How to Get Mats Out of Cat Fur (and When to Call a Groomer)

You're petting your cat on the couch, and your fingers catch on a hard little lump behind her shoulder. You want them gone, but you're scared of hurting her.

Here's the short answer. Small, loose mats can come out at home: fingers first, then a comb, slowly, one mat at a time. Tight mats on the skin, big felted patches and mats in tender spots are a job for a groomer or your vet. Scissors are never part of the plan.

The ASPCA says matted hair can be painful and lead to skin problems underneath. Below: how to sort a mat, how to work out the small ones, and how to keep new ones from forming.

Sort the Mat Before You Touch It

How tight a mat is, and where it sits, decides who should remove it. So feel it before you reach for a tool. Slide one fingertip under the edge.

If you can't get a finger between the mat and her skin, it's a mat on the skin.

Location matters too. International Cat Care (iCatCare) says the skin under the armpits and between the hind legs is very thin and extremely sensitive. It's also a friction area where knots are common.

The UK charity Cats Protection warns that brushing out knots that have grown close to the skin risks ripping or tearing it.

Not sure which row fits? Count it as the next row down.

Put the Scissors Away

Scissors are the one tool to keep away from a mat. Cutting a mat out feels fast, but you can cut her too.

When fur gets really matted, iCatCare says "it's extremely difficult to see where your cat's skin ends and the hair starts," and you could cut your cat.

In places like the armpits, iCatCare says the skin is very thin. When you lift a mat to slide scissors under it, the skin can lift with it, right up into the knot. One snip can go through both. Cats Protection calls cutting mats out with scissors especially dangerous.

VCA Animal Hospitals is just as firm: "Only use clippers to remove mats — never scissors." When tangles are severe or extensive, VCA strongly recommends professional care from a groomer or your vet.

Work Out Small Mats at Home

Small mats that sit away from the skin can come out at home, one at a time. Keep a wide-toothed comb close by, and go slowly. A small mat can take a few short sessions. Before you start, read the stop signs in the next section.

Loosen It With Your Fingers

Start with your hands. Fingers can feel her skin; tools can't.

1. 1

   Hold the base

   Hold the mat at its base, between the knot and her skin.

   Why: Any tug lands on your fingers, not on her.

2. 2

   Tease it apart

   Work slowly from the root toward the end of the hair, as iCatCare advises. Ease a few strands free at a time.

   Why: Small bits come loose without tugging her skin.

3. 3

   Comb the loose fur

   Start at the tips. Work closer to the skin as the knot opens up.

4. 4

   Stop and check

   If the knot won't budge, or she tenses, stop there.

Split a Firm Knot

If a knot won't loosen by hand, the ASPCA suggests trying a mat splitter. LitterBond's pocket mat splitter is one small option. A thin prong slides into the knot and guides the hair to a small blade. The blade is sharp: work slowly in small sections, hold the skin flat, never pull, and stop if your cat struggles. Leave large or tight mats close to the skin to a groomer.

The direction matters most:

1. 1

   Separate the knot

   Ease it away from the fur around it. Hold it with your free hand, and keep her skin flat.

2. 2

   Slide the prong under

   The prong goes between the knot and her skin.

3. 3

   Cut outward

   Move the tool out, away from her body, so the blade splits the knot. Never cut toward the skin.

   Why: Cutting toward her body puts the blade on her skin.

4. 4

   Comb out the pieces

   Work from the top of each piece down.

Even in its slot, the blade can nick skin or fingers, so keep your fingers clear of the slot. Stop if she squirms. Use it on small knots only. Dry the blade if it gets wet, and keep it in a drawer, away from children and pets.

Thin a Small Tangle in Thick Fur

Some tangles are a fuzzy clump in thick undercoat. LitterBond's dematting comb is built to loosen small tangles like these and thin out dense undercoat. Its curved stainless-steel blades are sharpened to cut hair. It also comes in a bundle with a wooden-handle steel comb for smoothing, though you can't pick that comb's pin style. The blades are sharp: work slowly in small sections, hold the skin flat, never pull, and stop if your cat struggles. Leave large or tight mats close to the skin to a groomer.

• Hold the skin flat. Pin it at the base of the tangle, and pick one small section.
• Keep the head flat. Don't tilt the blade tips down toward her skin.
• Use short, slow strokes. Go the way the hair grows, starting at the outer edge of the tangle.
• Smooth it after. Finish with a regular comb.
• Stop at the first flinch. Let her go and try another day.

Use it now and then in shedding season, never every day. Blade combs used too often can thin the coat too much. Wash it after use and dry the blades well, since they can rust. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.

If you notice redness, discharge, swelling, squinting or persistent scratching, stop and see your vet.

Keep Each Session Short

One small mat per session is plenty. Short sessions keep grooming from turning into a fight.

