How to Stop Matted Hair on a Cat

Cats with long hair can suffer matting of their fur. Cats shed all the time, and the shed hair can become wrapped up in the hair that's still attached to the cat's skin. Over time, this builds up into a mat of hair that can pull on the cat's skin. Removing the dead hair by brushing and working out small tangles can prevent them from growing into mats. Frequent brushing will also help prevent hairballs, which are caused when the cat swallows the shed hairs.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat grooming brush
  • Comb with metal teeth
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your long-haired cat daily. This will remove dead hair, and allow you to spot and remove any small tangles before they turn into mats.

    • 2

      Check the areas where mats most commonly form. This includes behind the ears, under the cat's collar, behind their front legs, in front of the tail, and between the back legs.

    • 3

      Remove any small tangles you find by working them out with your fingers. If they won't come out, try a comb with metal teeth that can rotate in their sockets. This helps the teeth slide through the tangle without pulling on the hair.

    • 4

      Grasp the hair under the tangle, and work the teeth of the comb underneath the tangle. Pull upward gently, being careful not to tug too hard and break the hairs.