Help with a long haired cat.

[Doberman's]

I have a barn cat that moved in about a year and a quarter ago. He was a dumped cat that had been hanging around for a couple of months at the time and my other cats kept chasing him off till one day they didn't and he stayed.

He is a wonderful cat, friendly and sweet. Problem is, he is long haired which is great for the winter but his coat is prone to matting. :mad: I have a terrible time getting the matts out and have been at him almost everyday for 30 minutes at a time to try and get them out but the more I get out the more come it seems. It is cold and I do not want to cut them out so what can I do ? I need help.


Does anyone know of a comb or brush that is specifically made to get matts out of cats coats ? Sam and I will thank you if you can help us.

[golden&hovawart]

Have you tried the shedding comb.It's very efficient on long-hair cats and dogs.You should be able to find it on internet,on the petsmart site.They come in blue and yellow.Apparently they work well.
What you could do,is thake him to a groomer and then just keep it,clean.L

[Doberman's]

Thanks I will look up the shedding comb.:)

[Sabledog]

have you tried just trimming back the areas that are matting? my brother has a main coon cat that was always getting mats under his chest and around his belly and he just keeps the hair really short so it doesnt mat, theres also detangle spray too but dont know the names of any off the top of my head.

[vagreys]

Umm...a shedding comb isn't going to work on felted mats. Here's how I was taught to de-mat a cat, back when we did cat rescue. This takes quiet, calm patience, and you absolutely have to start with a calm cat. It does involve some cutting, but you don't cut away everything, and not as much fur is lost in the process.

If the tangle has not felted, yet, and it is a small one, you may be able to comb it out with a fine-toothed comb like a flea comb or a shedding comb. Spray the tangle with a little pump spray hair conditioner, and work the conditioner into the tangle with your fingers before you start to comb. Hold the base of the tangle down with the fingers of one hand, so the tangle doesn't pull as you comb, and then start combing in very short strokes from the very end. As the fur detangles, you move a little further up the tangle toward the skin, just like you would with human hair.

If the tangle has felted, you don't want to make it wet. You still want to "lubricate" it, but with a little cornstarch, and sort of work that into the mat, and the area around it, with your fingers. For this to work, you are going to have to know where the mat ends and the skin begins; so, sort of pull up on the mat until you can tell where the skin is. You are also going to need some scissors that are sharp, but the pointy ends must be blunted so they can't poke the cat. About 1/4" in from the edge of the mat, slide the scissors carefully along the skin into the mat, holding them straight up from the skin (perpendicular, so the bottom blade slides along the skin and the top blade is above the mat). Cut up into the mat, away from the skin, and make it a complete cut. Try not to pull the mat while cutting. Move over about 1/2", slide the scissors in as before and make another cut. Keep doing this until you get to the other side of the mat. Now, you can start working the pieces of the mat apart with your fingers. Some of the loose fur will pull away, now, but you don't lose anywhere near as much as if you just cut the whole mat out. Once you've gotten as much of the loose stuff out as you can with your fingers, you have to start combing, and this is where a flea comb or shedding comb will come into play. As with the tangle, you are going to hold down the mat, so the fur doesn't pull, and using the other hand, start combing through the piece of mat, starting at the very end of the hairs, using very short, gentle strokes and very gradually working your way in toward the skin as the fur detangles. It may take several sessions, or even several days, but it works.

As you point out, it's a barn cat, and a long-haired barn cat is going to have tangles and mats in its fur, no matter what you do. The only way to keep a long-haired cat mat free is daily grooming.

[City girl]

Use children's no tangles spray, it should help

[Borzoi mad]

In the UK There is a cat detangling comb which you can buy. I use it on my Birman. Prvided you groom regularly i.e.at least twice / three times a week it works a treat You could try googling this,. Hope you are successful.

[Doberman's]

Thanks ! :)

I will look up the detangling comb and try what Tom suggests as well. :)

I can't cut the matts off right now, he is a barn cat and we are in the dead of winter right now, he would freeze. :(

I was wondering if " Cowboy Magic " would work on a cat ? It's for detangling horses manes and tails . Anyone know ?

[Borzoi mad]

Hi Sandi I typed in detangling products for felines and it came up with one site which was advertising liquid foam detangling dry shampoo for cats so you could try typing in this It was a company in the USA. You spray it on and leave it and brush it out. Hope you are successful.

I am not very good with computer so was not able to upload the site for you. sorry.

[Doberman's]

I may have to order from a USA site if I can't find one here in Canada but that is no big deal except it will take forever to get to me. LOL!

Poor Sam, I brushed him again today and am working on one matt in particular right now, I almost have it and I also want to keep him from getting anymore. I am using a cat rake.

He is a very pretty cat, mostly black with some white. Here is a pic of him and Jenna from last winter:

http://www.dogforum.org/gallery/data/500/medium/Sammy_and_Jenna.jpg

[Inn Keeper]

Hi Sandi,
I use one of these, they're brilliant, used gently they will cut through the tangle only removing the knot, quite cheap as well from any decent pet shop.

[Borzoi mad]

HI Thanks for the picture. Looks like a really nice cat.

[Leviosa]

I get this with my cat. i find it always happens when we go on holiday.

He will not be brushed under any circumstnace and anyone who tires risks losing a finger!

however, he loves to be stroked and petted - he is 16 now and I think probbaly a little too lazy to groom himslef nicely so when we are awya nad he doens;t get as muc stroking he seems to knot up.

we just cut into the matted bit with scissors and then over a week or two start to tease them apart with our fingers.

[Doberman's]

Tony, that brush looks perfect. I hope I can find one here. :)

[Inn Keeper]

Sandi,
if you can't get one let me know & I will get one for you, with airmail I can get it to you in two or three days.

[vagreys]

Hi Sandi,
I use one of these, they're brilliant, used gently they will cut through the tangle only removing the knot, quite cheap as well from any decent pet shop.
I haven't seen anything like that, around here. What is it called?

[Inn Keeper]

I haven't seen anything like that, around here. What is it called?


Er..........memorys going...:thinking: I think its called a 'Matt Master'

yes it is, just found it online.
The Matt Master has an ergonomically designed handle for comfortable use. The Blades are made from stainless steel with blunted ends and serrated, honed cutting edges.

[vagreys]

Great! This would be fantastic for the cats that will hold still for a brush, but not for the scissors.

[golden&hovawart]

Check Petsmart,I saw it,there.