My cat has matted fur clumps close to the skin. How do I remove them?

As cats get older, they tend to stop grooming themselves as much causing the fur to mat. If you're able to, brushing him daily will help prevent these mats from developing. I suggest taking him to a groomer or vet so they're able to groom him and prevent the mats from getting bigger and causing discomfort.

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Lily. Poor girl! Yes I would get those matts shaved out, they will be painful to her. I'd also recommend having her seen by a vet. She's stopped grooming herself for a reason, and it could be it's painful for her to groom. Arthritis is common in senior cats. A chronic illness, such as diabetes and kidney disease, could sap a cat's energy and lead them to not grooming. Both of those are common in senior cats. I recommend having her seen by a vet this week, and getting her a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. I hope this helps!

Definitely don't cut! You are very likely to cut the skin if you use scissors. You can use shaving clippers or take Calico to a groomer. Once the mats are gone, you will need to brush her daily to remove loose hairs to prevent the mats from coming back. I would also recommend having Calico evaluated by her vet to see if she has arthritis preventing her from being able to groom. Medications may make her more comfortable.

Poor Charlie! As a starting point, the matted areas will need to be shaved off with clippers - so you can either do this yourself, if you're comfortable, or take him to a veterinarian or groomer to have it done. Once the mats are out, you'll need to either brush him regularly (if he tolerates this), or have him shaved down regularly to prevent him from getting matted again. If this is a new development for him, I would also recommend a vet visit to find out if there might be a reason that he's no longer grooming himself properly. This can happen due to pain, skin issues, or systemic illnesses such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes.

Poor Paws!! I suspect that maybe Paws has been having some difficulty grooming himself in this area. If the mat of fur will not come off easily you will likely need to have a groomer or your vet shave it off with clippers. To help prevent the problem recurring be sure to brush Paws regularly (daily is best) to help remove the dead fur from his coat that is accumulating into a mat. If Paws will tolerate it then occasional bathing can be helpful too.

If Chubbs' fur coat is heavily matted, this can be quite painful and he may be pulling out the mats due to discomfort. Cats typically groom themselves well, but when cats do not do so, they can have underlying skin or endocrine conditions. Start by having Chubbs groomed to remove all mats, be sure to apply a high quality flea preventative (such as Advantage) once a month, and monitor his behavior and appetite for changes. Laxatone is an over the counter medication that can be helpful if Chubbs develops a problem with hairballs.

This could be due to Kitty's age. When cats are older, they can groom themselves less effectively than younger cats, sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation. It could also be that she has arthritis, making it painful for her to reach around to groom her backside and sides. I would make an appointment for her with a groomer. They can brush out her matts (they may need to be shaved), and get her coat back into a better condition. Then you should brush her daily to prevent further matts from occurring. It's very important to get those matts removed asap, as they will be pulling on her skin and it will be painful for her. I'd also make an appointment with her vet for a health check, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis just to see if everything is ok health wise for her. The vet can also examine her to see if she has arthritis, and can prescribe pain medications as needed. Please do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to cats and are f

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Little Bit. I recommend having her shaved down by a veterinarian or groomer. A veterinarian is a good choice in case in sedation is needed. I hope this information helps!

Your cat likely has arthritis or is not feeling well. Cats who do not clean themselves usually are either too lethargic to clean themselves or are in pain and cannot move well enough to properly clean themselves His teeth should also be checked. If he has a lot of tartar on his teeth, or red inflamed gums, grooming will also hurt. You should take him to your vet for an exam, and if the mats are very bad, a shave under anesthesia.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Furguson. He will likely need what is known as a lion cut. This shaves the hair down to remove the mats. It can be performed by a groomer or a veterinary clinic. I hope this information helps!