Matted Fur Remedies

My 14 year old cat BooBoo, has very long hair. His hips were the worst for thick matts. I brush him every day but he growls and even nips at me if I get near his back end. I didn't have baby oil but I do have coconut oil. I used a syringe and squirted the oil as close to the skin, under his matts, that I could. Lo and behold when I woke this morning, the big clunk had come loose! I was really surprised! I used a paper towel to get any excess oil off him. He had finally licked and cleaned himself. His skin was very dry. I use coconut oil to cook with and now I will use it for my animals as well. Its also good for rashes, so after using clippers, it may help kitty's skin.

Hi Brenda.

Two of my kitties are long- haired, though only one has the problem of matting. I brush her every day without fail, but sometimes she still develops them, especially at the base of the tail. I use coconut oil rather than mineral oil (which is the basis of baby oil). Coconut oil is a very healthy oil for animals (I give it to my dogs every day). Your kitty will inevitably lick at whatever oil you use, so this is a win-win. I just dip my fingertips in the oil and massage it into the mat. Later in the day the knot brushes right out without any discomfort to the kitty at all. All the best.

No. It is not coconut oil that is the problem, it is palm oil. Coconuts grow in tropical climates that are frost free, such as those in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific region. In the United States, coconuts grow in Hawaii and the southern tip of Florida.

Today, palm oil is grown throughout Africa, Asia, North America, and South America, with 85% of all palm oil globally produced and exported from Indonesia and Malaysia; but most of the time not using sustainable measures.

I was totally despondent due to my 18 year-old cat's matted condition. I'd never heard of the baby oil solution but since I had it on hand, I gave it a try. To my amazement, the clumps started coming off in my hand! I've applied generous amounts now and look forward to an end to my Zoe' nightmare.

Thank you SO much everyone!

Yes, Mineral oil DOES WORK! I was desperate because my baby had a really ugly mat right near the base of his tail. (He cried if I even touched it... But fortunately tolerated the mineral oil application)

Had to apply mineral oil twice - but it does seem like it just 'fell off' - amazing!!! TIP: one good way to apply: I used a latex glove - poured the oil onto the finger of my gloved hand - applied to entire mat (above and underneath) - SEVERAL applications at once to thoroughly saturate... Waited a day, and the evening of day 3 (last night actually, re-saturated)
- an hour ago he came prancing in, with his old 'bounce in his step' and the mat was GONE! Found it on my bed, actually. :) SO HAPPY!!!

I followed the suggestion to use coconut oil. My Norwegian Forest long-haired cat had several serious matted knots under her tail - I tried for months to comb/brush them out and the tugging caused her pain so I stopped trying. I read the advice on your site and ordered organic coconut oil. Diluted it with water in a small spray bottle. Sprayed some on her knots. Her fur was a little greasy, but after a couple days I removed ALL THE KNOTS with my de-matting comb (that I'd bought years ago from Foster & Smith) with much less tugging and discomfort to Sweety. She stayed a little greasy for about a week, but I continued to comb that area of her fur and she's back to normal now. Most wonderfully, she's knot free - also, she seemed to like licking the coconut oil!

For all you cat and dog owners dealing with matted hair - I have been using coconut oil in a aerosol can and spraying the knots no where near has messy and works good.

I tried the baby oil on my older ragdoll and it did work on smaller mats (dime-sized), but the biggest (silver dollar sized and larger) didn't budge. He also became constipated from licking the area, so I have to say nay on really large mats. I ended up taking to a cat groomer at a local vet and she graciously shaved off the large mats. He looks a mess right now, but I know he is comfortable and the hair will grow back. I use a dematting comb daily so he won't end up in the same situation and to remove shedding winter coat fur.

My older long haired Ragdoll cat developed lots of mats too. I found a way to easily shave them out... She loves water from the sink. As soon as I go near a sink, she's there. So I turn on a stream of water and as she drinks, I shave out some mats. I'm keeping the shaver right at the sink... And will keep doing this till they're all gone. Then I'm going to keep the brush handy and brush her daily while she's occupied with the water to prevent mats. She didn't like brushing either, which led to the mat problem. Just be sure to use a shaver and not a scissor as its easy to cut your cat if you use a scissor.

