Cat Fur Clumps

by Kathy
(Utica, NY)

One of my cats (I have two) has developed clumps in her fur on her back near the base of her tail. Her hair is very thick, so much so you can't see her skin. The spot is only about as big as my fist and hasn't grown at all. It seems to itch a little, but doesn't hurt her. I've tried to comb it out, which helps a little, but her fur is so thick I can't get a comb through it all the way. It apparently isn't contagious because her sister isn't affected by it at all.

Answer:

Clumping of cat fur is a common problem in dense haired cats. It is more common in older cats and cats which are overweight. In either case the cat fails to groom itself completely.

The location of the clumps indicates that your cat does not groom itself completely, and also this cat seems to have very dense fur, thus it is probable that secretions from the skin and dead components of the hair, tangle to form clumps.

At home, you can use a dematter; this is a hand held tool specifically designed to break mats and clumps in the fur of a cat. These are helpful because commonly used combs do not help in thick haired cats.

Be careful while you use a dematter. At home, it should only be used for those cats which have clumps that are not directly on the skin, but that are farther away. Clumps which are closer to skin should be treated by a professional groomer or a veterinarian, as any attempt to clip or groom these clumps can lead to skin injury.

In terms of dematting tools, consider the Smart Grip Cat Undercoat Rake or the Groomax 9 Blade Dematter for Cats. Both are available for under $10.

Additionally, clumps in cat fur can make your cat’s skin vulnerable to pathogens such as bacteria or parasites such as cat lice, so you should regularly bathe your cat with a quality cleansing shampoo such as Clean-Cat Shampoo with Chamomile (2 Baths a week is enough) and groom it after every bath.