What Causes Matted Hair On Cats

Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander.

What causes matted hair on cats.

Imagine keeping all that fur under control. What causes matting in hair anyway. A cat covered in mats might even have to be put under anesthesia and shaved to prevent discomfort and pain during the hair removal. The matted clumps can vary in size from barely noticeable to very large clumps.

So what causes matted cat hair. Did you know a single cat has about 130 000 hairs per square inch of their body. Illnesses such as hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties. But every once in a while their hair gets tangled or matted.

Skin flakes dead fur dust and skin oils cause matting. It all boils down to a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Cat hair can become matted either because of shedding or movement. Causes of matted cat hair.

Causes of matted hair in cats. 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. Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work. Affected cats are lightly sedated and their hair coats are shaved to remove all affected mats.

Have your vet examine your kitty for any skin inflammation or irritation after the removal of serious mats. Often it looks as though the hair has been glued together. The hair gets so knotted and tangled up that it becomes a hard bunch of hair. Knowing the causes and prevention.

The clumps are basically tangled hair. 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. As it happens there are several reasons a cat might groom less and poor coat condition is a clue they need medical help. 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.

If their formerly pristine sleek pelt is now dull and tufty it s time to wonder why this might be. What causes matted cat hair. For the most part cats do a great job on their own since they are excellent self groomers. When a cat sheds hair can tangle with the intact hairs and form knots.

Other times it can be from accidents due to playing. The places where matting is most common include the chest in between the legs the neck or anywhere where. Seriously matted cats require veterinary attention. On the other hand frequent movement can cause the fur to mat as well.

If you have an older cat try comparing then and now photos.