A hairy solution

Q: My beautiful 7-year-old pure white cat (medium hair length) has terribly matted fur. She will not sit still so that I can try to clip it out. The older she gets, the worse the fur gets. Is there any solution other than having her professionally shaved? She panics whenever she has to go in the car, so I try to avoid doing that. She also isn’t losing the winter fur like she used to, but I’m not sure why. I’d appreciate any advice you could give for an at-home remedy. – Connie G., via e-mail

A: Most cats won’t sit still very long for grooming, so I can understand your frustration. And the more matted a cat’s hair gets, the harder it is to comb out, making the job stressful for you and your cat.

Some cats, regardless of hair length, have a thick undercoat of supersoft fur called dander. Normally it is shed without too much problem, but in some cats, especially as they get older, the dander gets matted by dirt or oil (from the sebaceous glands in their skin). Because it is so close to the cat’s sensitive skin, trying to comb out these deep mats of fur can cause a lot of discomfort.

You can try giving the cat an herbal mixture called Rescue Remedy to calm her down just before brushing. Ask for one that is formulated specifically for pets. This may keep her from panicking as you try to clip away the matted areas, although you may still only get five minutes at best to work with her.

If the herbal remedy doesn’t help, I’d recommend a professional grooming. You may need to ask the veterinarian for medication to calm the cat down before the trip. I don’t recommend using it except when she is in a real panic, such as a car trip. After the grooming comb her out every night to keep the mats at bay. Give her treats afterward and lots of praise.