Taming Long-Haired Cat Mats: A Must-Have for Cat Owners

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of managing matting in long-haired cats, sharing experiences and solutions among cat owners. Participants discuss various grooming tools, products, and personal anecdotes related to cat care, particularly focusing on the effectiveness of mat combs and other grooming techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants share their struggles with matting in long-haired cats and recommend using a mat comb, which they find effective for managing the issue.
  • Others mention alternative products, such as Cowboy Magic, for dealing with mats.
  • Several participants discuss their experiences with shedding in both long-haired and short-haired cats, noting different shedding patterns.
  • One participant humorously suggests using duct tape as a makeshift lint roller, sharing their creative approach to managing cat hair.
  • There are multiple anecdotes about the personalities of cats, including humorous references to their demanding behaviors.
  • Some participants express interest in acquiring cats, particularly tabbies, while others share images of their pets.
  • One post introduces a shift in topic to ectotherms, indicating a variety of pet ownership experiences among participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of matting in long-haired cats and the usefulness of grooming tools, but there are differing opinions on the best methods and products to use. The discussion includes a mix of shared experiences and personal anecdotes without a clear consensus on a single solution.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific products and techniques without providing detailed evidence or consensus on their effectiveness. The discussion includes various personal experiences that may not apply universally.

Who May Find This Useful

Cat owners, particularly those with long-haired breeds, may find the shared experiences and recommendations relevant to their grooming challenges.

Ivan Seeking
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If you have fought this problem like we have you would agree that this deserves a public announcement. :biggrin: Of the many cats that we've had we only had one with long hair - a silver-shaded Chinchilla Persian. But she was strictly an indoor cat so she was relatively easy to manage. Over that last couple of years we have acquired two, indoor-outdoor, long haired cats. What a mess! We have really struggled to control the matting problem with their coats and just learned about and purchased a mat comb. If you have long hair cats that get matted, this is a must. It's well worth the $20 for a quality comb. They make them for dogs as well. The combs have upward facing blades that cut the mat from the bottom up.


Besides, it seemed to be time for another pet thread. :biggrin: Let's see them pics.



Here's my little Bun [with a little help from dduardo]
http://umsis.miami.edu/~dduardo/evil_genius_bun.png
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
Oh wow that picture's awesome! :smile:
 
Foxy Lady{corgi} and Moonshadow






note the "wing" on Moonshadow
 

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That cat is adorable! dduardo did a great job--the evil eye is hilarious, and these are skills I too would like to acquire. So with all the land and many critters that Ivan and Tsu have, maybe they could start a zoo? Of course pictures like this make me want a pet--stop it!
 
Ivan Seeking said:
If you have fought this problem like we have you would agree that this deserves a public announcement. :biggrin: Of the many cats that we've had we only had one with long hair - a silver-shaded Chinchilla Persian. But she was strictly an indoor cat so she was relatively easy to manage. Over that last couple of years we have acquired two, indoor-outdoor, long haired cats. What a mess! We have really struggled to control the matting problem with their coats and just learned about and purchased a mat comb. If you have long hair cats that get matted, this is a must. It's well worth the $20 for a quality comb. They make them for dogs as well. The combs have upward facing blades that cut the mat from the bottom up.
Aha! So that's why you were running around shaving kitty cats! :biggrin:

I think the mat-comb will work much better. And it sure beats taking 'em to the vet for an $80 haircut.

My cats have all been shorthairs, but I do have a problem with them shedding. I use those lint rollers constantly to try to get the cat hair up.
 
Math Is Hard said:
Aha! So that's why you were running around shaving kitty cats! :biggrin:

I think the mat-comb will work much better.
:smile:
Math Is Hard said:
My cats have all been shorthairs, but I do have a problem with them shedding. I use those lint rollers constantly to try to get the cat hair up.
When I had my cat, I used his brush to get the hair off the sofa--worked great. (I tried to vacuum him once--oh boy!)
 
hypatia said:
note the "wing" on Moonshadow
I'm more concerned with the Hitler 'stache. :bugeye:

Math Is Hard said:
I use those lint rollers constantly to try to get the cat hair up.
I used to have one of those, but it got lost. Instead of buying a new one, I now wrap duct tape around a beer can with the sticky side out. It works better than the first one.

SOS2008 said:
(I tried to vacuum him once--oh boy!)
That, I learned the hard way, is also not recommended for parakeets. (And anybody who says that sound doesn't carry in a vacuum has obviously never tried it. I could hear the damned thing squawking for 2 days.)
 
