Old Cat Getting Matted Fur

Older cats may also need to use the litter box more often.

Old cat getting matted fur. Kitties are naturally fastidious creatures who keep their fur clean and free of dirt and odors. How to groom an old cat begin by petting your cat from head to tail seeking out any specific problem areas. Gently work through the coat alternating with a rubber brush to sweep up loose hair. Prepare the matted area.

The problem tends to be more common in older or overweight cats who either can t groom themselves anymore or who can t reach parts of their body like the back. Matted fur can happen to cats with all lengths of hair. Gently pull the mat up away from the skin so you can see where the skin is. If the cat resists take a break and speak in a soothing voice petting the cat until it relaxes.

Matted fur is usually caused by poor grooming habits. Dead hair mixes up with the stuck up debris and dirt on its skin thus forming into even larger mats. These flies will lay eggs which hatch into maggots. Most cats shed their fur during spring and fall.

A soft pin slicker brush to work. Why matted cat fur is bad. And if these are left un brushed the amount of matted and entangled hair increases resulting in it becoming even more matted. Really stubborn mats can be broken up with specialized mat rakes or by cutting the mat out with a pair of scissors.

Healthy and tangle free cat fur allows for a continuous air flow to your cat s skin. How to clean an old cat s fur. Written by richard parker. The best ways to treat an elderly cat with matted fur dandruff grooming assistance.

What are matted fur clumps. To detangle cat fur examine the whole cat for matted fur and try to break it up with your fingers. This is just as horrific as it sounds. Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it.

Poor grooming is a common sign that there is a problem with a cat s health. When this happens matting and fur entangling worsen. It can also be due to changes in routine the addition or loss of an animal or family member or the neighbor s new dog that barks all the time. While a lack of grooming sometimes is just part of old age many times there may be a medical cause.

Give extra attention to the hips hind legs and underside. Sprinkle a little cornstarch or talcum powder in the area of the mat and gently work it around with your fingers. If you cannot untangle everything that way use a brush to gently break up the ends of the mat working inward.