Same thing happened to my bf's cat, and I ended up paying the vet to cut them out. And I had to pay for the vaccines and the vet visit since, being indoor cats, he doesn't see the point in vaccinating them and no groomer will accept them without vaccines (can't blame them, really). $90, when everything was added up. Sigh...

If you do try to cut them out yourself, be very, very careful. The skin is super sensitive and fragile. The times I've done it at home, I've used sewing scissors and had my bf hold the cat in place and give him treats while I did the cutting. Expect it to take multiple sessions if it's more than one or two mats.

One technique it to cut the top layer of the mat off so you can actually see below it. I've cut mats in half that way, and some of them you can brush out. But if the mat is pulling on the skin, I'd cut it out and then be really good about brushing her for a couple months while the fur grows back.

 

If they're really matts you're not likely to be able to brush them out. If you're comfortable buzzing her that might be easiest. The couple times Apollo's gotten matts behind his ears I use scissors to carefully trim the top of the mat, then spray it with a detangler and work it out as much as I can, then trim, and repeat.....

 

Last week when I was home, I found my grandma's long hair cat in a similar condition. So uncomfortably, excessively matted.

I took her home, and used my horse/dog clippers as best I could. It didn't work great--either the blade was dull or just the wrong kind for her fine coat. I didn't want to burn or irritate her skin, so after I got the bulk of the mats off, I trimmed the smaller ones off with shearers and trimmed the rest of her coat as well to minimize more matting this summer. I also used a brush to just pull the smaller ones/dead hair out.

Good luck!

BTW--she is a super sweet, tolerant cat (while I was clipping/pulling, she was trying to help or licking my hand). However, if your brother's cat is at all impatient with grooming, vet/sedation might be the safer/less stressful way to go....

 

I don't understand why people don't realize that the matting actually hurts the animal.
If the cat is up to date on the shots, I would really spring for a prof groomer to take of the problem.

Just my 2

 

The safest way to get mats out of a cat is a #10 clipper blade. Their skin is much more fragile and thin than dog skin and you have to be extremely careful removing the mats because the skin can easily be torn. Please don't use scissors or dematting blades!

 

Thanks for the heads up, Zoe. I figured it was the wrong blade.

In case you were frowning, Kitty was super patient, and I know I didn't knick, cut, or burn her. (And I did not use scissors on mats close to her skin--just those ones that were starting out towards the ends.)

BTW, interesting that their skin is more fragile. Getting a needle through their skin always actually seemed much more difficult than with dogs. What's the difference?

 

Don't worry, I wasn't frowning.

It's really hard for me to explain, you don't always cut all the way through like a needle would go, depending on the blade, it will slice the very top layer of skin, and then because the skin is torn (also depending on wear the cut happened) the rest of the skin can tear open bigger.. so where you had a tiny cut you now have a huge gaping hole. I've actually seen it happen with my own eyes with a newb groomer.. and also from what owners have reported. The cat will go home with a tiny nick, run around the house and then it tears open into a much bigger wound. (especially if the cut happened in an area where the skin will move, like tuck up, armpits or legs).

You can do a great deal of damage with scissors, too... Think enormous slices and chunks missing.. Which is why they are not recommended. At the big box stores you are not even allowed to touch shears when you are grooming a cat. They only allow a 10 blade. I groomed cats regularly for a short period of time, but I ended up stopping because I was too fearful I would injure someone. They are pretty dangerous to do, for them and the groomer.

That generally does not happen with dogs, although it could with an older dog with thin floppy skin.

Hopefully that makes sense...

 

Thanks all I will update when I get them out. She is NOT patient and likes to scratch and bite. AND its 105F with the heat index today, plus like 99% humidity. BLECK!

 

Thanks, ZM. That makes perfect sense and is consistent with some victims of razor/clipper burn for surgery preps I've done in the past..... :S

 

I would brush her very well, and if that doesn't work, CAREFULLY cut it out. My cat gets mats so much, so see if this works. : )

 

Sorry forgot to update you all. She is matt free now but really REALLY hates me. Even more than before and I didnt think that was possible... :eyeroll: