Difference between revisions of "Prevent Matted Cat Hair"
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| − | No matter what length your cat's coat, it can be prone to matting or become choked up with shed hair. Matting is uncomfortable for the cat as it tugs and pulls on the skin, and also it prevents the cat from licking and conditioning the skin. If matting is allowed to become severe, it can join together and form a shell over the cat's body that then becomes a welfare issue. Far preferable to cutting away matts or shaving a severely matted cat is to prevent them from forming in the first place.<ref>https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/groom-your-cat</ref> | + | No matter what length your cat's coat, it can be prone to matting or become choked up with shed hair. Matting is uncomfortable for the cat as it tugs and pulls on the skin, and also it prevents the cat from licking and conditioning the skin. If matting is allowed to become severe, it can join together and form a shell over the cat's body that then becomes a welfare issue. Far preferable to cutting away matts or shaving a severely matted cat is to prevent them from forming in the first place.<ref name="rf1">https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/groom-your-cat</ref> |
[[Category:Grooming Cats]] | [[Category:Grooming Cats]] | ||
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Keeping an Eye on Your Cat's Coat=== | ===Keeping an Eye on Your Cat's Coat=== | ||
| − | #Practice matted hair prevention from early in your cat's life. Many people have problems because they didn't groom their cat's coat in earlier life, because it wasn't necessary to do so. However, as the cat gets older and needs a little help, they are unfamiliar with what you are trying to do and can resent the tugging and pulling on their skin. The cat then hisses or spits, and it can become dangerous to continue.<ref | + | #Practice matted hair prevention from early in your cat's life. Many people have problems because they didn't groom their cat's coat in earlier life, because it wasn't necessary to do so. However, as the cat gets older and needs a little help, they are unfamiliar with what you are trying to do and can resent the tugging and pulling on their skin. The cat then hisses or spits, and it can become dangerous to continue.<ref name="rf1" /><ref name="rf2">http://icatcare.org/advice/how-groom-your-cat</ref> |
#*In an ideal world you would plan ahead and get the cat used to being groomed and accept it as a pleasant experience from kittenhood. This involves short daily grooming sessions accompanied by lots of praise and a treat or two. Kittens under around 18 weeks of age are receptive to new experiences so the more she is brushed before she reaches this age the more she accepts it as normal. | #*In an ideal world you would plan ahead and get the cat used to being groomed and accept it as a pleasant experience from kittenhood. This involves short daily grooming sessions accompanied by lots of praise and a treat or two. Kittens under around 18 weeks of age are receptive to new experiences so the more she is brushed before she reaches this age the more she accepts it as normal. | ||
#Make sure that your cat is grooming itself effectively. Cats shed hair all the time. Mostly the cat grooms out the shed hair or else it is rubbed off on your sofa and clothes. However, older cats that are arthritic and stiff, can have difficulty turning around to get to all parts of their body. This means the shed hair doesn't get shifted and sits in place clogging up the rest of the coat. | #Make sure that your cat is grooming itself effectively. Cats shed hair all the time. Mostly the cat grooms out the shed hair or else it is rubbed off on your sofa and clothes. However, older cats that are arthritic and stiff, can have difficulty turning around to get to all parts of their body. This means the shed hair doesn't get shifted and sits in place clogging up the rest of the coat. | ||
| − | #*You can usually tell if your cat has this problem because the coat has a "felted" appearance and is dull. If you grasp some of the hair tips in the felted area and pull gently the hairs come away painlessly.<ref | + | #*You can usually tell if your cat has this problem because the coat has a "felted" appearance and is dull. If you grasp some of the hair tips in the felted area and pull gently the hairs come away painlessly.<ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #Keep a close eye on cats with long hair. Long-haired cats usually have a soft coat that is subject to static and tangles easily. The first places to get knotted are those areas where fur rubs on fur, such as in the armpits, between the back legs, under the chin, and behind the ears. However, when the cat curls up to sleep the fur can also mat up.<ref>http://www.felinexpress.com/cat-care/cat-matted-hair.asp</ref> | + | #Keep a close eye on cats with long hair. Long-haired cats usually have a soft coat that is subject to static and tangles easily. The first places to get knotted are those areas where fur rubs on fur, such as in the armpits, between the back legs, under the chin, and behind the ears. However, when the cat curls up to sleep the fur can also mat up.<ref name="rf3">http://www.felinexpress.com/cat-care/cat-matted-hair.asp</ref> |
#*Certain breeds of cats, including Persians, Birmans and Himalayans, have silky, fine hair that is especially prone to matting. Pay extra close attention to brushing and grooming these breeds and other long-hair cats. | #*Certain breeds of cats, including Persians, Birmans and Himalayans, have silky, fine hair that is especially prone to matting. Pay extra close attention to brushing and grooming these breeds and other long-hair cats. | ||
