Maybe the plate of cookies, groomers referral, will allow you to chat. At which point, find if they can or can't afford grooming, and then you could offer, just this once.

I'm finding on my dog (Aussie shepard mix) I have to watch for mats behind her ears, and now my old long haired cat is getting mats. I tell Bonnie that she letting herself go, and she used to be such a beautiful cat. Bonnie just meows. She's become a "patches" where I've cut the mats out.