  • #10
Danger said:
I used to have one of those, but it got lost. Instead of buying a new one, I now wrap duct tape around a beer can with the sticky side out. It works better than the first one.
I know, you got the idea for duct tape from the Red Green show (love that show)! I think the lint roller is somewhere on your dining room table... :rolleyes:
Danger said:
That, I learned the hard way, is also not recommended for parakeets. (And anybody who says that sound doesn't carry in a vacuum has obviously never tried it. I could hear the damned thing squawking for 2 days.)
:smile:
 
  • #11
Mine's one. His name is Mathias.


"The more I learn about women, the more I love my cat".

Anonymous.
 

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  • #12
I want to see Clausius' cat. NOW!
Evo, where art thou?
 
  • #13
Kitties

I've got one long haired (a Maine Coon), and two tabbies:
http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/ging_maub00001.jpg
http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/ginger01small.png
http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/mauby02.jpg
http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/fluffy01.jpg
We also rescued this stray little kitten last summer:
http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/peppy1.JPG
There are a lot of cats around here... :-p
 
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  • #14
I'm not going to quote the message. I think you know why

Very nice and fluffy cats :approve: :biggrin: However, is that kitten supposed to be a red X? :cry:
 
  • #15
awwww, I am thinking about getting a cat. I really like the tabbies, they look like tigers! :smile:
 
  • #16
This kitty likes red X's: http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/avatar446_0.gif .[/URL] :smile:
Seriously, I'm going to decrease the size of those guys a bit, though... :rolleyes:
 
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  • #17
Clausius2 said:
Mine's one. His name is Mathias.
He's so cute! :approve:
 
  • #18
hypermorphism said:
This kitty likes red X's: http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/avatar446_0.gif .[/URL] :smile:
Seriously, I'm going to decrease the size of those guys a bit, though... :rolleyes:

That X is pretty awesome :biggrin: :approve:

I would actually love a tiger cub for a pet..although when it grows up, it might eat my head :rolleyes:
 
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  • #19
Greg Bernhardt said:
... I really like the tabbies, they look like tigers! :smile:
They are like tigers... especially in the morning when they demand you get out of bed and fix them breakfast! :biggrin:
 
  • #20
Sorry to break up the cat theme, but I only have ectotherms. The tortoise, a greek, is Argos (Gus for short) and the newt is Thomas.
 
  • #21
Bladibla said:
I would actually love a tiger cub for a pet..although when it grows up, it might eat my head :rolleyes:
Wouldn't an animal that large want something more substantial? :-p


Okay, I really am sorry about that one. I couldn't just leave it lying there, though. :wink: I wish Art had posted it instead; then I wouldn't feel bad about it.
 
  • #22
YEE HAW!. ITS TIME FOR CAT HUNTING SEASON YAY!
Im going to shoot me 12 felines.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/04/12/killing.wildcats.ap/index.html
 
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  • #23
gravenewworld said:
YEE HAW!. ITS TIME FOR CAT HUNTING SEASON YAY!
Im going to shoot me 12 felines.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/04/12/killing.wildcats.ap/index.html

Yesterday the Governer said it will never happen. For one, it would make the entire state a joke - the great cat hunters. Also, it would hurt the economy via tourism since the idea is so offensive. I guess they do have a real problem though with an estimated 1 million wild cats that are eating too many birds.
 
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  • #24
DocToxyn said:
Sorry to break up the cat theme, but I only have ectotherms. The tortoise, a greek, is Argos (Gus for short) and the newt is Thomas.

The baby tortoise is cute :biggrin:
 
  • #25
http://home.comcast.net/~rossgr1/3catss.JPG

Long hair cats, Matting?
Yep, we know about that. Maybe we can talk some more about that Matting brush Sat. [itex]\dot {x}[/itex] will be very interested!

Back row is Chunky and Pinky in the front is Mr Fuzzy
 
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  • #26
Wow! Integral's cats aren't just beautiful - they're also EVIL! :devil: :biggrin:

The one in the front is penetrating my eyeballs with his laser beam stare -- OWW! OWWW!

must get cat food now. must obey cat. yes, master... :bugeye:
 
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  • #27
Ph34r the eyes!

How's the shedding ? :biggrin: Curiously, it's the tabbies that seem to shed the most around here. Fluffy (the long-haired) doesn't shed much at all.
 
  • #28
Math Is Hard said:
Wow! Integral's cats aren't just beautiful - they're also EVIL! :devil: :biggrin:

The one in the front is penetrating my eyeballs with his laser beam stare -- OWW! OWWW!
I was just going to say they look possesed.
 
  • #29
This picture was taken at Christmas, even the cat got into the spirit by lighting up.

(the cat is George, a stray I took in)
 

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  • #30
hypermorphism said:
This kitty likes red X's: http://69.6.241.242/images/forumPosts/avatar446_0.gif .[/URL]
That's adorable. :biggrin:
 
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