My cat bites when brushed. How to groom matted fur? Vet or calming?

If he has mats then the mats probably need to be clipped out with some clippers. You could take him to a groomer for clipping. After the mats are gone then you should try to regularly brush him. If he won't let you brush him then he may need regular grooming.

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.

If he isn't grooming as he once did, there may be an underlying medical cause, especially given his age. A physical exam by your veterinarian would be recommended along with blood work to assess major organ function.. If he gets a clean bill of health, you can discuss mild sedation and a clip down with the veterinarian.

The published dose for oral acepromazine is 0.5 to 2 mg per kilogram for sedation, however if this was notnprescribed for Tom I would not recommend giving it. Acepromazine can be dangerous for cats with certain medical conditions.

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!

Time and patience! Some cats don't like being groomed, or can become easily overstimulated from the tines of a brush. There are some self-grooming tools out there that may be less overstimulating and more interesting to Florence, such as arches with bristles on them the cat can rub against, or even plastic brushes that attached to wall corners to all your cat to rub up against it. A softer rubber brush such as a Kong brush, or even a grooming glove rather than a deshedding glove may also be gentle enough to avoid irritation while still getting mats out. If Florence is really nervous about the brushes, start slow. You can find a treat or snack she likes (such as a smelly piece of chicken or tuna) and then just brush her ONCE and give the treat. Once she is OK with that, you can move up to brushing a few spots in between treats, and then finally grooming mats or more problematic areas until she is more used to it. If she has some very bad mats that are affecting her health and she won't let you groom her at all, speaking with your vet about sedation so that she can be groomed thoroughly and all mats removed may help until she is more comfortable with being brushed.

Removing those clumps will be stressful for your kitty. The best would be to make an appointment with your vet for a shave under sedation. There could be sores underneath the mats which should be taken care of as well. Once the mats are gone I suggest you regularly brush and later comb Star to help with his grooming and clumps and mats will not reoccur.