Cat Fur Mats Causes

Mats are clumps of hair that have become entangled or knotted over time.

Cat fur mats causes.

Bacterial infections can cause matted fur and they can also lead to health problems such as blood poisoning and shock. Usually grooming keeps the fur clean and prevents fleas from taking hold. Fur licking keeps a cat s skin healthy and stimulates sebaceous glands in their skin to produce oil to lubricate the fur. Causes of matted cat hair cat hair can become matted either because of shedding or movement.

A possible health related cause is skin fungi. Most mats will come out with brushing but hard mats can require extra work. When a cat sheds hair can tangle with the intact hairs and form knots. These clumps of fur can be painful for the cat.

Skin flakes dead fur dust and skin oils cause matting. But sometimes if something becomes stuck in its fur or a cat neglects its grooming mats may form. And if these are left un brushed the amount of matted and entangled hair increases resulting in it becoming even more matted. Other conditions that can cause matted fur to appear include nutritional deficiencies parasites and stress.

Matted fur clumps need to be removed because they re extremely uncomfortable for the cat. Indoor only and shorthaired cats can also get mats from a buildup of dust and dander. When this happens matting and fur entangling worsen. See our related article for much more about the causes of matted hair in cats.

It is important to treat your cat quickly or he may experience more serious problems. Matted fur is a common symptom. To rule out such issues visit the vet with your kitty to check for signs of a medical problem. Mats provide hotbeds for fleas ticks and other skin parasites that can affect your cat along with various types of infections.

Illnesses such as hypothyroidism hyperthyroidism hypertension and kidney problems can cause dandruff and matted fur and these conditions are common in older kitties. Most cats shed their fur during spring and fall. On the other hand frequent movement can cause the fur to mat as well. They pull on the skin and can cause quite a bit of pain.

When the cat isn t able to properly clean his fur all this dirt builds up and causes the fur to stick together. These tangles can even weigh down your cat in severe cases and prevent her from going to the bathroom if they form over her back end.