Tig has a nasty mat on his haunch, right near the tail. It can’t really be brushed out. I’ve tried. Today, I managed to cut about half of it off while brushing Tig, but he’s indicating that he’s getting extremely annoyed with any more cutting. Remember, this is the cat that has to be wrapped by the vet to have his claws clipped, and who managed to get out of the sheet and get the vet and me the last time we tried it (I no longer have his claws clipped). That I managed to cut half the mat off without getting slashed is a major victory.
But there’s still the other half, and another, smaller mat in the same area.
Any suggestions on how to get this mat out without causing bloodshed?
I would imagine that with summer coming on, Tig will start shedding like crazy. Soe gentle brushing close-in may encourage the entire hair-mat entourage to come free.
Or you could try stealthy mini-snips when or if Tig is in a spread-eagled belly-rub trance. After a couple of days you could get it all.
Clipping mats with scissors is a really easy way to get skin laceration – in Tig, not you. The mats always start close to the skin, and when you lift them to cut under them you tent up the skin, which you can’t see. It’s an invitation to disaster.
If it’s a recurring problem, invest in a set of decent, quiet electric clippers. Oster, Andis and Wahl are the best-known brands. They’re much safer than scissors, and much quicker. Be aware that if you are careless with the pointy end you can give Tig clipper burn (which is still better than lacerations) and that if you use them for too long at one sitting they will overheat.
I agree with Paul M – shaving is the best solution. We had an older cat who stopped grooming herself when she turned 20. She developed mats all along her spine, and we had to take her to the vet to have her shaved. Poor thing looked like heck for a while, but the mats were gone, and she was much more comfortable. Good luck to you and Tig!
I guess it’s going to have to work its way out, then. I can’t clip Tig. He won’t let me so much as touch his paws.
Maybe next time I take him to the vet I can get it done.
Have you considered general anaesthesia? For Tig, that is?
J.
Hi Meryl!
I have a set of clippers I keep specifically for my pets. Whenever Chinouk gets a mat I just pull out the clippers. I just hold her kinda tight and it takes all of about 3 seconds. Now Tig seems as though he might possibly give you a rough go of it, but clippers are definately the way to go.
BTW – Hope you are feeling better! Miss you here!
Jay, if Tig ever has to go under for another reason, he’s getting his claws clipped.
Jeannie, yeah, it’d take two people. I could hold Tig if someone else could clip him. But of course, having the someone else there would make his attitude much, much worse.
I think I’m going to try to brush it out and see what happens.
(You’re still there? I thought they were replacing you. Same old, same old, huh?)
try a tiny bit of hair conditioner…