Should I have a vet shave Sylvester's mats?

les26

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Okay, that handsome boy pictured above left with the tuxedo on, we have had him for 1 year now, but didn't realize since he is a long haired cat that he could get matted fur, none of our others do, but he has some that we cannot seem to be able to comb out, and he isn't really fond of it and fights us since he was an outdoor/indoor cat before we adopted him which tells me that he probably had mats before since no one ever groomed him. We tried coconut oil, but he has very tight mats, we can work a little bit out but not much, he doesn't seem to be in pain, doesn't go after them, but I am wondering should we risk taking him to the vet which would only be the 3rd time in his life he was at one to have them sedate him and shave him, then try to get him used to being brushed after that, or will they work their way out and/or be easier for us to work when he loses his Winter coat in Spring? He became VERY furrry, we were shocked, and at times call him "Wooly Bully" lol! I'm afraid if we take him to the vet it will wig him out and he might be very leery of us and hide like he did when we took him in, plus will the other cats give him a hard time about it and hassle him like they sometimes tend to do? I'm torn on what to do, please advise if you have experience with this situation and thank you in advance!
 

paiger8

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Can you cut them out with sharp scissors? One of my cats gets mats, and I can usually snip them with scissors and then if there's any left (close to the skin) they're easier to comb out after you've got the main mat out. She's not a giant fan of being brushed, but doesn't mind scissors as long as she's been petted to sleep first. :) 
 

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You need to be very careful if you cut mats out, rather than shaving them. It's all too easy to cut the skin :cringe: If you go the scissors route, be sure to have a comb between the scissors and his skin, and don't cut too close. Any mat left behind will be much easier to brush out, and far better that than risk an accident ;)
 

arouetta

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Yeah, you have to be really careful about scissors.

When I can, I work a comb between skin and mat and cut all the way down to the comb.  When I can't, I very slowly snip off the mat in pieces until I'm pretty close to the skin and then use the comb on what's left.  Usually there's not enough length of fur left for the mat to remain once I'm working on it with a comb.

Don't try to do it all in one setting.  You have to really restrain a cat because movement can get the skin in the wrong spot and a cat will take being restrained and having the fur pulled at only so long.  Especially if the only way to work on the mat is by putting the cat in a position he or she hates.  You don't want to end up with teeth in your hand.

I find that working on my cat with an additional person actually helps.  She helps hold and she distracts by scratching my cat in a favorite spot while I'm working on the mat.  I'll take breaks and we'll both scratch her good, that seems to lengthen the time the cat will tolerate the cut session.

If all else fails, I've never lived in a city that didn't have a mobile grooming business.  I did use that once when a mat just was too difficult to work with.  They have a groomer drive a van to your house, plug an electric cord into your outlet and in the back of the van is a grooming table.
 
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les26

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THANK YOU all for the replies! I was able to work one out to the right of his neck last night, one that I had started yesterday morning so that was good, but the ones on his back are so very tight, don't know if we'd even be able to get through them with a scissors! Again, he doesn't seem to be bothered by them, he doesn't go after them, doesn't seem to be in any pain, so we will plod along trying a little at a time, maybe we can work them out and we'll see what happens when he starts to lose his Winter coat. Also good to know of groomers that come to the house!

Thanks!!
 

arouetta

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Mats are very dangerous stuff.  Your cat is probably in pain and just hiding it since having the fur pulled on constantly is painful.  The skin can actually become damaged under a mat, creating sores.  There can also be skin infections as mats do keep the skin from having air circulation and will trap in moisture and all sorts of dirt.  Mats can also cut off circulation to extremities and impaired circulation leads to all sorts of problems.

When I started having problems cutting through mats, I bought a new pair of scissors.  All scissor blades dull, and having a new set snipped right through the tough mats.  You do have to be doubly careful about not hitting skin though if you are using a new pair of scissors.
 
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les26

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Mats are very dangerous stuff.  Your cat is probably in pain and just hiding it since having the fur pulled on constantly is painful.  The skin can actually become damaged under a mat, creating sores.  There can also be skin infections as mats do keep the skin from having air circulation and will trap in moisture and all sorts of dirt.  Mats can also cut off circulation to extremities and impaired circulation leads to all sorts of problems.
I don't like to hear this....maybe I should take him to the local groomer who is not far at all from us; I doubt that Deb and I would be able to take care of all his mats, I'll talk it over with her tonight.

Thanks for the added advice, I don't want the little guy to have problems!!!
 

sivyaleah

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I agree that a groomer might be in order.

You can also get a mat cutter. Somewhat less dangerous than using a pair of scissors since there is no sharp tip.  But you still need to be very careful with it.  
 

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One thing that no one has mentioned yet, waiting until he sheds his winter coat is a terrible idea. The fur is already matted and the winter coat shedding out will only add to the mess. They primarily shed their undercoat between seasons, the top coat doesn't shed that often, so what primarily makes a mat is the loose undercoat fur getting tangles in the top coat.

I've had to have one of my cats shaved at the vet, she was already slightly matted but then she got a large glob of pine sap in her fur, there was no way I was going to be able to brush that out. She had to go to the vet since she had to be sedated and most groomers around here anyway wont touch an animal that has been sedated (liability issues). They shaved her lower back and also gave her a sanitary cut (bottom and private area) while they were at it so it kinda looked like she was shaved for a diaper. Anyway, the other cats didn't hassle her about her shaved rear, she seemed pretty self conscious about it though. It was much easier to start with a clean slate with her, she now doesn't mind being brushed as much since it mostly feels more good, rather then associating it with pain everytime.
 

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Xena allowed me to work on her mats a little at a time. She also worked on them herself and loved to be brushed.
Boney Girl would no allow me to help. Got them shaved out at the vet. Could always tell she felt better afterwards
 
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les26

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One thing that no one has mentioned yet, waiting until he sheds his winter coat is a terrible idea. The fur is already matted and the winter coat shedding out will only add to the mess. They primarily shed their undercoat between seasons, the top coat doesn't shed that often, so what primarily makes a mat is the loose undercoat fur getting tangles in the top coat.

I've had to have one of my cats shaved at the vet, she was already slightly matted but then she got a large glob of pine sap in her fur, there was no way I was going to be able to brush that out. She had to go to the vet since she had to be sedated and most groomers around here anyway wont touch an animal that has been sedated (liability issues). They shaved her lower back and also gave her a sanitary cut (bottom and private area) while they were at it so it kinda looked like she was shaved for a diaper. Anyway, the other cats didn't hassle her about her shaved rear, she seemed pretty self conscious about it though. It was much easier to start with a clean slate with her, she now doesn't mind being brushed as much since it mostly feels more good, rather then associating it with pain everytime.
Sylvester looks like the kitty in your picture, just MUCH furrier! He REALLY became furry and it got away from us, had we known he would get that "wooly" we would have started brushing him, but this was the first Winter that we had him. Which makes me wonder, what happened to him all of the several past years when he lived indoors and outdoors with the people that we got him from? I called his previous "owner" and asked if they ever groomed/combed him but they didn't, don't you think that he would have had this issue before? Or....he now is eating much better and getting vitamins and better nutrition, maybe that is why his fur really grew out? Or he isn't grooming himself, but as furry as he got I don't know if he would be able to stay ahead of it himself.

But I am going to make some calls, and probably end up taking him to a vet and having him shaved down, I don't want the little guy to have issues and/or be in pain. I'm sure that he will get over it and maybe even get more used to going to the vet, but I'm going to take him soon.

Thank you!!!
 

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Wurp has really baby fine long-ish fur that mats, and he is brushed every single night, under his arms, on his belly, everywhere.  He still gets mats.  It's just baby fine hair.  Even if I comb him with a fine comb, he still gets mats.  And we brush about 30-45 minutes every single night, hubby does while he is watching TV.  It's just his fur type.

When I notice a knot forming we immediately start working on it with our fingers and a comb.  If we can't get it out and it forms a larger mat, we go and let the vet shave it off.  I bought a "trim" clipper for dogs, it is only about an inch wide at the clip end, and I use that where I can, it works great. I also use it to trim down his back legs under his butt/tail area (I call it his furry bloomers lol).  But there are still areas that I don't feel comfortable getting so I let them shave those off for me.  He has a lot of loose wrinkly skin under his neck, and I'm terrified I'll nab skin, and that's one of the worst places to mat, on his chest.

