Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander.
How to fix matted cat hair.
As a cat gets older it is important to keep the cat as healthy as possible.
A cat s hair gets matted if she is not groomed on a regular basis.
According to the aspca matted hair can be painful for the cat and cause skin problems.
Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it.
Take your feline to the vet or groomer if you can t untangle the stubborn mats.
When your cat notices this change they start to groom more which could increase the amount of hair they ingest and cause other health problems.
See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats.
If your cat has sections of matted fur you can probably take care of the problem yourself.
If her fur is bad enough that the mat is just one giant stretch of knotted hair that s a situation that probably calls for a professional as shaving her fur might be necessary.
Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.
This is especially true for long haired cats such as persians and himalayans.
How to prevent matted cat hair contains substantial information on proper grooming for tangle prevention.
Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time.
Brush your cat regularly.
Even if you have a cat that grooms itself effectively creating a regular brushing routine will make the process much easier and more comfortable should it become necessary later on.
This can lead to dry scaly and sometimes irritated skin.
Practice matted hair prevention from early in your cat s life.
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.
Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work.