What Causes Cats Fur To Matt

This can lead to dry scaly and sometimes irritated skin.

What causes cats fur to matt. 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. Dead hair mixes up with the stuck up debris and dirt on its skin thus forming into even larger mats. Other times it can be from accidents due to playing. And if these are left un brushed the amount of matted and entangled hair increases resulting in it becoming even more matted.

Matted fur occurs more frequently in long haired cats but this doesn t mean it won t happen to short haired cats. Matted cat fur on the other hand damages tissue by preventing oxygen and moisture from reaching it. Pruritis itchy inflamed skin when matted fur traps moisture and irritants close to your cat s skin. When this happens matting and fur entangling worsen.

Keep in mind that shedding dead hair is normal and it s a process that cannot be avoided. To prevent this evaluate your cat s behavior if she s a regular victim of mats. What causes matted cat hair. Why matted cat fur is bad.

This can lead to lesions or secondary skin infection in severe cases of matting. Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time. 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. Certain breeds of cats persians maine coons and other long haired breeds are more likely to develop mats.

Matting occurs more in spring and autumn when cats are molting. 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. See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats. These clumps of fur can be painful for the cat.

Healthy kitties prevent most mats with regular self grooming. What causes matting in hair anyway. As a cat owner one of the most helpful grooming techniques to learn is how to get mats out of cat fur it not only helps keep your cat looking cute but also help protect them from skin irritation coming from fleas and skin parasites. Mats are clumps of hair that form when loose hair gets tangled onto the rest of your cat s fur.

Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander. Healthy and tangle free cat fur allows for a continuous air flow to your cat s skin. But sometimes if something becomes stuck in its fur or a cat neglects its grooming mats may form. Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work.