According to the aspca matted hair can be painful for the cat and cause skin problems.
How to fix matted cat hair.
When your cat notices this change they start to groom more which could increase the amount of hair they ingest and cause other health problems.
Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it.
If your cat has sections of matted fur you can probably take care of the problem yourself.
Even if you have a cat that grooms itself effectively creating a regular brushing routine will make the process much easier and more comfortable should it become necessary later on.
Practice matted hair prevention from early in your cat s life.
As a cat gets older it is important to keep the cat as healthy as possible.
This is especially true for long haired cats such as persians and himalayans.
A cat s hair gets matted if she is not groomed on a regular basis.
Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention.
How to prevent matted cat hair contains substantial information on proper grooming for tangle prevention.
Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander.
Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.
Take your feline to the vet or groomer if you can t untangle the stubborn mats.
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.
If her fur is bad enough that the mat is just one giant stretch of knotted hair that s a situation that probably calls for a professional as shaving her fur might be necessary.
Brush your cat regularly.
However as the cat gets older and needs a little help they are unfamiliar with what you are trying to do and can resent the tugging and pulling on their skin.
Many people have problems because they didn t groom their cat s coat in earlier life because it wasn t necessary to do so.
See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats.