1. Ensure your cat is relaxed before you start removing the mats.
2. Consider using a spray or cornstarch first to help loosen the mats.
3. Work with a wire comb to gently pick at the mats to remove or untangle them.
4. Take your cat to the vet if the mats are too extensive to remove yourself.
5. Prevent future mats with regular brushing and by removing burrs stuck in the fur.

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• by Denise Ryan

• Mats in your cat's fur can be more troublesome than they initially appear. As the feline nibbles and pulls on the hard clumps of knotted fur, its skin can become bruised, sore and irritated from the constant chewing.Families.com: Grooming Matted Hair (September 06, 2007) With some preventive measures and a little diligent grooming, you can rid your cat of the annoying problem.

• While you may be able to loosen the mats with your fingertips, having the right tools can make the process go more quickly and painlessly for your pet.Prevention: Matted Fur Home Remedies

1. Use a wide-toothed, wire comb to pull through mats and remove excess fur.Cat Channel: Seven Grooming Must Haves
2. Get a pin brush for long-haired cats or a soft-bristled brush for short-haired cats.Cat Channel: Seven Grooming Must Haves
   • -Professional groomers will also use a mat stripper to gently work the mats out.YouTube: How To Treat a Cat for Matted Fur (Time: 1:09)
3. Consider using clippers to trim your cat's nails before you begin combing to avoid being scratched if she becomes startled or angry.Hartz: How to Brush Your Cat's Coat
4. Try a protein-lanolin spray or use corn starch to help loosen the mats, if desired.Prevention: Matted Fur Home Remedies Families.com: Grooming Matted Hair

• Work slowly and patiently using the following steps to remove the mats from your cat's fur.

1. Remove mats when your cat is relaxed so she'll be calm throughout the process.Hartz: How to Brush Your Cat's Coat
2. If your cat will allow it, pre-treat the matted fur with a protein-lanolin spray that can help loosen the mats.Prevention: Matted Fur Home Remedies
   • -You can also apply corn starch to the mats to try to separate the fur.Families.com: Grooming Matted Hair
3. Use a metal comb to pick at the matted fur. This should gently loosen the knotted fur.Hartz: How to Brush Your Cat's Coat
   • -Don't pull the matted fur from your cat's skin; use a soft but persistent plucking motion.Hartz: How to Brush Your Cat's Coat
4. If you're unable to comb out the mats on your cat's skin or between her paws, take your cat to a professional groomer instead of trying to cut them out yourself with scissors. It's far too easy to accidentally cut a squirming cat.Cat Channel: Your Easy Guide to Cat Grooming: Comb Regularly
   • -If your cat's fur has an abundance of mats, the vet may recommend shaving the coat to allow it to grow back, mat free.Love to Know: Grooming a Matted Cat
   • YouTube Video: Cat Health Care Tips: How to Treat a Cat for Matted Fur (Time: 1:09)

• Spare your cat (and yourself) the painstaking dematting process by using these tips to prevent or reduce future mats.

1. Regularly comb your cat's fur with a wide-toothed comb, then a fine-toothed comb to remove the loose fur undercoat.Cat Channel: Your Easy Guide to Cat Grooming: Comb Regularly
   • -Consider combing long haired cats every other day and short-haired cats weekly.Cat Channel: Your Easy Guide to Cat Grooming: Comb Regularly
2. You can also remove shedding fur with a brush by brushing the opposite way the fur is growing, then with the direction of the fur.Hartz: How to Brush Your Cat's Coat
3. When brushing, try to work the bristles down to the skin to keep the undercoat from matting.Family Education: Keeping Up with Your Cat's Hygiene.
4. As you brush and comb, frequently remove the fur from the comb to prevent additional knots.Hartz: How to Brush Your Cat's Coat
5. Remove prickly burrs from the fur of outdoor cats immediately since they can lead to matted fur.Prevention: Matted Fur Home Remedies

• Howcast: How to Groom Your Cat (Time: 1:34)

• Have a happy, healthy cat with a beautiful coat by checking often for skin irritation during grooming sessions so your vet can take care of any problems while they're still easy to treat.Home Vet: Skin and Coat Care for Dogs and Cats (December 27, 1997)