Cat Grooming: Matting, Shedding and Claw Care

Mats form first in the armpits, behind the ears, on the trousers and under the tail. Once a mat is tight against the skin it pulls painfully with every movement and should be clipped out by a groomer or vet, never cut with scissors — skin tears easily underneath.

Reduced self-grooming is a common early sign of pain, obesity, dental disease or arthritis. Over-grooming to the point of bald patches often signals stress, allergy or parasites. Both warrant a veterinary visit rather than a grooming fix.

Two minutes daily beats twenty minutes weekly. Groom where the cat chooses to sit, stop before it wants you to, and pair with food or a favourite scratch spot.

Trim the sharp tip every two to four weeks, avoiding the pink quick. Provide tall, stable scratching posts. Declawing is an amputation and is banned or opposed by veterinary bodies across much of the world.