Expert: Jessica - 1/7/2010

Question
I had my cat fixed last April and am pretty good about her grooming.  She has become very irritated lately when brushing her and there seems to be these knots but the rooted ends looks like they are matted almost I have cut some off them out but I was curious if I should get a special shampoo and attempt bathing her or is this a gland problem  

Answer
Hi Jackie.  It's best not to shampoo until all of the mats have been combed out or shaven off, since bathing will tighten the knots.  Instead, try gently rubbing some cornstarch baby powder into the mats.  This helps to soften the hair and makes loose mats easier to comb out.  Very tight mats will need to be shaven off.  After her coat is mat-free, you can bathe her with a detangling shampoo if you like, and keep her brushed.  You may also use Johnson's baby powder OR No More Tangles hair detangler to help with combing in between baths.  Never use both at the same time, as mixing the two will produce a paste on her fur!  If you prefer to use the baby powder, sprinkle it lightly onto her coat, work through with your fingers, and then comb through, applying more to tangled areas if necessary.  There are some cat fur detanglers available that I'm sure are fine, but I prefer Johnson's baby products for my cats' fur/skin care.  I recommend going through the fur first with a steel-toothed comb, to remove tangles, and then finishing with a slicker brush to remove loose fur and dander.  

Matting tends to occur when the fur is dirty or oily, and a gland problem could be a possibility.  One glandular condition that causes matted fur is hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).  If your cat has lost any weight, have the vet check her out right away.  

Sometimes fur grows dirty because your cat becomes unable to reach it due to weight gain.  If this is true, she will need grooming with a slicker brush every day to help simulate the cleaning action of her tongue.  You should also talk to the vet about placing her on a weight loss diet.

Good luck!

Jessica