Should I be worried about the matting??

carrie640

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I am truly starting to get worried about Ashley. Granted, she has had a couple of mats here and there, but lately they are almost starting to like BLANKET on her (up her back). I took a small pair of scissors (like the nail trimming ones) and got them off but I am afraid they will come back (And she looks funny running around half-furred!!). The flakes were HORRIBLE under those mats!! OMG! I feel so bad for her! Her fur naturally tends to be oily and we do give her baths maybe twice a year to help control it, but this time it just seems to be oilier than normal.

SO.... is there anything I should be worried about? What about this severe matting? I thought that matting resulted in failing to groom...is that true or is it the oiliness? Regardless of the mats, though, she always had flakey skin no matter WHAT she ate. We have done Iams, we have done Science Diet (and prescription Science Diet).....we have done Nutro...it all works the same on her.

I am TERRIFIED. Angel started getting like this towards her end and I just don't want to face that with Ashley yet.
 

hissy

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Please take your cat to a competent professional groomer or the vets to be shaved. Mats can cause serious skin afflictions, and they are painful for cats as well. If you try to cut the mat out you could cut the skin of the animal.Most vet offices have the means to take care of these mats and they sound like they are reaching the stage where they are out of control. Once they have been shaved off, be sure and groom your cat several times a day to keep them away.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by hissy

Please take your cat to a competent professional groomer or the vets to be shaved. Mats can cause serious skin afflictions, and they are painful for cats as well. If you try to cut the mat out you could cut the skin of the animal.Most vet offices have the means to take care of these mats and they sound like they are reaching the stage where they are out of control. Once they have been shaved off, be sure and groom your cat several times a day to keep them away.
Ditto...
 
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carrie640

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Thank you so much! I will do that.

Any idea what causes these things? Is it the cat's lack of grooming herself? She never had this problem of matting like this.
 

mzjazz2u

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Mats are caused by dead and shedding fur. Daily brushing and combing will prevent this. Please don't try to clip the mats out yourself. I'm with Hissy on taking the cat to a groomer..... A cat's skin is pretty loose and it's very easy to cut them.
 

scamperfarms

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Groom Groom Groom! Keeps the mats away! Loki gets brushed every single day with a shedding type brush. and as often as he wants with his soft shine him up brush..which is often...twice a day.....sometimes he drags it out from its place and sets it at my feet.
 
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