What Causes Matted Hair On Cats

Knowing the causes and prevention.

What causes matted hair on cats.

When a cat sheds hair can tangle with the intact hairs and form knots. While a lack of grooming sometimes is just part of old age many times there may be a medical cause for it in your elderly feline. A cat covered in mats might even have to be put under anesthesia and shaved to prevent discomfort and pain during the hair removal. Cat hair can become matted either because of shedding or movement.

If you have an older cat try comparing then and now photos. On the other hand frequent movement can cause the fur to mat as well. Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention. Skin flakes dead fur dust and skin oils cause matting.

So what causes matted cat hair. Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time. It all boils down to a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.

What causes matting in hair anyway. If their formerly pristine sleek pelt is now dull and tufty it s time to wonder why this might be. Other times it can be from accidents due to playing. The main reason why your cat experiences matted hair is due to lack of grooming if you do not brush your cat s hair properly or leave it as is for an extended period then your feline friend will suffer from the clumps due to shedding and leaving the excess fur on his skin.

Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work. Causes of matted cat hair. The places where matting is most common include the chest in between the legs the neck or anywhere where. Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander.

For the most part cats do a great job on their own since they are excellent self groomers. Often it looks as though the hair has been glued together. See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats. If you know your cat has a genetic predisposition to hair loss it will be much easier to manage the problem and prevent further matting.

Causes of matted hair in cats. Imagine keeping all that fur under control. 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. Illnesses such as hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties.

The matted clumps can vary in size from barely noticeable to very large clumps. As it happens there are several reasons a cat might groom less and poor coat condition is a clue they need medical help. What causes matted cat hair. Did you know a single cat has about 130 000 hairs per square inch of their body.

The hair gets so knotted and tangled up that it becomes a hard bunch of hair.