My Senior Cats Fur Is Getting Matted

Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention.

My senior cats fur is getting matted. Cats are creatures of habit so they need to be kept in a routine. It means that you ll need to use appropriately delicate grooming tools. Older cats have thinner skin that lacks elasticity. Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.

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. Poor grooming is a common sign that there is a problem with a cat s health. As clumps get larger they put pressure on your cat s skin making it painful to lie down. Brushing a senior cat s fur.

Matting occurs more in spring and autumn when cats are molting. Choose a brush with hollow bristles. Healthy and tangle free cat fur allows for a continuous air flow to your cat s skin. What are matted fur clumps.

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. The older a cat gets the more careful and regimented we need to be in taking care of their hygiene needs. 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. This is a natural part of the feline aging process.

Why matted cat fur is bad. Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it. While a lack of grooming sometimes is just part of old age many times there may be a medical cause for it in your elderly feline. You can also use a damp wash cloth to rub in a massaging pattern over the coat mimicking the action of the cat s tongue.

At 14 years still in the senior category to 18 years well into the geriatric. Use a soft bristled brush for the majority of the grooming. Because some senior cats may need more help grooming than younger felines pet parents may notice an increase in matted cat hair on their senior cats and learning exactly how to groom an old cat becomes essential. Keep in mind that shedding dead hair is normal and it s a process that cannot be avoided.

Step two is to help your cat by combing daily with a steel toothed comb. I currently share my home with three senior cats. Matted fur can happen to cats with all lengths of hair. Matted fur occurs more frequently in long haired cats but this doesn t mean it won t happen to short haired cats.

Bring your cat in for a full physical exam and blood and urine screen. As stress can lead to rough or damaged fur in cats avoiding it is one of the best ways to keep their coat healthy.