How to Get Rid of Matted Cat Fur

Trying to brush out the knots may be futile for long-haired and matted cat fur. So instead of fighting the knots, you will need to cut them. This is going to be a lot easier with a clipper blade that professional groomers use because it can be shaped into the desired shape and length while cutting.

The type of clipper you have depends on your cat’s hair type. If your cat has short, non-matting hair, then an open-end or blunt-cut blade is best. Frequently these blades come in universal sizes that will fit any clipper. However, if you have a long-haired or semi-long-haired cat, then the blade ends must be narrower as they cannot cut through long hair.

The other important piece of equipment you will need is a pair of heavy-duty, sharp cat scissors. This will make for quicker trims and easier grooming work. It isn’t as necessary if you have a clipper, but it cuts down on time spent dealing with rough edges and the like.

For the first time, if you are going to try this, it is best if your cat is on a grooming table. You can use an ordinary table but be certain that it has no sharp corners and nothing for him/her to scratch up against or escape from. Tie your pet’s leash (preferably attached where he will not feel like he is being restrained) to this table.

Starting with the clippers, shear around your cat’s face and nose. You can trim his ears but make sure you do not cut off too much of the ear flaps, or it will hurt him when he tries to clean his ears himself. If your cat has a beard/mustache, shear the hair down from there to his lips. This is going to give him a softer look and will be easier to trim in the future. Once you have done this, use your cat scissors on the rest of your cat’s body. Trim around his chin, mouth, and neck. Do not cut any fur that is right by his eyes or nose.

Read Also:
Does Cats Forget Their Owners?

Once the cat is free from clipper blades, shear around his neck and down to his belly. This will make for a more even trim and help him stay cleaner. From there, shear around his armpits and legs but do not go near the joints of his paws. You can leave hair here because it is going to be easier to clean when he takes a bath.

Take the clippers and shear off his tail. If it is too difficult to notice, trim his nails at this point as well. They will be hard for him to reach due to their fur, but make sure that they are not overgrown and painful if he starts to scratch.

After everything is trimmed, comb out any tangles you have missed. This will make it easier for your cat to clean himself and keep the hair in a more natural state. If you decide that there is still too much fur around his legs or head, then you can trim him again but be sure not to do it too short.

After this, it is time to brush out the mats that are in his fur. Start at the head and finish at the tail to avoid any disturbances from your cat. If you have a particularly hard mat to untangle, cut around it instead; then, once you get through one part of the matting, work on getting rid of it completely with scissors or pet grooming shears (for smaller mats).

Leave a Comment