Matted hair

rising_from_the_ashes

Was tickling my wee girl cat's tummy earlier and came across a matt.:eek:

Although she's short haired on top, the hair underneath is much longer - she's never had any before so not quite sure why it's happened now.

She is molting like mad so she's maybe not been able to keep on top of it - although she'll let me brush her back/sides, the underneath is a definite "no no"!

It's not huge but not sure of the best thing to do - should I leave it a couple of days and see if she "sorts it out" or try to cut it out. Bit worried at trying that as no-one to hold her while I snip!

Thanks

spincandy

Matts are pretty common, especially in the longer haired cats and especially on the belly no matter how strict you are with grooming! Its definitely not your fault! The problem with matts is that they can twist and tighten and become kind of sore. Plus, for fastidious groomers like cats they can get quite frustrating for the animal itself. It's best just cut out. If no one will hold her for you, can you hold her while someone else gently cuts it? Or can you distract her with some yummy treat while you sneak under her belly? Watch those scissors though, use some curved ones if they're available!

If this doesn't work your veterinary surgery should be able to help at a minimal fee. Unless your cat needed sedation I would do it for a nurse consult fee

Mama_Cat

Perhaps if she is molting a lot, you could try brushing her for a few minutes every day. This might encourage her to wash herself more and groom out the matt, or she may even start letting you brush her tummy as she gets used to it.

I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to cut her hair myself in case I snipped her instead!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Hold the matt with one set of fingers, snip with the scissors in the other hand, either all in one go or cut it in half and then take the last bit off. Minimum danger of snipping cat tummy.

NB - you may need an assistant to hold the cat/prevent you losing the fingers on both hands

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks (I've been feeling like a "neglectful mommy" since I found it, but it certainly wasn't there yesterday).

I'd rather try to avoid a trip to the vet - she doesn't travel at all well ("unwell" at both ends in the car) and gets really, really upset and turns into a total monster (at her booster last year the vet wouldn't even attempt to try to give her a worming pill!). It's def a case of the "thick gloves" when trying to get near her.

She's a total sweetheart at home but just gets sooooo stressed when away from her "comfort" zone - it's horrible to see.

I've been thinking of getting the vet to come her to do her booster this year but unfortunately my vets around 20 miles away (have gone their for years and they're fab so I'd rather stick with them) but unfortunately it doesn't make taking a nervous cat there very easy.

I've looked at vets closer to home and there are a couple of OK ones but most people I know travel to "mine" as they've got such a great reputation (which is great but not IYSWIM).


She tends to come and lie beside me for a tummy tickle every night so I'll try to sneak a better look tomorrow and see if she's managed to sort it out.

If not, I'll try to rope in an "unsuspecting volunteer" to snip!

Owain_Moneysaver

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Hold the matt with one set of fingers, snip with the scissors in the other hand, either all in one go or cut it in half and then take the last bit off. Minimum danger of snipping cat tummy.

NB - you may need an assistant to hold the cat/prevent you losing the fingers on both hands

• Head
• Front Paws
• Back Paws
• Matt
• Scissors
  

I make that a minimum of 5 hands needed.

rising_from_the_ashes

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

• Head
• Front Paws
• Back Paws
• Matt
• Scissors

I make that a minimum of 5 hands needed.

:rotfl:Yup, that sounds about right!

spincandy

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

• Head
• Front Paws
• Back Paws
• Matt
• Scissors

I make that a minimum of 5 hands needed.

Lmao!!!

Sounds like it'll take a slow and gentle approach! If she enjoys tummy tickles maybe get into that and then sneak the scissors closer to her without her noticing? She shouldn't feel the snipping if you're sneaky enough! It might take a couple of tries though!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Sorry, guys. I just pick cat up, turn her onto her back, gently catch her back legs between my knees, grab the matted bit and snip. If it's causing her discomfort/soiled from the litter tray, she doesn't even need holding.

Some of us are just lucky, I suppose.

Owain_Moneysaver

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Sorry, guys. I just pick cat up, turn her onto her back, gently catch her back legs between my knees, grab the matted bit and snip. If it's causing her discomfort/soiled from the litter tray, she doesn't even need holding.

Some of us are just lucky, I suppose.

I got my cat trained* to wait in the kitchen and miaow when he came in wet, so he could have his paws and fur dried and not tread mud into the house.

I also got him trained that if he wanted to go out in the night, he would jump off my bed and go to mother's room and wake her not me.

* He actually trained me, of course

jungle_jane

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Thanks (I've been feeling like a
I'd rather try to avoid a trip to the vet - she doesn't travel at all well ("unwell" at both ends in the car) and gets really, really upset and turns into a total monster (at her booster last year the vet wouldn't even attempt to try to give her a worming pill!). It's def a case of the "thick gloves" when trying to get near her.

She's a total sweetheart at home but just gets sooooo stressed when away from her "comfort" zone - it's horrible to see.

I've been thinking of getting the vet to come her to do her booster this year

My beloved puss was EXACTLY like this...complete nightmare to take to the vet. He was dying of heart disease recently so we opted to have the vet come out to our house rather than put him through the trauma of taking him into the surgery.

it turned out that he was no better behaved at all - in fact he nearly tore the poor assistant vet's arm off at one stage he was Demon Cat all round to the degree that he had a note put on his file of being a bit of a drama queen.

I wouldn't recommend getting the vet out...firstly, they charge like rhinos. you have to pay for an assistant too (well our vets insisted on brining one) and the cat knows its the vet the second they walk through the door. They become just as badly behaved as they were at the vets - all you saved them was the trip in the car (which i do understand is long for you)

The vet being in your home then makes them a little distrustful in their own home for a week or so afterwards. if you have other cats, they get a bit weird too - possibly because their home now smells of vet?

i found that by taking him in his box, having the nasty doctor attend to him at the surgery and then bringing him back to his safe place - home - was the better option. Having a thermometer popped up his barkside while he stood on the coffee table is something i greatly regret...to the day he died a couple of months later he refused to go anywhere near that table...