.

Tips
Never bathe a cat prior to mat removal. You’ll only end up with more issues down the road.
Consider spraying a hair conditioner on the tangles before combing if they are little and haven’t yet “felted” or formed. To avoid frightening your cat, use a pump-style spray rather than an aerosol.
If you have someone to hold the cat and comfort it while you work, it will almost always go more smoothly during this laborious procedure.