How can I calm my cat to safely remove painful mats at home?

There is nothing OTC that you can safely give that will effectively calm her down enough for grooming. You may need to have her lightly sedated by your veterinarian so she can be safely shaved or clipped. Using scissors at home can lead to a laceration if you aren't careful. An exam is also a good idea to determine why Xena is not grooming herself.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is nothing over the counter that is likely to make much difference, though pheromone products such as the Feliway diffuser can definitely help cats feel more relaxed. There are prescription medications that can be safely given for situations requiring mild sedation or anti-anxiety relaxation, so if a pheromone such as Feliway isn’t enough, I recommend asking your vet for their recommendations for Peaches. Hope this helps!

If it is truly just matted fur with normal skin underneath, you can use clippers with a very short (40) blade close to the skin to remove the mats. If he won't tolerate this should be able to find a groomer who will clip cats. If the skin underneath the mat does not look normal you should see a veterinarian: sometimes mats can form over a skin mass or infection.

If Pazzo will not let you work at the matt to get it out, you may talk to your vet about a sedative called Gabapentin. Its a capsule that you mix the contents with food. He will then get sleepy and this will last 8-12 hours. He may allow you to better get in there and get it out. Some vets offer minor grooming services and you may ask if the clinic could just use their clippers and buzz it off. Otherwise just keep slowly working at it as much as he will allow. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. This may work, all you can do is try. Use the dose recommended by your veterinarian, & if this does not do the trick, then consider having her professionally groomed or sedated & shaved by your veterinarian. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Little Bit. I recommend having her shaved down by a veterinarian or groomer. A veterinarian is a good choice in case in sedation is needed. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tulip! The mats are painful, cause itching and could cause skin issues. If she will allow you to shave them (do not use scissors) then great. Other options are traveling groomers that come to your house or scheduling a sedated shave down with your vet. Maybe they can provide an oral sedative before hand so you can catch her and make the car ride less awful. I hope this helps and happy holidays.