How to safely remove painful fur mats from my shy cat at home?

Question

Oren has some fur mats and we are struggling to brush them out. We’re very gentle and have tried treats too but now as soon as we get near the mats he runs away, even if we’re barely touching the mats. He loves being brushed on his head and back but the mats are between his back legs and flanks. We’re running out of ideas and the mats are getting worse... we don’t want to bring him to a groomer because he’s extremely shy and we worry it would be really hard for him. Any advice? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 1 year and 4 months old | 6.1 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry that you are dealing with mats with Oren. Unfortunately, once a mat has formed, it is not possible to gently brush it out. It will be painful and require ripping the hair out (which is why Oren is running away from you). So, once a mat has formed, the entire mat needs to be removed. I do not recommend doing that with scissors because there is a high likelihood that Oren might move and get his skin cut. The safest way to remove mats is with electric clippers, but most cats hate the sound of them. I wish I had a better option for you, but a groomer appointment to remove the mats quickly might be the best thing for Oren, so he does not associate you with anything scary. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

How to safely remove painful fur mats from my shy cat at home?

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