What Causes a Cat's Fur to Get Matted?

Mats are a fact of life for many cats. Knots, tangles and clumps of fur are painful for cats and can cause a whole host of problems, as well as pose a tricky dilemma for pet owners who must contend with the mats. Learning the causes behind matted fur can help cat owners prevent these grooming catastrophes.

  1. Contributing Factors

    • Cats with long hair are more susceptible to matting than cats with shorter coats, because there is more fur available to knot. Wet fur is more likely to mat than dry fur because the protein bonds and the scaly outer cuticle of of the hair follicle are weakened.

    Physical Activity

    • Any activity in which the cat moves, including running, jumping, playing or rolling around, can cause mats to occur. Cat fur, while rooted firmly in the skin, moves about just like human hair. When the strands of fur move against each other, they're at risk for knotting. As more and more knots occur, one on top of another, mats form. Applying friction from physical activity, excess body heat and environmental moisture to these knots encourages matting in the same way putting a sweater through the washer and dryer causes felting and shrinking.

    Foreign Matter

    • When a piece of foreign matter gets caught in a cat's coat, it becomes the focal point of a mat. Twigs, leaves, carpet fibers, bits of plastic and garbage are all potential problem items that can find their way into a cat's fur. Particulates with rough textures, such as twigs or fibers, grasp at the surrounding fur and knot it up. Matting occurs as more and more hair knots around the object.

    Improper Grooming

    • Cats groom themselves frequently as a means to keep clean and provide physical comfort. Sometimes self-grooming is not enough to prevent the formation of knots and mats. When owners neglect to groom their cats on a regular schedule, mats can result. Long-haired cats should be groomed every day, ideally, although some owners prefer to groom their long-haired cats every other day. Shorter-coated cats can be groomed once a week. Brushing a cat's fur with a stiff bristle brush prevents the buildup of knots and gives owners time to spot existing mats. Brushing also distributes natural oils throughout a cat's coat, which acts as a conditioner and softener to keep fur from tangling. De-tangle or cut out existing mats and knots using a thin comb or blade during routine grooming sessions.

    Considerations

    • Matted fur is painful for a cat. The mats pull at the skin beneath the fur, causing sores, redness and irritation. If mats are allowed to build up on a cat's legs, they may get bad enough to impede the cat's movement. Wet mats can invite parasites, including maggots and flies. An infestation with these creatures requires veterinary attention. Mats around the anus or urinary openings can impede waste elimination, which is a life-threatening problem.