Do you know that there are about 130000 hairs in every square inch of the cat’s body? Can you imagine keeping them under control? We usually freak out about the kind of hair we lose every day. But with cats, it is not a problem. They are incredibly amazing self-groomers. However, sometimes their hair may get tangled or clumped up. The matted hair needs to be removed not only because they are unpleasant to see, but also because it causes pain to the cat. They can lead to skin problems and other infections if left uncared.
If you have never helped a cat in de-matting the hair, here are some things you may want to understand before you begin the process.
What causes clumping up of hair?
Usually, the hair gets clumped because of various reasons. But commonly, the vets say that the matting of hair happens only in the region where there is a lot of movement or rubbing. These parts include legs, tail collar, and event. Sometimes depending upon the pressure of the movement, these hairs can get piled in the shoulders and hindquarters. Especially if your cat seems to be lying all day, the pressure on these regions will be more. Hence the matting occurs.
There is one other reason why cats have matted fur. When they shed hair, it seems that they leave some knots behind the cat’s coat. Hence after the hair is fallen only in certain areas, these clumps are formed. When this happens and if left unattended, these mats grow tighter. It gets very closer to the skin, and it becomes highly painful for cats when removed after a long interval of time. They find it hard as they make any movement or stretches naturally.
There are some other important reasons why cats grow matted hair. Check the below table to understand these scenarios.
Cause of Clumped Hair |
How it occurs |
Over weighted cat |
When cats become overweight, they may not be able to reach their body parts for grooming. As they are left ungroomed, the body starts to grow matted hair. |
Sick cats |
When the feline doesn’t feel well, she stops grooming. In such cases, the owners need to understand that she is in pain and needs help to groom her fur. You can reach the vets if necessary. |
Old Cats |
Naturally, matt hair grows in old cats. Most of the time, they feel drowsy. Also, this is an early sign of arthritis in them. |
Indoor-Cats |
Compared to wild or stray cats, indoor cats seem to grow clump hair faster because of less physical activity. |
Why is clumped hair bad for cats?
First of all, you need to understand that for cats, hairs are more than just a grooming element. It is more like any other body part to them. Hence, the clumped hair may cause suffocation in them. The tangle-free fur will allow the air to pass through the skin, helping the oxygen content in the body balanced. But the matted hair, on the other hand, will block the oxygen. It will damage the skin and remove all the moisture from the body. Eventually, you can see that cats suffer from dry, scaly, and irritated skin.
Also, when your cats feel uncomfortable, they start grooming more. It will end up in losing the hair that they ingest. The vets urge the owners to remove the hair, especially in the leg areas, because the cats may seem to trap the urine and feces. If neglected, all sorts of infections may come because of the matted cat hair. As you keep delaying, you can also see that the parasites are growing in their body.
How to get the clumped hair out from the fur?
You can quickly identify the clumped hair. If you feel that the matt is not too tight or big, you can remove them easily using a hair detangling spray. These sprays are oil-based and help to smoothen the hair faster. Check out TropiClean Tangle Remover which will have effective results in a shorter time.
After you apply to leave the region for longer, then use the metal or steel mat comb for cats that will help you to detangle the smaller strands. The Andis Pet Comb is most common in that the user has found the desired result of using. There is a lot of difference between ordinary pet combs and detangler combs. These are features with minute sharp elements that can easily remove the knot. Your cats will have an only poking feel when you brush with this comb.
Hold the matting hair from below that is close to the skin. Separate them from fur in small pieces. When you are removing the hair, be as gentle as possible. Gradually increase the strokes and make them faster and ensure you are not pulling the skin.
Never cut the matt out of fur. Even though the felines have denser hair, they have delicate skin. You may never know sometimes you end up cutting deep near the surface. It will not only cause pets pain, but they might also suffer because of excessive bleeding. It can go up to the level of stitching. When it is covered up again with the fur, you will not be able to notice it, which will risk the pet from infection.
Can you prevent clumped cat fur?
As you keep delaying de-mat the hair, it is going to clump more and more. To avoid such scenarios, you have to comb and brush them properly. Keep the pet routine for brushing, so they don’t form mats in fur. Just run your finger in the fur coat while brushing. Even if there is any small clump, it will be easily removed. And you can identify the larger mats that can be removed with the comb.
Conclusion
If you are not sure how to remove the matted cat fur, then you can always seek professional help. We are sure there are a number of pet stylists out there who can help in de-matting. You don’t have to do this as a process every time. But once in a while, you can take them to the professionals. They have knowledge and experience. Importantly, they have the right tool to remove the clumped hair without injuring the pets in the process.
Also, always check what kind of shampoo or conditioners you can use for detangling. There are quite a few sprays that keep the hair moist and restrict the hair from clamping. If you can afford to use this frequently, the clamping may never be a trouble for you or your cat.
