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View Full Version : Pippa has matted fur


lizziejayne66
07-02-2010, 06:13 PM
pippa is my long haired rex aged 16 months she is a lovely cat until you try to groom her! she has so many knots i cut out a few, nowi have bought a ferminator so much hair coming out! but she only stands it for 2 mins then runs off nightmare any advice? she has sevral big matts on her tummy

angieh
07-02-2010, 07:14 PM
Sorry lizziejayne - I've no experience of long haired cats.

Jaytee
07-02-2010, 07:34 PM
Long haired cats often have matted fur and the only way to stop this from happening is to brush her every day. If the bunches of fur become too tight, it's possible to get the vet to do something about it. They usually sedate the cat and remove all the matted fur.

If you brush her just a little every day, she will eventually get used to it. Perserverance is the answer, but it can take quite a while ... and you'll probably end up with quite a few scratches along the way. :shock:

Shelley123
07-02-2010, 08:12 PM
I have known people to use a stitch unpicker on large matts, obviously you have to be very careful and work at it over a number of days.

lizziejayne66
07-02-2010, 08:22 PM
ive been trying just now i cut 2 small ones out and tried combing her but then she started growling

Kay
07-02-2010, 10:19 PM
You will have to keep going until all the mats are out and then brush her on a daily basis. She may not like it and will growl, scratch and may even bite but you have to remain calm, be firm but gentle and under no circumstances to stop when she is growling etc but stop at a time when she is being good. If you stop grooming her because she growls at you she will soon learn what to do to stop the grooming. When you stop the grooming do not just let her go make a fuss of her without the brush/comb near you.

You could do with someone holdig her while you do her tummy but that person also needs to be calm. If you can safely cut out the bigger mats then do so but please try and tease the little ones out. It will give you experience and confidence and also get her used to being groomed.

If you are calm and confidant she will sense this just as if you are nervous, anxious and unsure she will pick up on this bad vibes and act the way she is doing.

How old is she?

lizziejayne66
08-02-2010, 09:26 AM
she is blackies brother so 16months she s so swwet until you try to pull out the matts
she has 2 big ones on her tummy cant get them out

Kay
09-02-2010, 04:58 PM
You should cut out the 2 big ones but you will definitely have to have some one hold her. Then you need to set aside 15 mins a day to groom her. Pick a time when the house is at it's quietest and when Pippa is calm and not in a playful mood. Groom her for the full 15 mins then stop but don't stop before especially if she gets aggitated. Just keep going calmly and finish when she is in a good mood and not growling at you. She is still young so shouls get used to it.

I got an adult girl once who was three years old. She hated being groomed and when we got her she was really matted. She had done the same as Pippa and the previous owners had stopped when she growled. Consequently she soon learn't that if she growled the grooming stopped. I clipped her back and started grooming her daily. She soon came to accept it although she was never happy but at least I could get through her coat without her growling, scratching or biting.