This week marks the start of month 3 of operations here at Feline Good Cat Grooming! 2020 has been…somewhat less than the ideal (!) year to begin a new venture, but I am really pleased with how things are going and hope to continue to provide grooming services to loving catparents and their furbabies for a long time. I’m very grateful to everyone who has supported my business so far – thank you all.
So, in month two Feline Good has seen a fair few matty catties come through the door, with a mix of both long and shorthaired coats. All types of kitties can require assistance with their grooming, not just the fluffy ones, and Feline Good Cat Grooming is here to help!
Shorthaired cats are more frequently able to manage on their own compared with their long-haired counterparts, but many are still prone to developing large “clumps” of matted fur, particularly on their lower backs and at the base of the tail. This becomes more likely as they age and can no longer manage to reach that area themselves, and commonly first presents around 9-10 years old, even if kitty has never had a matt in their lives up till that point. Let alone, that one area of matting at the base of the tail will spread and eventually kitty will have clumps of matted fur all over their back, hips and sides – so best addressed earlier rather than later.
Longhaired cats also tend more towards matting as they reach Senior ages (10 years+ or so) than they have up till then, however they are more likely than shorthaired breeds/moggies to develop matting at younger ages, in some cases even before they reach maturity at 2 years of age. Longhaired cats can matt in almost any area of their body (compared to shorthairs where 9 times out of 10 the matting is on their back/hips) - but commonly in the armpits, sanitary region, hips and belly.
The necessity for (and potential expense of) proper grooming is, in my opinion, something that any prospective cat parent ought to be considering before bringing home their kitty. Breeds such as Persians, Himalayans, Siberian and Norwegian Forest Cats, Maine Coons and some Ragdolls - in particular - can require professional grooming (and/or an extremely
en pointe home grooming routine) from a young age, without which they are very prone to tangles, knots and painful matting.
But, as mentioned above, any cat including your shorthaired moggie might start to matt, particularly as they age.
Matting causes pain due to the roots of the fur being tugged when the cat mobilises that area, and widespread matting or pelting (when matts join together to entirely cover some or all of the cat’s body) can affect or limit the cat’s ability to walk and move naturally. It is commonly observed by purrents that kitty might walk oddly after a matt removal, especially if the matting was extensive and was restricting movement of their joints, as they re-learn how to move without the constant discomfort.
The skin under matts also becomes very dry and flakey (for this reason purrents may also notice dandruff in their cat’s coat after a matt removal, which improves with time as that area of skin is able to breathe again and recovers), and the tugging of the matt as kitty moves can rip small areas of the matt out at the roots leaving bald or patchy areas that become apparent after the matt is clipped out. Left long enough, cats develop painful sores and potentially life-threatening skin infections beneath matted areas.
So, if you start to see your kitty’s fur getting clumpy, don’t delay getting them booked in with your friendly neighbourhood cat groomer!
And to all catparents, I would encourage you to consider getting your new kitten or young adult cat on a good grooming regime now, even if their coat is currently in good condition. It will keep kitty's coat well-conditioned and beautiful and head off potential issues before they can even begin - and keep the amount of shedding in the house down too! Plus, if their coat becomes problematic in the future, kitty will already be comfortable with the grooming process, which makes for a less risky and stressful groom for both cat and groomer.
Have a lovely week, and cuddles to your kitties!
Emma Fegan
Master Cat Groomer & Owner, Feline Good Cat Grooming