Pick a quiet time, like after a meal or a nap. iCatCare says to reward relaxed behavior with praise and food all through the session. A lick of her favorite snack works well.

iCatCare lists these signs that a cat isn't enjoying grooming:

• Skin: rippling or twitching.
• Tail: swishing, thumping or twitching at the tip.
• Head: turning sharply to face your hand or the comb.
• Body: freezing or suddenly going tense.
• Ears: flicking or turning back.
• Mouth: licking her lips or swallowing.
• Voice: growling or hissing.

See one sign, and stop. Give her a snack, let her go, and try again tomorrow.

If your cat fights grooming and either of you could get hurt, the ASPCA says to make an appointment with a professional groomer or a vet.

Find Out Why the Mats Keep Coming

Mats form where loose fur gets trapped and rubbed. Shed undercoat is a common start. The Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Maryland explains that shed undercoat can get caught in the top coat. That's one reason fall can bring a new crop of knots. For more on the seasonal shed, see why cats shed so much in the fall.

Coat length matters too. Cats Protection says long-haired cats need brushing every day so their fur doesn't tangle and mat.

Movement and friction do the rest. The clinic names the spots that move a lot: between the legs, under the chest and around the collar. iCatCare adds the armpits, between the hind legs, and between the toes and pads.

The Cornell Feline Health Center says older cats groom themselves less well than younger cats. That can lead to matting, skin odor and inflammation.

iCatCare's senior cat guide says you may notice matting over the lower spine and hindquarters. Countryside adds that older, arthritic and overweight cats may not be flexible enough to groom well.

Sudden matting is a different story. If a cat who always kept herself tidy starts to mat, talk to your vet. iCatCare says grooming less may be a sign of long-term pain from arthritis or dental disease.

Brush Before Mats Can Form

Regular brushing catches loose fur before it knots. How often depends on her coat:

• Long hair: at least once a day, but only for as long as she's comfortable, says iCatCare.
• Short hair: at least once a week, per iCatCare.

For tools, iCatCare suggests a wide-toothed comb and a rubber grooming mitten for long hair. For short hair, it lists a fine-toothed comb, a bristle brush and a rubber mitten.

Each time, run your fingers through the friction spots: armpits, belly, behind the legs and along the collar line. A knot caught while it's pea-sized is far easier to deal with than a coin-sized one. In the armpits, belly or groin, even a small knot goes to a groomer or your vet.

Help a senior cat with the lower back and hips she can't reach. iCatCare suggests a soft brush and a fine comb for older cats, and checking for lumps, bumps or sores as you go.

If her coat looks dusty or greasy between brushings, here's how to clean a cat without a bath.

Call a Groomer or Vet for These

Some mats need trained hands, and asking for help is the right call. It doesn't mean you let her down.

Groomer or vet? iCatCare says a professional cat groomer may be able to groom severe mats out by hand. In many cases, though, severe mats need to be shaved off by the vet team. That often takes sedation or a general anaesthetic. Cats Protection suggests the vet for a matted coat, since vets can give a "de-mat" haircut while she's sedated. A groomer can't sedate your cat, it points out. VCA adds that few cats tolerate clipper noise or a big de-mat while awake. If she hates handling, or the mats are large or many, start with your vet.

Book help for any mat in the bottom four rows of the table above. Book it too if your cat struggles, swats or tries to bite.

Countryside notes that mats grow tighter over time, and the skin under them can get irritated and inflamed.

If you notice redness, discharge, swelling, squinting or persistent scratching, stop and see your vet.

A shave can feel like a big step. The fur grows back, and you can start a fresh brushing routine.

That lump your fingers found tonight doesn't have to turn into a fight. Feel it first. If it's small and loose, use your fingers, one mat and one short session at a time, with a snack at the end. If it's tight, flat or in a tender spot, hand it to a groomer or your vet.

Questions this guide did not cover

What about mats between the toes?

Check there every time you groom. International Cat Care names the area between the toes and pads as a common place for mats. Tease out any trapped bits slowly with your fingers. A hard knot wedged between the pads is one for your vet.

Why is my cat's fur greasy and matted?

Oily fur clumps more easily. The Countryside Veterinary Clinic says dirty or oily fur can become entwined and matted. It adds that a cat with a mouth injury or disease may resist grooming herself. A greasy coat with new mats is worth a vet check.

Does a matted cat need a bath?

Usually not, if she's healthy. iCatCare says there is no reason to bathe a healthy cat, and most don't tolerate it well. Work small mats out by hand instead, one at a time.

Can I shave a matted cat myself?

Better not. Clippers can cut skin too. VCA Animal Hospitals says anyone cutting out a mat with clippers must be extremely careful not to cut the cat's skin. Leave a full shave to a groomer or your vet.

Related reading

• How to Clean a Cat Without a Bath: A Calm, Waterless Routine
• Why Is My Cat Shedding So Much This Fall? What's Normal and What Helps