Neighbor's Matted Cat

Odd problem here. I live in an apartment community, and one of my neighbors (whom I don't know and have never met) has a gorgeous gray and white cat with incredibly matted fur from the center of her torso down to her tail. It is horribly matted and she is a very fat cat. She's the sweetest, friendliest little angel you could ever meet, and she comes running when she sees anyone and begs to be stroked. Her owner lets her out of the house some mornings and I have seen her, but often months go by without me seeing her. This morning I saw her for the first time since the fall. It seems someone has tried to cut some of her mats off, but hasn't done a great job... and the poor kitty is fatter than ever.

What ought to I do in this situation? I'd like to knock on the neighbor's door (I have a pretty good idea of which home she lives in), and offer to take the cat to the vet on my dime to be shaved. But I don't want this person to get defensive or to feel that I'm somehow overstepping. This amazing cat has had these mats for at least a year now, and it kills me to see her getting larger and larger and more matted and suffering. It's a painful infection waiting to happen.

A belated Christmas present of a gift certificate to a cat groomer? If you have cats, maybe say you are taking in yours in for grooming and offer to take it in too? In the second instead of saying on your dime just tell them your vet is having a special and it will be only $5/$10 so they don't feel it is charity. It really depends on your relationship with them. If you are closer you can say you've noticed the mats and would love to take her in. 

I have the same problem. I clean a house for a lady and her cat she says is old, blind, and deaf but when i clean the house she follows me everywhere. but she is severly matted right down her spine. she hisses at me when I touch it. There is no way to comb that out. I would shave her but is it my place? I dont know these people very well. I just think that she should be better taken care of.