How to Groom a Matted-Up Persian Cat

Persian cats are known for their long hair, short muzzle and round face. The name refers to Persia, where the country of Iran is today, as the breed's place of origin. These cats have been a popular breed since the 1600s, and according to the Animal Planet website they are the world's most popular breed in terms of the number owned. They also have the longest hair of any domestic cat species, which can make grooming difficult.

Things You'll Need

  • Gentle conditioning shampoo
  • Wide-tooth comb
  • Small scissors
  • Soft-bristle brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bathe your Persian cat. While your cat is wet, look for tangles and mats in the fur. Gently wet your cat in a sink or bathtub with warm water. Use a gentle conditioning shampoo made for cats, which can be bought at any pet store. Work the shampoo into the hair starting from the head and going to the tail. Use as little shampoo as possible and rinse it gently with warm water. Once all the shampoo is rinsed out, wrap your cat with a towel and gently pat it dry. After a bath, it will be easier to brush out mats and tangles.

    • 2

      Brush your Persian cat with a wide-tooth comb to get out smaller tangles. The best time to do this is after a bath when your cat is dry. Gently place the comb in the tangled hair. Pull up the comb slowly so you don't pull out any hair or hurt the cat. The hair should slowly untangle. Take your time and you can remove smaller tangles easily.

    • 3

      Locate patches of matted hair. Matted hair is tufts of hair that become severely tangled. If hair is matted, use your fingers to separate the hair as much as possible. Once you up the tangle with your fingers, use a wide-tooth comb to gently pull apart the matted hair. Avoid nylon combs, which can cause static electricity, scaring your cat and making grooming difficult. Start at the bottom of the tangle, closest to the skin, and gently comb up. Stick with it until the hair becomes unmatted.

    • 4

      Cut a patch of matted hair off your Persian cat if all other techniques fail. Use very small scissors and cut away as little hair as possible. Cutting off too much hair can produce bald spots. Gently grab the tangle with your fingers and find where the tangle forms a knot. Brush the free hair away with your hand and slowly trim the knotted hair until you can remove the tangle.

    • 5

      Run a soft-bristle brush through your cat's coat once the hair is untangled. Brushing the hair will make it look shiny and healthy. Start at the head and work toward the tail. It's best to brush your cat at least twice a week to prevent mats.