I have to take him about every 4-6 weeks, about once each month at one time or another, to get his nails trimmed (he will NOT let us).  I just have the tech do it then.  We never have to pay a "vet" visit, it's usually only around $10 each time and well worth it to us!!
 

arouetta

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He has a lot of loose wrinkly skin under his neck, and I'm terrified I'll nab skin, and that's one of the worst places to mat, on his chest.
My baby Shadow recently had a bad mat on her chest.  I managed to work on it three times, when I got hold of her to work on it a fourth time I found a bald spot instead.  Despite not showing that it bothered her she ended up ripping it out, presumably with her own teeth.

She hates the mats being worked on, but I hate seeing bald spots from her taking care of it her own way.
 

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I have a feline groomer and it takes two of us to restrain to shave Honeybee=her fur tangles and she hates sissors cutting. I also saw my groomer use blunt ended sissors if you need to cut=they look like fiscars or something like that-she puts the comb against the body and snips with the other hand while I restrain honeybee. If it's the back of the legs=they hate that area touched. I found if I hold honeybee Jon can snip at the fur along the back of legs and her bumbum. We recently had to trim her bum because she has a bad habit of sitting in poo. Don't wet the fur either. It will make it worse. You can get some coconut oil and use that around the matt to make the fur stay together so you can snip-they can lick it and it won't hurt them. I usually snip the matt right in half=then use my fingers to pull apart the rest of it. And in the future keep the fur on the front bib trimmed. It's not unusual to get matts there due to them eating and getting food on their "bib" which causes matts and yucks.

How is your kitty around strangers? Some cats need to be put under briefly to be shaved. I have been lucky and not needed it but that's why some vets charge a lot for this procedure. Some cats don't mind it and others do. Honeybee was challenging. Each time we went she gets better. The first time it took 3 of us to hold her down. Now I just hold her under her pitts and free hang her feet and wear leathers, she bites me but it's ok. I know she hates it but we only have to do it 2 times a year. This year it's getting close to time. Her fur is VERY long and she won't let me brush her. She LOVES her shaved hair. She preens and walks around like a beauty queen. two more months! May and August we shave her.
 
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les26

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Amethyst, we actually had a mild Winter this year, very strange weather, warm for several days, then cold for one or two, over and over again, hit 60's in January, 70's in February, had 70 one day 24 hours later got 7 inches of snow, just wacky!!

Sylvester looks like the cat you pictured, very similar except her fur is even longer than his, he is more "wooly" than long fur at this point!
 
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les26

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Thanks for the replies, I talked to Deb last night after I made a few phone calls and she and I are going to try to work some of the mats out but then take him to get shaved and a checkup when we get some warmer weather, it is going to be unseasonably cold in a day for the next week after having record high temps, so we don't want him to be cold if he is shaved, but we will take care of him!

The other thing that might have been a factor is we have a wood stove, and although I do have a steamer on top for moisture it gets a bit dry in there, I wonder if that played a part in it? We got him late last February and didn't use the stove much after we got him, but this heating season he was here for it. Hmm......
 

arouetta

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The other thing that might have been a factor is we have a wood stove, and although I do have a steamer on top for moisture it gets a bit dry in there, I wonder if that played a part in it? We got him late last February and didn't use the stove much after we got him, but this heating season he was here for it. Hmm......
I doubt that is it.  I had a wood stove most of my childhood, several cats, and none of them ever had a matting problem.  We didn't even bother to put a pot of water on it.
 
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les26

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I doubt that is it.  I had a wood stove most of my childhood, several cats, and none of them ever had a matting problem.  We didn't even bother to put a pot of water on it.
Were they long haired cats?
 

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I've been very interested in following this thread as I'm currently having almost word for word the same dilemma with my ball of fur - thanks for asking the question - I think I've also decided now that the vet is the way to go - I'd love to hear how you and he get on if you do bring him to the vet as I'm also very wary of my boy's reaction...
 
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