What Causes Matting In Cats Hair

In short a simple mat can mess up your cat s whole system.

What causes matting in cats hair.

Skin flakes dead fur dust and skin oils cause matting. Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work. Serious cases of matting sometimes require the help of a groomer or veterinarian. It all boils down to a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental influences.

See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats. If mat has just started to form the best thing to do is to simply brush it out. What causes matted cat hair. Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.

Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention. If the mat isn t too big or too tight the best way to tackle it is to work it apart with your fingers. Illnesses such as hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties. Start by holding the hair below the mat close to the skin and separate the tangled fur.

As it happens there are several reasons a cat might groom less and poor coat condition is a clue they need medical help. Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time. A cat covered in mats might even have to be put under anesthesia and shaved to prevent discomfort and pain during the hair removal. When the cat isn t able to properly clean his fur all this dirt builds up and causes the fur to stick together.

If you know your cat has a genetic predisposition to hair loss it will be much easier to manage the problem and prevent further matting. What causes matting in hair anyway. Other times it can be from accidents due to playing. If this drastic step is necessary be sure to maintain a regular program of brushing and combing when the coat grows back to prevent future problems.

If their formerly pristine sleek pelt is now dull and tufty it s time to wonder why this might be. While a lack of grooming sometimes is just part of old age many times there may be a medical cause for it in your elderly feline. If you have an older cat try comparing then and now photos. Causes of matted hair in cats.

Removing matted hair from your cat 1. The main reason why your cat experiences matted hair is due to lack of grooming if you do not brush your cat s hair properly or leave it as is for an extended period then your feline friend will suffer from the clumps due to shedding and leaving the excess fur on his skin. Matted fur clumps need to be removed because they re extremely uncomfortable for the cat. So what causes matted cat hair.

You can also gently pick individual mat parts out of your cat s skin. How to get mats out of cat fur. Next apply an oil based detangling spray to loosen the fur. Use a metal mat comb for cats to detach the smaller tangles.

Often it looks as though the hair has been glued together.