# Cats 'n' mats **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933 "2006-07-17T22:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/1 "2006-07-17T22:58:58Z")
There are llamas and penguins and Bush – Oh, my! – but this is a much more mundane and practical question. A friend took in a really scruffy stray cat. (This is a declared dog-guy, “who doesn’t like cats,” but, upon encountering this pitiful specimen, said, “How could I not like this one? He’s so friendly!” 🙂 ) The kitty has medium long hair, and his tummy is covered with small mats – pea-size, at most. He is very laid-back, which makes me think I could work on the mats. So, what tools should I use? Or should I ditch this idea and take him to a groomer? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/2 "2006-07-17T23:06:05Z")
If he needs his belly shaved, it isn’t as easy as it looks and should be done by someone with training and practice. Grooming shears can cut skin as well. Are you planning to use scissors? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/3 "2006-07-17T23:06:29Z")
there are special combs that cut mats. check with a pet store near you. if you just try to yank them out it will hurt kitty and kitty will not like to be combed. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/4 "2006-07-17T23:24:26Z")
don’t you know, whenever you talk of cute animals you must post pictures! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/5 "2006-07-17T23:35:29Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > don’t you know, whenever you talk of cute animals you must post pictures! He is AWFULLY cute (and his name is Borbet - as in the German wheels; does not rhyme with sorbet), but I don’t have any pictures! I shall remedy that situation as soon as I can. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/6 "2006-07-17T23:55:57Z")
My medium to long haired cat is laid back but he really didn’t like me messing with his mats at all. He was puking a lot and the vet said it was probalby 'cause he was so matted so I wound up taking him to the groomer. It was totally worth it. They shaved his belly (it was so soft 🙂 ) and he seems a lot more comfortable now. I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/7 "2006-07-17T23:58:49Z")
Well, when you come back with pics, we’ll come back with remedies. One hand washes the other, baby! 😉 I used one of those matt combs. It worked out, but I think it probably hurt my kitty some. He had some really bad mats. Smaller ones should be a breeze. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/8 "2006-07-18T00:23:14Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Well, when you come back with pics, we’ll come back with remedies. One hand washes the other, baby! 😉 QUOTE] You crack me up! Here’s a compromise. Photos of Borbet to come, but in the meantime… I’m thinking groomer, because I had to have my huge Maine-Coon-ish stray that adopted me, [Julian](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4213_1.jpg) , [clippered](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4213_1.jpg) because his coat was so matted. But he had huge, horrible mats all over. You see that smooth-looking back in the “cat and the fiddle” photo? Disgusting, gross lumpiness when you petted him. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/9 "2006-07-18T00:27:04Z")
Darn it! :smack: Here’s the correct link to the clippered Julian: [http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4336\_1.jpg](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4336_1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/10 "2006-07-18T00:33:25Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > [Julian](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4213_1.jpg) And staring at a violin, no less. Is he thinking “Hey, that looks like someone I used to know” ?? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/11 "2006-07-18T00:43:44Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > Darn it! :smack: Here’s the correct link to the clippered Julian: > > [http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4336\_1.jpg](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/PDRM4336_1.jpg) Is that cat as big as he looks? ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/12 "2006-07-18T01:05:20Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Is that cat as big as he looks? Yup. He’s a monster. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/13 "2006-07-18T01:31:40Z")
Small matts can be scissored out with blunt tipped scissors, using a comb to hold the matt away from the cats skin. Most cats do not enjoy this, so it might be better to have him clipped. That Julian is a very handsome fella. A bit on the large side, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/14 "2006-07-18T06:22:26Z")
How much does it cost to get a cat groomed? Where do you find a cat groomer? Do dog groomers do cats? My mom’s cat is starting to get matted, because she has long hair and is getting old. I’ve been cutting off the lumps with scissors as much as I can (which isn’t that much, she doesn’t like it), so now she has kind of ragged patches where I’ve chopped off a clump of fur. Of course she’d look ridiculous, but she’d probably be happier. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/15 "2006-07-18T07:24:46Z")
I echo the demand for pics. Plus, if you get a photo of the matted area, those Dopers who have dealt with it before may be able to judge if it’s a home/scissors job or one for a professional. When come back, bring pics. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/16 "2006-07-18T07:45:33Z")
At Wal\*Mart they have clippers for maybe $15 which have attachments to regulate the distance from the skin. I’d consider them disposable before spending $50 or more on “professional” grooming for a friendly, docile, stray cat. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/17 "2006-07-18T12:07:46Z")
> [@Mirror Image egamI rorriM](#): > > How much does it cost to get a cat groomed? Where do you find a cat groomer? Do dog groomers do cats? > > My mom’s cat is starting to get matted, because she has long hair and is getting old. I’ve been cutting off the lumps with scissors as much as I can (which isn’t that much, she doesn’t like it), so now she has kind of ragged patches where I’ve chopped off a clump of fur. Of course she’d look ridiculous, but she’d probably be happier. Here is beautiful NE Ohio, I paid $40 to get Julian clipped. I just called around to various groomers, described the situation, and went with the person I felt comfortable with based on how she described what she would do. Lots of the big pet stores like PetSmart and Petco have in-store groomers. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/18 "2006-07-18T14:21:30Z")
They also have grooming scissors that are pretty good for getting rid of mats. On one side the blade is normal, the other blade indented like a square wave and only hits the opposing blade in about half the places. It often lets you cut enough hair to work the mat out, but leaves enough hair that poor kitty doesn’t look naked or worry about sun burn. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/19 "2006-07-18T18:44:25Z")
> [@Buckler of Swashing](#): > > I echo the demand for pics. > When come back, bring pics. I hear and obey. [Borbet](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/borbet.jpg) [Borbet’s tummy](http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m81/fwhited/borbettummy.jpg) (This is the most laid-back cat – no pun intended. I flipped him onto his back so I could try to get a picture of his matted tummy, and when I was done, he would have very happily stayed like that for the rest of the afternoon.) ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933/20 "2006-07-18T19:46:56Z")
::makes inarticulate kitty mommie noises:: Looka dat widdle shweetie! (Yes, I think your friend looking at a professional grooming job.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-n-mats/364933.md?page=2)