Advice on dematting shorthairedcat (rescue)

Mrs_Z

Oh she is adorable! Sorry, no special tips - I'm having the same problem with our golden oldie - she's not grooming herself properly any more and I think her hyperthyroidsm is also making her coat denser. I've managed to get few clumps out here and there but she's just got too many. I got a brush meant for dogs for their undercoat which is really good, but of course you have to be very careful not to pull. Also when she's relaxed, she'll let me go over the clumps with a normal haircomb but it's really slow. I don't think I'll ever get her clump free

She's also black and short haired with coats looking pretty much like your cats. And well done giving one needy black cat her forever home!

Brallaqueen

She's gorgeous!

It'll be a long process cutting out the matty bits yourself but you'll get there! or you can get her groomed and let someone else do it (tempting when thye gt upset at you)

Fire_Fox

Gorgeous! You could try a little melted coconut oil to help ease the matts out? Many cats love to eat it and I believe (please double check!) it is safe for them being saturated fat - whereas most plant oils are not good for then. Cheap as anything from the Asian section in the supermarket, and great for cooking or for use on human hair so no waste! Also might help fatten up malnourished ex strays.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mikki-Matt-Breaker-with-replacement-Blades-/320993191825

RosaBernicia

thanks - might try shampoo or oil on the worst mats. At least they seem to be away from the skin so I think they'll be OK to cut if necessary.

She is a funny little thing - she's got very expressive ears, twirls and flattens them more than I've seen on any other cat!

Her tummy is a bit upset but that's only to be expected with the stress of moving. She has got some of her old food but keeps sneaking bits of big mog's, I guess because it smells meatier... and he keeps wanting hers because it's different!


Rosa xx

kara7758

She is lovely Rosa!! Looks so much like my Duchess! I second the wiping her down with a warm damp cloth and a bit of baby shampoo, it'll be a comfort for her.

Wow she will be even more gorgeous soon! Wishing you lots of happy times together.

moggymutt

Its so nice to hear that she's grooming herself again, shows she must be feeling good about herself again. Damp hands or cloth can lift a lot of dead hair out when stroking, but I would be tempted to cut matts out (with safe scissors)- there's usually lots of scurf underneath.

Sounds like she's got a lovely home now- thank you.

divadee

We have had this with a previous rescue cat a Persian. We had to have him shaved at the vets in the end as he would not tolerate the grooming at first. After he was shaved we used a furminator to keep on top of it. Slowly building up day by day so he got used to it.

He still got big matty bits sometimes but we would just cut them out with small nail scissors.

I would say cut all the matted bits out and then get a furminator brush to keep on top of it.

RosaBernicia

divadee wrote: »

We have had this with a previous rescue cat a Persian.

:eek: now there's a challenge.


I've cut out a few now and I think it's mainly just unshed undercoat. I managed to tease a couple out and a couple more I've just trimmed off at the root. You wouldn't know they'd been there as the rest of the fur covers up the shortened bits. There is one huge one on her back that might show but will have a look at that over the next couple of days. If I do a few a day then hopefully it will also encourage her to get back to properly grooming.

Will also try the cloth and baby shampoo... picked up those and the scissors today, hopefully the office lot weren't peering into the bag under my desk or they'll think there's something I'm not telling them lol


Rosa xx

moggymutt

Divadee, we do like you did if we get longhaired matted cats in- they usually end up looking very, very silly, but its so nice for them to be able to feel free to move and start cleaning themselves again.

As soon as cats come in to us (they always go straight to the vets for check up), if matted, the brilliant vet nurses always work their magic with combs/brushes/clippers etc, so I'm very lucky.

paddypaws101

Aww she is bonny.
I really love the Furrminator type combs (cheap versions on ebay are just fine) for short haired cats...the amount they pull out is tremendous.
Go easy with it now it is winter, just enough to remove those nasty clumps....come spring time you can go crazy and really work through the coat.