YEA on the oil part, but used olive oil instead of baby oil, since it tastes better when my cat licks it and probably better for her anyway.

My successful method:

Put a small amount in a shot glass and pour it over a small area on cat, then use Q-tip to massage it in between the clumps and on the skin where possible. Within 24 hours the clumps were gone, between the oil and her licking the oiled area. After a few days she'd lick off most of the oil. By doing a small section at a time, your whole cat doesn't need to be soaked in oil, and can work on a section at a time. Worked for mine! Good Luck! Also, my vet said either olive or coconut oil would be fine.

This was a big mistake to try this. I have an old cat with an oily back leg. I ended up cutting mats out.

Have an old long haired cat that stays outdoors. On a good day I can pet him on the head and back. His fur started matting badly, thick huge patches around his hips and lately on his butt. Had to do something! To catch him I used a 4'X4' and around 6'high dog kennel that I had converted into a cat condo with several levels made of shelves. Sits under a 3 sided shelter. I started feeding my cats in front and inside the kennel.

Days later manage to close the door on him. He went ballistic once he realized he couldn't get out. Sprayed some feline pheromone on a rag and put inside with him and let him cool down for about 30 min. Figured I could just cut the matted fur off and let him go again.

That was simpler said than done! Hardly any cooperation from the cat. Needless to say he really started getting frustrated as time went on. I didn't make much progress.

I searched the internet for a way to maybe tranquilize him in a safe way or take him to the vet.

Ran across this site and gave it a try:

To this cat it seems a 3 second rule applies. That's about all the time he gave me to get close to his rear end.

I took a eye drop bottle (Visine, artificial tears). Popped the top off, rinsed it and dried the inside with Q-tips. With small funnel filled it up with olive oil. Armed with cat treat kept cat busy enough to squirt oil around patches so oil runs between fur patch and skin. I did not put any oil on top of patches instead just dowsed it on heavy to let run between patch and skin.

That was the day before yesterday.

Yesterday a lot of the patches had loosened up a lot. Trimmed the edges that poked out as much as he let me. Put more oil on it.

The cat wasn't greasy other than the rear end. Had oil on the selves. No litter stuck on him anywhere.

Today patches where literally dangling. After a couple of visits in the kennel for a snip here and there it's all off!!!!! I can tell he's happier. I watched him groom himself again for the first time (yeah, now he move, bend and reach! )

This method worked for me in less than 48 hrs.

Hi, had a badly matted cat, and tried the baby oil, I ended up with a greasy cat and made everything so much worse. it never loosened up the mat and I believe just attracted more dirt. Unfortunately this cat passed away (from old age hence the lack of grooming on her part), right before her appt with the groomer. the groomer wouldn't shave her in the winter, we tried to explain the problem but she insisited we had to wait. That's why we tried the baby oil.

I have another cat with a small but very hard sticky matt on her back by her tail. I will be trying the cornstarch, I have a wide tooth comb and deshedder..if it gets worse, it will be a trip to a knowledgable groomer.

I have read all the comments about how well baby oil does to remove mats but if your cat is all oiled up what happens when he goes in the litter box, won't you then have an oily, matted cat covered with kitty litter? My old cat is matted all over, is nasty about you messing with the mats and not in good enough health to be anesthesized to be shaved... Just wondered about everything sticking to his oily fur. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jena (Los Angeles, California) ---

Mineral oil is a petrochemical product that has no business in bodies. Just recently I read of adverse effects of this oil on GreenMedInfo. For my cats I use coarse ground grains of coconut oil.

Always read up on things before you use them.

All the best .. and leave it on over night and check in the morning. Namaste, Om

For those not in the know, coconut oil is very, very bad for the environment. It reduces jungle habitat because of the frantic cutting down of coconut trees -Borneo for example. It has put the orangutan on the endangered list. For those concerned about planet health, coconut oil is used profusely and without thought for the plight of the wildlife that is endangered from habitat loss and poaching.

