Guide · Cat grooming
Cat mats: what not to do
Never cut a cat's mat with scissors. Why mats are risky to remove at home, what you can safely do with small tangles, and when a vet or groomer should take over.
Short answer
Never cut a mat off with scissors. VCA warns that mats sit close to the skin, so it is easy to cut the skin, even without seeing it, causing severe injury and pain.[1] Don't pull at a mat or hold down a struggling cat either. Small tangles can be picked apart with a wide-toothed metal comb; large or widespread mats, or a cat that won't tolerate handling, are a job for your vet or a groomer, and vets can sedate a cat to remove mats without pain.[1]
What not to do
| Don't | Why |
|---|---|
| Cut a mat off with scissors | Mats sit close to the skin, and it is easy to cut the skin without seeing it, causing severe injury and pain[1] |
| Pull or tug at a mat | Mats sit close to the skin,[1] so tugging on one tugs on the skin |
| Hold down a struggling cat to finish | AVSAB warns that full physical restraint is unsafe for most owners, very stressful for the pet and can make things much worse[2] |
| Reach for clippers you have never used on a pet | VCA addresses its clipper advice to owners experienced with pet shavers, and tells them to avoid nicking the skin and watch the shaver for overheating[1] |
| Let tangles build up between sessions | VCA recommends daily brushing for long, silky or curly coats[3] |
Why scissors are so risky
A mat is not a clump sitting on top of the coat. VCA explains that mats adhere closely to the skin, which is why it is so easy to cut the skin, even without seeing it, when you try to snip one off. The result can be a severe injury and real pain for your cat.[1] VCA's general cat-grooming advice puts it in one line: "Only use clippers to remove mats - never scissors."[3]
Our view on bladed dematting tools follows from the same reasoning: a cutting edge working right next to skin you cannot see carries the risk VCA describes for scissors. We don't suggest them for cat mats.
What you can do at home: small tangles only
- Check what you are dealing with. Part the hair and look. A small, loose tangle is fine to work on. A mat that is large, tight against the skin, or one of many is a job for your vet or a groomer.[1]
- Hold the hair at its base, between the tangle and the skin, so the comb does not tug the skin.
- Pick at the edge with a wide-toothed metal comb. CFA notes that a wide-toothed metal comb helps pick apart mats.[4] Work from the outside of the tangle inward, a few hairs at a time.
- Keep it short. A minute or two, then a reward. Come back to it later rather than pushing on.
- Stop if it won't loosen, if your cat objects, or if the skin underneath looks red, irritated or crusted. AAHA lists skin like that as a reason to contact your vet.[5]
We don't list a cat comb yet: nothing in our catalog meets our bar. Look for a metal comb with long, wide-spaced teeth, the kind VCA and CFA describe for long coats.[3][4]
When it is a vet or groomer job
VCA's advice is to see a veterinarian or groomer when any of these apply:[1]
- your cat won't tolerate mat removal
- the mats are large or widespread
- you are afraid of injuring your cat
Vets can sedate a cat so the mats are removed without pain.[1] If the coat has matted into a continuous sheet, sometimes called pelting, that is firmly in this group. So is any mat with red, irritated or broken skin around it.
Clippers: only with experience
VCA's cat-grooming page says to use clippers, never scissors, to remove mats.[3] Its long-haired cat page addresses this to owners who are experienced with pet shavers, and tells them to avoid nicking the skin and to keep checking the shaver for overheating.[1] Blade heat is a known hazard even for professionals: AKC's groomer education standards tell groomers to be aware of clipper sensitivity and burns.[6]
If you have not used clippers on a pet before, a matted cat is not the place to learn. A vet or groomer can do it, with sedation if needed.
Preventing the next mat
Regular combing is how mats are prevented. VCA recommends daily brushing for cats with long, silky or curly coats, especially around the ears, armpits and backs of the legs.[3] CFA says Persian and Exotic coats need daily grooming with a wide metal comb, while a Maine Coon only needs brushing or combing a couple of times a week.[4] ASPCA notes that long-haired cats who live indoors shed throughout the year and need grooming every few days.[7]
How to groom a long-haired cat sets out a routine.
Next
Questions
Can I cut a cat mat out with scissors if I'm careful?
No. VCA says never to use scissors to cut a mat off, because mats sit close to the skin and it is easy to cut the skin, even without seeing it, causing severe injury and pain.[1]
Can I shave my cat's mats off at home?
VCA addresses its clipper advice to owners who are experienced with pet shavers, and tells them to avoid nicking the skin and watch the shaver for overheating. If the mats are large or widespread, or your cat won't tolerate it, see a vet or groomer.[1]
Will the vet sedate my cat to remove mats?
VCA notes that veterinarians can sedate cats so mats can be removed without pain. Ask your vet whether that suits your cat.[1]
Where should I check my cat for mats?
VCA singles out the ears, armpits and backs of the legs for extra attention when brushing long, silky or curly coats.[3]