Fat Cat Hair Clumps

[Freedom]

Any of you with a fat cat know what I'm talking about.

Crystal is fat, no two ways about it.

Cats naturally secrete oils from their skin. Much of the grooming they do is to spread the oils out over the coat. An obese cat can't reach every body section, so the oil clumps up, mats with the fur. Crystal has a number of clumps AGAIN.

I've tried myself, used scissors and of course got bit (she does NOT like me grooming her under any circumstances).

I've had her to the vet, where they used both scissors and electric clipper; they had to muzzle her.

Now this time, I am going to try her at a groomer salon. Appt. is for Sunday.

She is the only one of my 9 cats who is even slightly over weight, and she is well beyond that. I have to keep food out all the time for Sparkle, who has CRF and grazes all day long. Crystal looks like she swallowed a basketball, poor girl, I just have no way to cut her down. AND of course I never do see her eating.

If anyone has dealt with this and has ideas for the clumps, I'd love to hear from you!

[katladyd]

Ming is overweight, but somehow he manages to groom himself very well (I will keep my eyes out for clumps, thanks for in the info). However, I have an older cat, Mac, who is underweight and needs to free feed. Yes, it is a dilemma, isn't it? I wish I had an answer for you, but those of us with multi-cat households know that special diets present problems. Good luck with Crystal!

[pomtzu]

My RB tuxie, Mortimer, aka Mr Fat Cat, used to get them right down the middle of his back. The only way I could deal with the clumps was to stay one step ahead of them. I just used a slicker brush down his back once a week or so, but if it did get to the clump stage, then I had to cut them out. Fortunately he tolerated me doing that without too many bloody bites. Wish I had that magic solution for you, but I don't.

I can see from your siggy pic that Crystal is quite the butterball!

[moosmom]

When I lived in New Haven, the wingnut dentist next door had two cats (mama and daughter) who were supposedly feral. Mama was VERY matted. I confronted this idiot and even offered to take her to be groomed. He turned me down. Said it wasn't necessary. I told him they were very painful for her. He didn't care. He told me to stop feeding them. I told him to go to hell. That's when I decided to trim her myself. "The girls" as I referred to them as, weren't feral, just scared. They had shelter in a nearby garage. It took a while, but I think Mama was actually happy to have to cut them off. Her poor skin was raw from the mats pulling at it.

I think you're doing the right thing by having a groomer do it. Especially since she gets stressed out. The last thing you need to do is get bitten again (how many would that be????).

I'd go nuts if I had to try and get one of my cats on a diet. When you have as many as I do, it's a free-for-all!!!

[Freedom]

Thanks for the replies. My problem is I try to keep up with it starting when she has just been cleaned up - no reason at that point so I slack off. Months go by, I forget about it until the clumps are enormous.

I think you're doing the right thing by having a groomer do it. Especially since she gets stressed out. The last thing you need to do is get bitten again (how many would that be????).

LOL stopped counting after the 3rd trip to the hospital.

I'd go nuts if I had to try and get one of my cats on a diet. When you have as many as I do, it's a free-for-all!!!

Ditto!

[Taz_Zoee]

I fostered my friends XXL kitty for 5 months a couple years ago. I took him to the groomers at least once, maybe twice. Once I took him to the vet to get his nails clipped and the tech was nice enough to cut the mats from his rear for me. I was so grateful! That is the only place he matted was on his bottom. I didn't know him well enough to tackle it myself. I think my friend takes care of his fur on her own. But he loves her. LOL
I would brush him when I went in to visit him in his room. (he terrorized Paizly so he was shut in a bedroom unless under closer supervision)

Sorry I do not have any good suggestions for you. But I hope you can find a solution. I am horrible and brushing the dogs regularly. So I'm glad to have short hair thin kitties (at least for now!).

[cassiesmom]

If anyone has dealt with this and has ideas for the clumps, I'd love to hear from you!

Sweet Crystal, I need a haircut too... wish I could go with you to the groomer and we could make it a "big girls" paw-ty! Seriously though, I hope your appointment goes very well and the groomer is able to help you with your coat.

[Freedom]

Thanks for all the info, I will check those links!

Crystal is a short haired cat. This is totally due to her being so FAT.

[catmandu]

I know that Cyrstal will not like it, but sometimes a professional groomer is the answer.
Its not good having a lot of clumps.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Winnie, who has long hair, was getting one on her back right above her tail. I was able to brush it out using a sticker brush. With her, I can tell when she is starting one because the hair starts to get thicker there. I can brush them out at that stage.

My leonardo used to get hair mats something awful. Had to cut his because they got so thick so fast I couldn't keep up with them.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear this. I never knew that short haired cats could even get matted. This is one reason why my two new boys are short haired. My only slightly overweight cat is Ziggy and she hates to be brushed or combed. When I do it, I have to muzzle her because she will growl, hiss, and try to bite me. Luckily she so far she hasn't matted at all. Now both of my senior boys have decided to stop grooming themselves so are now getting kennel cuts which is shorter than a lion cut from the groomers. Sky has to take a sedative pill before he goes because he's become a real terror. I've asked the groomers what I can do to avoid the matting and they just said to use several different types of combs to help break up the mat. Now Alani is also matted a little bit on his back sides because he's lazy not overweight. I have to muzzle him and comb them out. I do have a very small scissors that I use if I have to but I always put a comb in between so I won't cut the skin. My only option if I can't take care of the matting is to take my cats to the groomers because my vet hospital doesn't do any kind of grooming. They have shaved Ziggy's butt in the past though. Good luck.

[Freedom]

I trimmed her nails this afternoon, so she is ready to go tomorrow.