Cat Grooming: Tangles, Long Fur & Mats

Cats with long hair, such as Persians and Himalayans, are more prone to tangles and mats, and require daily grooming. These cats do groom themselves, but they usually require some additional grooming to prevent knots and mats in their long fur. Spend some time everyday brushing your cat to keeps its fur sleek and healthy.

  1. Tangles and Mats

    • Generally, indoor cats with long hair tend to shed throughout the year, but the main season for shedding is in spring when the dense undercoat begins to shed. If the loose hairs are not removed, they tend to get twisted up with the growing hair, forming a tangle. Slowly, the tangle grows denser and bigger, leading to a mat, which can be quite difficult to handle.

    Removing Tangles

    • Apply talcum powder to the tangles and use your fingers to gently untangle the hair. Run your fingers through the tangles, but avoid pulling or tugging the hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to gently comb out the hair. If the tangles do not come apart with talcum powder and your fingers, use a mat splitter to untangle the fur gently.

    Removing Mats

    • Apply cornstarch to the matted hair. Rub the cornstarch into the hair by gently moving your fingers upward. Take care not to pull the skin, as it will hurt your cat and mark the end of the grooming session. Hold the clump of matted hair at the base, just above the skin, and run a seam ripper side to side to loosen up the hair. Then use a wide-toothed comb to gently comb the hair. If the mat is small, use a flea comb to loosen the hair.

    Importance of Grooming

    • When a long-haired cat gets matted fur and tangles, it keeps the skin from getting oxygen. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply, and the cat becomes prone to skin infections. Furthermore, dead hair attracts dirt and can end up making your cat look dirty and unkempt. Also, when mats and tangles get wet, they provide the ideal environment for maggots, fleas and lice.

    Preventing Mats

    • The best way to prevent mats and tangles is by brushing your cat everyday. This also will reduce the formation of hairballs. When brushing a cat with long hair, start with the abdomen and legs, then move to the neck. Brush the fur against the growth to remove dead hair. Lastly, groom the cat's back by parting the hair along the spine, then brush the fur down on both sides.