How to Painlessly Get Mats Out of Cat Fur

Dematting is a process where you comb or shave through mats in your felines fur. Mats are often comprised of clumped dead hairs dead skin cells outdoor residues and any other kind of dirt your cat has rubbed against. Mats in cat fur are not only unsightly but they are also painful to your cat. They can lead to skin irritation and infection if theyre not removed.
Dematting a cat is typically not a fun experience for the feline or the human. Its important to take things slowly and be patient since mats are often difficult to remove in one sitting. You may want to enlist the help of an assistant because even though this technique is the easiest and least painful way to get rid of mats it takes a lot of diligence.

Matted Fur in Cats
Most cats groom nearly constantly or so it seems and its not just due to vanity. Fur licking keeps a cats skin healthy and stimulates sebaceous glands in the skin to produce oil to lubricate the fur. Sometimes the fur will become matted in areas requiring human intervention. These mats may make your cats fur feel lumpy or knotted when petting them.
What Causes Matted Cat Fur?
Usually grooming keeps the fur clean and prevents fleas from taking hold. But sometimes mats may form particularly if something becomes stuck in its fur or a cat neglects to groom properly. Mats may also form in certain areas due to friction or contact with surfaces.
Cats may stop or decrease grooming due to illness or behavioral concerns. Overweight or senior cats may have difficulty reaching certain areas of their bodies leading to mats that often develop along the lower back.
Certain breeds of cats Persians Maine Coons and other longhaired breeds are more likely to develop mats due to their coat
types.
Why

Is Matted Cat Fur Bad?
Matted clumps of fur can be significantly painful for cats. Mats may get tighter over time putting pressure on the skin that can lead to bruising and skin irritation. Matted fur prevents airflow to the skin and may trap dirt bacteria and even parasites. The irritation caused by mats can easily lead to a skin infection. In addition the skin under mats becomes thin and fragile making it more likely to become injured.
The sudden appearance of mats often means the cat is unwilling or unable to groom. If your cat has stopped grooming altogether this
could be a sign of a serious health issue and a trip to the veterinarian is in order 1
Its important to remove mats from cat fur promptly to avoid pain and irritation of the skin If there are one or two spots of stubborn matted fur and your cat seems to be grooming normally you should be able to take care of them at home. If there are a significant number of mats or if your cat seems especially uncomfortable seek help from a professional.
How to Comb Out Cat Mats
Small mats that arent too tight to the skin can often be carefully combed out by hand. Removing mats from cats takes a steady hand a lot of patience and sometimes more than one person to keep the cat calm.
Getting Started
Its best to groom a relaxed cat. You wont want to suddenly decide to remove a mat in the middle of a play session or youll suffer serious damage from claws.
Youll need a finetoothed comb a little cornstarch or baby powder and some tasty cat treats.
Sprinkle a small amount of cornstarch or talcum powder in the area of the mat and gently work it around with your fingers. Gently pull the mat up