[Applause] cats have earned a reputation as effective self groomers but that doesn't mean they don't need your help in stayin clean and healthy hold in firm overweight and long-haired cats in particular are more susceptible to tangled fur which can become clumped Maps or nada dreadlocks these tangles are not only unsightly they can also cause discomfort facilitate skin disorders or harbor worms mites or other pests while preventing tangles through regular brushing and examinations is the best way to go there are options for removing matted fur at home if all else fails or if you are unsure of your ability to remove the tangles safely consult a professional groomer or a veterinarian part 1 removing tangles and mats 1 keep your cat calm removing matted fur can be a time-consuming and potentially painful process and many cats will not respond well to it it is essential that your cat starts outcome such as after a hearty meal and remain so as you remove the knots in tangles it is better to halt the process and resume at another time than to force a scared or angry cat to submit to the removal of tangles if you have regularly groomed your cat from an early age it is more likely to accept the tangle removal process if your cat refuses to allow the process without clawing scratching running away etc it is best to turn things over to a professional groomer or a veterinarian to locate and examine all mats some tangles like the dreadlock type that can appear on the back or sides can be easily visible others however can be lurking in concealed areas but these are at least as important to remove look for tangles and areas such as behind the ears around the groin area between the back legs behind the front legs under the collar and around the anus if the tangle or mat is very large say bigger than the end of your thumb it is probably best to have a professor we'll handle the removal if there are any signs of irritation or injury to the adjacent skin contact the cat's veterinarian three work out the tangles with your fingers the first tube to try and removing tangles is conveniently located at the end of each of your arms use your fingers to detangle mine or knots loosen larger tangles and separate mats into smaller more manageable pieces working with your fingers is likely to be less painful and stressful for your cat some experts advise using detangler sprays or shampoos before attempting to remove tangles others don't think they help much if you choose to use them make sure to use detanglers mint specifically for pets not humans sprinkling a little cornstarch or a towel compounder on the knotted area may help in the detangling process four try to brush out the tangles before moving on to more specialized equipment you can try after using your fingers to brush out mats and nuts with a regular cat brush or wide tooth comb grasp the fur closest to the skin and below the tangled area with your free hand in order to limit tugging on the skin use short and quick but gentle brushing motions brush toward the end of the hairs and away from the skin but start at the end of the mat farthest from the cat skin and work your way back into it don't force the matter however yanking and matted fur with a brush will not make your cat happy and your cat will in turn make sure you are not happy move on to other methods while some cat people may not want to hear this how to brush mats out of dog hair provides some good pointers that are applicable to felines as well 5 use specialized tools for stubborn mats if your fingers or your normal brushes can't work through the tangles there are a wide range of options still available to you different people swear by different tools for instance furminator to name one popular branded brush so a trial-and-error process maybe in order for you of course you can also consult your groomer or vet for advice as well tools known variously as Matt rakes Matt breakers or Matt splitters can help to break up large areas of matting into smaller more manageable pieces they have a sharp edge in between the teeth and require a sawing motion to work through the mat they are generally safer than other cutting options because the sharp edges are not exposed but caution should still be practiced of course once you've reduced the Matt to smaller pieces go back to using your fingers and/or brushes and combs six cutout maps when all else fails while the most certain way to get rid of a stubborn tangle or mat cutting should usually be your last option not only does have give your cat a bald spot that may take months to fill in completely you run the risk of injuring your cat cats have thinner gentler skin than humans and can easily be cut by scissors blades or even the friction from clippers if you are at all hesitant take your cat to a professional a razor comb also known as a matt comb works like a regular comb but has recessed blades that shave away the hair use the same kind of short quick motion you use with a regular comb and make sure you counter any tugging with your free hand and always brush away from the cat's skin hair clippers can make quick work of mats but make sure not to rub against the cat's skin the friction and even the heat of the Clippers can damage feline skin while scissors seem like the obvious choice they are not usually recommended for non professionals the risk of cuts or punctures is simply too great if you do use them always make sure you have a comb or your fingers between the scissor blades and the cat's skin 7 let a professional handle the job it is worth repeating if you have any doubt about your ability to remove at angle or mat without harming your cats do not attempt to do so knots often occur in sensitive areas such as on the abdomen under the neck or around the genitalia don't risk a mistake that could have serious consequences any good pet groomer deals with tangled fur on a daily basis and should be able to take care of the problem in most cases veterinarians also regularly remove mats and should be consulted especially when there is any concern about a skin condition or other problem related to the tangle part to preventing tangled fur one know your cat's needs a young active healthy cat with short hair is likely able to keep itself well groomed and Tunie limited assistance with tango prevention alternatively a no overweight long-haired cat is likely to require regular even daily brushing attention to prevent nuts and matting how to prevent matted cat hair contains substantial information on proper grooming fur tangle prevention to 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 it is best to start as soon as possible with a young kitten in order to make brushing and normal and ideally and enjoyable routine brushing a short-haired cat is a fairly straightforward process and can be managed with any number of brush types although many people prefer the oven mitt brushes with rubber teeth always brush in the direction that the hair lays long-haired cats require more specialized tools such as a cat rake a wide brush with small metal bristle and a long tooth comb use both tools in order to reach both the surface hair as well as that buried deep underneath gently comb the hair on the abdomen and neck upward toward the chin then make a par down the middle of the cat's back and comb down each side three bathes cats only as necessary your feline is unlikely to dispute this point caps benefit from regular grooming but not normally from regular bathing bathing especially if not followed by immediate and thorough drying is more likely to create new tangles in matting generally speaking only bathe your cat when it is overly sticky smelly or dirty there is no shame in letting a professional groomer deal with Kitty bath time for catch tangles early even with regular grooming tangles and knots will happen especially with long-haired cats that said the easiest tangle to remove is one that has just started so check regularly even daily while grooming focus particularly on typical problem areas like the growing area backside under the collar behind the front legs between the back licks and behind the ears use your regular tangle exams as an opportunity to check for any injuries or damage to the skin as well look for cuts bruises bumps swelling redness etc contact your vet if you find anything out of the ordinary