We tried olive oil on our cat and it worked great!!! The vet recommended a $200 lion cut to remove his mats because they were so severe. Also, they wanted to sedate him. He is an older cat and i was afraid of that so out of desperation I went to the internet to find a solution. This site came to the rescue. The oil worked great but I tried to watch him and keep him from licking and ingesting much of it. Also, you have to be patient and work it into the mats every now and then and very lightly and gently brush him with a brush with rubber nibs on the bristles. After about 5 days a miracle happened. No more mats!!! He does have some bald spots but better that than the mats. God bless everyone who suggested the oil remedies. You all saved our cat and saved us a $200 traumatic shaving experience for our cat!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! P.S. bathe your cat a.s.a.p. Peggy

I used olive oil for the first time on my 16 year old blind (and long haired) cat. I put it on three mats last night and this morning, found two on the floor! And the other one is well on it's way to coming off. I am SOLD. This not only works, but works fast. I am talking, hard to get matts too. Amazing. I am so happy. I have spent years! Getting mats out of my older cat's fur. Thank you!!!!

Just decided to look on the internet to see if others had the matted cat hair problem. I got a surprise finding this site. My cat is 19 and I don't think she is grooming herself anymore. Never had this problem before. I desperately used my dogs de shedding comb which has a blade in and have now got about 80 per cent of matts out. No baldy patches either. She does not seem to mind and I think she realises I am trying to help. I will try the olive oil on the remainder to make a comparison. Will let you all know the result.

Maybe coconut oil would work better? My cats love it. (They are always trying to stick their paws in my coffee when I use it. ) This would cause your cat to groom himself to help relieve some of the mats. I would think that mineral oil would be hard to wash out (if the cat lets you) and would not be healthy for him to ingest.

Very dangerous to use an electric shaver on someone drinking water and/or partially wet! You don't want your Beloved Cat and yourself getting electrocuted!

There are rechargeable battery operated shavers.....no electricity.

Using the dry cornstarch on the mat and a comb with rotating teeth (which can be found at some pet stores, but also at wig shops), works wonderfully. Thanks so much for the post!

Fantastic - just got the huge not out of beautiful cats fur, thank you so much.

I could not believe that using baby oil would get rid of mats. My Norwegian Forest cat (long-haired) is over 16 and has stopped grooming herself and the mats have just multiplied. I did not want her to undergo any shaving which would mean being "put under" and wouldn't know if she could take it. I applied some virgin olive oil that I had in the house and put it on a couple of her mats. I couldn't believe my eyes today when I found one of the oily mats on the floor! Unbelievable! I figured if she licked herself, it would be good stuff for her! Thank you all so much. More tonite! .... A little at a time!

I can't wait to try the baby oil on my cat Sammy.He has many mats and I know he's miserable..as I am for him.
I checked with our vet and a lion cut would cost $200.00.I love Sammy but can not afford that at this time. I will let you know how it works. PRAY !

Sandy

I am also wondering, if baby oil is scented mineral oil, why we wouldn't be using the mineral oil instead. it's "more natural" and i would think safer. my cat is 20, and as other ppl mentioned with their older cats, that they aren't as flexible to clean themselves. her fur sheds downward and then balls, so she has a sadlebag that has now moved toward her stomache, one on her leg, the weight alone making it hard to walk, and a huge lump we noticed today under her tail which will interfere with her toliet duties eventually. when she was a kitten we had to have her behind shaved. usually the fur would fall off in the spring in sheets. (probably because she was able to groom). am sending the dh to the drugstore 2morrow, i will probably try the mineral oil first. if it doesn't work, i'll try the baby oil. if your cat is able to groom, i would do what someone suggested and get a cone..better safe than sorry.

One of my kitties has the type of long hair that mats easily (also a senior gal). I brush her at least once a day, but occasionally the mats form in spite of that. I prefer coconut oil to mineral oil as it is not harsh on the digestive system, tastes good, and works like a charm to soften the base of the mat. I just put it on my fingertips and massage it into the mat. The next day the mat combs right out without being painful. And coconut oil can actually be beneficial to the overall health of your cat. The best to you both.