long hair cat's fur matting

[RolliePollie]

My friends just had a groomer shave their medium/long haired kitty because of mats. He looks really funny because they left his head and tail unshaved, but he seems much happier. Plus I bet he'll be a lot cooler for summer. And have fewer hairballs. Someday I'm sure I'll have to do this with my long haired cat too.

[smilingcat]

My friends just had a groomer shave their medium/long haired kitty because of mats. He looks really funny because they left his head and tail unshaved, but he seems much happier. Plus I bet he'll be a lot cooler for summer. And have fewer hairballs. Someday I'm sure I'll have to do this with my long haired cat too.

A lion cut. How cute. Just make sure the kitty stays out of the sun. Else he might get sun burned.

We use a special brush called the furminator (deshedding brush). It really works. But again, if the fur is matted, the brush will pull on the mat so you have to becareful. The other downside is that this brush is pricey. around $30.00 for the small one. We use the same brush on our two big dogs and they love it.

[lisathew8lifter]

I have persian cats and the ONLY Thing that i would suggest with your maine coon is this:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18687

it took me many years and several cats to figure it out but this is quite honestly the only tool to groom a long haired cat.

[tctrek]

I used to breed Persians... they would mat when they were "dropping" their coat once or twice a year. I have grooming clippers and gave them a cool lion clip -- left their ruff and a pom-pom on the end of their tail. They would run around like kittens when they got that cut. I think it was a big relief to them.

[redrhodie]

Thanks for the new suggestions! lisalifter, I'm going to give that a try.

[redrhodie]

Update: We've got it under control! When I took him for his rabies shot, I asked the vet what she recommends, and she told me about this:

http://www.furminatorcat.com/

I had to think twice about buying it because it was really expensive, but since getting it, he hasn't had a mat. It's a little scary reading the warnings that come with it, but luckily he loves it, and is reacting well to it (I read reviews, and not all cats do). I haven't had as much fur on my clothes or rugs either. I'm still brushing him daily with his regular brush since the furminator doesn't remove existing mats, but it's really made a huge difference in preventing new ones.

[Biciclista]

what are the scary warnings?