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#*Many cats will purr ecstatically while they have a Zoom Groom spa treatment and this is a great way to keep a short-haired cat's coat from becoming knotted. | #*Many cats will purr ecstatically while they have a Zoom Groom spa treatment and this is a great way to keep a short-haired cat's coat from becoming knotted. | ||
#*It also has the advantage that the grooming tool is soft and so there are not hard metal teeth to catch against sore joints and hurt the older arthritic cat. | #*It also has the advantage that the grooming tool is soft and so there are not hard metal teeth to catch against sore joints and hurt the older arthritic cat. | ||
| − | #*Start using one in kittenhood and not only will the cat look forward to his or her daily grooming sessions but it will have a luxuriously glossy coat to boot.<ref>http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cat-grooming</ref> | + | #*Start using one in kittenhood and not only will the cat look forward to his or her daily grooming sessions but it will have a luxuriously glossy coat to boot.<ref name="rf4">http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cat-grooming</ref> |
#Use the correct tools to groom a long-haired cat. Invest in a well-made cat rake and long-tooth comb to properly help prevent matting. Rakes have short, sturdy bristles that are usually made of metal and are good for brushing dense, long hair. | #Use the correct tools to groom a long-haired cat. Invest in a well-made cat rake and long-tooth comb to properly help prevent matting. Rakes have short, sturdy bristles that are usually made of metal and are good for brushing dense, long hair. | ||
#*Long-tooth combs allow you to comb deep into your long-haired cat's fur and comb through small mats before they get too large. Both items can be found in pet and retail stores. | #*Long-tooth combs allow you to comb deep into your long-haired cat's fur and comb through small mats before they get too large. Both items can be found in pet and retail stores. | ||
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#*This approach works best if the coat isn't tangled, since tangles equals tugging and soreness. Thus if the coat is already knotted consider getting the worst areas clipped away and then start getting the cat used to being brushed. | #*This approach works best if the coat isn't tangled, since tangles equals tugging and soreness. Thus if the coat is already knotted consider getting the worst areas clipped away and then start getting the cat used to being brushed. | ||
#Scruff the cat if you cannot get it used to combing. If a cat hisses and spits, and yet you want to get rid of a stubborn knot before it causes a problem, consider scruffing the cat. To do this use your non-dominant hand to grasp the cat's scruff so that you can use your dominant hand to comb the cat through. This has a naturally subduing effect on the cat, as it's where the mother grips her kittens when carrying them. | #Scruff the cat if you cannot get it used to combing. If a cat hisses and spits, and yet you want to get rid of a stubborn knot before it causes a problem, consider scruffing the cat. To do this use your non-dominant hand to grasp the cat's scruff so that you can use your dominant hand to comb the cat through. This has a naturally subduing effect on the cat, as it's where the mother grips her kittens when carrying them. | ||
| − | #*Never lift the cat off the ground completely, as this could injure an adult cat. Simply grip the scruff to stop the cat running away.<ref | + | #*Never lift the cat off the ground completely, as this could injure an adult cat. Simply grip the scruff to stop the cat running away.<ref name="rf2" /> |
===Eliminating Mats=== | ===Eliminating Mats=== | ||
| − | #Identify cat-hair mats. You can tell if your cat has matts because the clumped fur is not painful when you touch it. If you work down to the bottom of the lump you can often see the individual hair fibers bridging between the skin and the mat.<ref | + | #Identify cat-hair mats. You can tell if your cat has matts because the clumped fur is not painful when you touch it. If you work down to the bottom of the lump you can often see the individual hair fibers bridging between the skin and the mat.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#Avoid cutting out mats if possible. When mats do occur, they can be difficult if not impossible to comb out, resulting in the need to cut chunks of hair from your cat's coat. The cat's coat will then grow back uneven, and can take months to return to normal. Therefore, it is important to learn how to prevent matted cat hair before it happens to keep your cat looking and feeling his or her best. | #Avoid cutting out mats if possible. When mats do occur, they can be difficult if not impossible to comb out, resulting in the need to cut chunks of hair from your cat's coat. The cat's coat will then grow back uneven, and can take months to return to normal. Therefore, it is important to learn how to prevent matted cat hair before it happens to keep your cat looking and feeling his or her best. | ||
#Be very cautious if you decide you need to cut out a mat. If you are unable to untangle a knot, then you may need to cut it away. Proceed with extreme caution because it is all too easy to accidentally cut the skin instead of the knot. This happens because when you lift up the knot to get it clear of the skin, the skin often "tents" upward with it. Then when you snip across the base of the knot you may cut across an elevated piece of skin. | #Be very cautious if you decide you need to cut out a mat. If you are unable to untangle a knot, then you may need to cut it away. Proceed with extreme caution because it is all too easy to accidentally cut the skin instead of the knot. This happens because when you lift up the knot to get it clear of the skin, the skin often "tents" upward with it. Then when you snip across the base of the knot you may cut across an elevated piece of skin. | ||
