Hello!! New cat parent, No need to wonder how I got to know you are “New Cat Parent” 😂. If you have come to this article it means you’re a new cat parent otherwise you have encountered this before as well because it’s the most common issue in a cat.
Cats are known for their soft, luxurious fur, but sometimes that fur can become matted, causing discomfort and skin issues or behavioural changes. While cutting the mats may seem like the quickest solution, there are safer and gentler methods to remove matted cat hair without using scissors. This article has correct techniques that have no harm plus my vet expert advice.
What is Matted hair and how does it form in cats?
When you don’t groom your cat’s hair in the proper way the hair gets tangled and knotted overtime and looks like a furball.
The biggest reason behind this is that you don’t brush your cat daily. If you don’t brush your cat daily then the hair will surely be matted.
Firstly I will tell you where you will find hair mats on the cats easily.
- We often neglect the cat’s armpit area and there is a risk of hair matting.
- We also don’t brush under the neck very often where hair matting is anticipated.
- It’s also common on the side of the ears.
- Hair matting also happens near the legs.
So be sure to remember these points while brushing your cat’s hair. We often brush the whole body but overlook these points and this is why hair mats happen.
Apart from this, another reason is many people use human shampoo or shampoo that doesn’t suit the cat. Giving a cat a bath with such shampoos can also mess up with the texture of the cat’s hair and this ultimately results in matting of hair.
So please try to always use a dedicated pet shampoo whether it’s inexpensive or a high-quality one because it’s not certain that if someone else used a human shampoo and it didn’t cause any harm so your cat will also be fine.
so be careful as it varies from one cat to another.
And then there’s another reason which is a rarity but it happens, especially in summer. When the cat is shedding, not only in warm weather but generally when the cat is shedding so when you don’t brush it and the hair don’t come out properly it can also be a cause of hair matting.
So ensure that you must brush your cat daily when it’s shedding hair. Even better, try to brush twice so that hair matting doesn’t happen and you also don’t encounter cat’s hair everywhere in your house or upholstery.
It happens in long or thick fur breed cats majorly.
Problems Caused by Hair Mats
Now let’s look at the problems that your cat may face because of hair mats.
I’ve experienced this problem very closely in the last 4-5 months because many people come to me with similar problems plus I’m parents of 5 cats.
The biggest problem I have come across after removal of hair mats is skin infection and such skin problems take a long time to recover.
Why does this happen?
This happens due to lack of air circulation as matted fur prevents proper circulation and these skin problems start right away because neither there’s any moisture nor proper flow of air.
So please try that your prevent hair matting in the first place. Otherwise, skin problems are unavoidable.
Furthermore, the cats with hair mat problems are always very aggressive and the reason for that is quite simple. The hair mats cause tightness and hardness which causes the cat a lot of stress and pain and this is the reason why the cat’s behaviour is also harsh.
Other than this, cats also become lazy and anxious which can lead to overall cat dullness.
So try your best and prevent hair mats in your cats.
How Can You Avoid Mats?
You avoid fur knots and tangles in the early stage of them:
- Do regular brushing of your cat because loosened undercoat hair can trap in the outer coat.
- Regular bath along with shampoo, if you have got an outdoor cat. Dirt, moisture, or debris can exacerbate matting.
Best Way to Remove Matted Cat Hair
Now let’s talk about the treatment of hair mats if it has already happened.
The first thing is that it shouldn’t happen in the first place so prevent it by brushing daily.
You should know that there are two types of hair mats:
Minor Furball Mats – One is where the root hair in the base are fine not attached with skin surface and the majority of the hair is healthy.
Fix: You can remove this basic hair matting yourself with a de-matting comb (steel comb/metal comb) or furminator all you need to remember is to detangle it.
You can easily get rid of hair mats with this if it’s nothing severe or there is minor matting in the fur/fur ball.
Severely Layered Hair with Skin: But in most of the cases are where hair becomes tangled with skin and there’s no other way to resolve that other than getting rid of the dead hair (this happens generally when you don’t groom your cat for a long period of time like literally long around 6 months or so).
If you attempt to shave the cat yourself, it can also result in damage to the skin (in most cases).
Don’t try to cut severely matted hair yourself.
Fix: Always go to the professional groomer in your area, no matter what.
Ask the groomer to remove hair mats or get the cat fully shaven if removal isn’t possible. Because cutting matted hair is like freeing your cat from a jail and the cat will surely feel relieved after this.
Try to get rid of hair matting as soon as possible so that your cat doesn’t suffer long-term stress.
My Favourite Method to Remove Matted Fur: NO VET, NO SHAVE, NO PAIN!
Supplies
- Olive oil
- Syringe/Dropper
- Treats
Things to remember
- Use only olive oil, not other cooking oil.
- Room temperature, not cold.
Steps for Removal
Day 1
- Take your kitty cat to their grooming area in your home.
- Give their favourite treat to make them calm and stress-free.
- Now apply some olive oil directly from the dropper.
- Use the olive oil generously until the area is soaked sufficiently.
- You can wipe it off any excess oil after.
Day 2
- Reapply the olive oil on the same area and work it gently into the skin.
- If the knot isn’t serious, it might have already dropped on the second day, but if not.
- Leave the oil on and monitor over the next few days.
Note: Do not comb that area or pull it off. This may be painful for your cat.
Oil starts loosening hair follicles and suddenly mat hair fall down one day. I don’t know what’s the science behind it but olive oil works great.
FAQs
Q1. Are some mats impossible to remove without cutting?
Ans. Yes, Extremely tight or large mats may need to be shaved by a professional to avoid harming your cat.
Q2. How to groom a matted cat?
Ans. Nothing special, just don’t groom that area until you pull off that mat.
Q3. How to trim matted cat hair?
Ans. Trimming must be done by professionals. It is not recommended to do it on your own.
Q4. Can matted hair hurt my cat?
Ans. Yes, matted hair can pull on your cat’s skin, causing pain, irritation, and stress, infections or even anger issues..
Q5. Can I use a human conditioner to detangle my cat’s mats?
Ans. No, human conditioners can contain ingredients harmful to cats. Always use products specifically designed for feline use.
Conclusion
Removing matted hair without cutting is possible, but not in every situation. With the right approach and tools, you can do it, but you need to remember a few things. For example, if there is severely layered hair with skin, you need to go to a professional groomer or vet. In the case of small furball-type mats, you can resolve them at your home with olive oil. I have heard that coconut oil (no harm in using it) works the same as olive oil, but I am not sure if it works or not.
Keep a few things in mind: grooming regularly, and brushing your cat’s hair at least once daily.
I have shared everything in this blog post, including my personal experiences with cat’s matted hair. I’m keen to know your story with mats, how you felt, what’s the first thought that came to your mind, etc. Comment sections are open for you, any feedback, tips & suggestions are highly appreciated.