Long-Haired Matted Cat Hair: Solutions
There are a lot of differing ideas among pet owners about the best way to deal with cat mats – like this discussion we had on our Facebook page a few months back. Owners of Ragdoll kitties have to balance factors like the well-being and stress levels of their cats, the expense of long-haired cat grooming, their own willingness to risk a few scratches by grooming at home, and other practical concerns. Below are some various tips from cat owners for how to remove mats from a long-haired cat; for more tips on long-haired cat matted fur and recommendations for specific products, check out our post Cat Matted Fur: Tips and Tricks to Remove Cat Mats.
- Cutting out mats – using small scissors, shears, an electric razor, clippers, or even a battery operated ear/nose/eyebrow trimmer. Just be careful not to get too close to the skin and risk cutting your kitty’s skin and hurting your kitty.
Mat splitters or removers – use these to carefully separate hair from the sides of a mat, working a little bit at a time until you can shrink the mat to a point where it could easily be cut out.- Grooming – groomers can easily take care of mats or give your kitty a lion cut, though some pet owners are concerned about groomers using drugs to sedate their pet or the effects of a lion cut on a cat’s fur growth.
- Shampoos/conditioners – try using baby shampoo or conditioner regularly to keep their fur soft and silky, but be sure to rinse it thoroughly afterwards since the cat will lick it afterwards.
- Corn starch – work a little into the mat to loosen it up before trying to comb or remove.
- Oils – try olive oil, coconut oil, or even argon oil to help loosen up mats.
- Combing and brushing – regular combing and brushing can prevent mats from forming or keep them small enough that they can be dealt with easily. Daily home grooming is also a good way to keep track of mats and catch them early.
Seam ripper – works great in conjunction with corn starch or something else to loosen them up.- Head to Tail Calming Treats – with chamomile, recommended to help keep your kitty calm if they are easily stressed by grooming.
Try experimenting with different tools and tricks to find out what fits best for your Ragdoll’s temperament and grooming needs. If your cat is really stressed out by mats, try to only clip one mat a day to keep them calm. Ragdoll cats do tend to have issues with matting, but there are plenty of ways to both prevent and deal with these mats regularly.
What tips do you have for removing mats from a long-haired cat?
