What Causes A Cat S Fur To Get Matted

When the cat isn t able to properly clean his fur all this dirt builds up and causes the fur to stick together.

What causes a cat s fur to get matted. When loose hairs fall it gets caught in your cat s coat leaving behind knots. When your cat sheds fur from her coat it can become tangled in the rest of the fur if not brushed away. Matted fur clumps need to be removed because they re extremely uncomfortable for the cat.

Since your cat s coat goes everywhere with your cat mats may form simply due to activity such as jumping climbing or squeezing through tight crevices. Matted fur is a common symptom. Other conditions that can cause matted fur to appear include nutritional deficiencies parasites and stress.

Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander. The longer mats are left unattended they can grow tighter and settle closer to the skin. They pull on the skin and can cause quite a bit of pain.

It can take many forms. Old infirm overweight and long haired cats in particular are more susceptible to tangled fur which can become clumped mats or knotted dreadlocks. To rule out such issues visit the vet with your kitty to check for signs of a medical problem.

Shedding is another reason your pet may have matted cat fur. These tangles are not only unsightly they can also cause discomfort facilitate skin disorders or harbor worms mites or other pests. They could be in pain from dental problems or arthritis or they could have nausea.

Skin flakes dead fur dust and skin oils cause matting. This along with sticky dirt forms mats that not only are unattractive but can cause your little one serious discomfort. Ulcerated or bleeding gums wobbly teeth missing teeth a thick coating of tartar that stops the mouth from closing tooth root infections damaged enamel with the sensitive pulp cavity exposed.

If you suspect this is the case you should take your cat to the vet to have the necessary tests done in order to rule out any skin disease or bacterial problem. Illnesses such as hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties. Mats can also form on the shoulders and hindquarters from the pressure of lying down.

Bacterial infections can cause matted fur and they can also lead to health problems such as blood poisoning and shock. See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats. Matted fur may bring to mind a shabby outdoor cat caught in a rainstorm but even meticulously clean indoor cats can be the victims of mats from time to time.

Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work.