TANDEM Cat® Coat Decompression™ is a specialized Cats in the City grooming service designed to reduce trapped undercoat, support coat airflow, decrease shedding burden, and improve feline comfort.
This service is especially helpful for cats whose coats feel dense, heavy, sticky, greasy, clumpy, or difficult to brush through.
Cats naturally shed. In a healthy, functioning coat, loose hair releases from the body over time through grooming, movement, and normal coat turnover.
In some cats, shed undercoat does not release properly. Instead, it becomes trapped inside the coat.
As this trapped hair builds up, the coat can become compressed. The fur may feel thicker, heavier, or harder to manage. Over time, this can contribute to clumping, matting, pelting, increased hairballs, reduced airflow to the skin, and decreased comfort.
Regular deshedding usually removes loose surface hair.
TANDEM Cat® Coat Decompression™ focuses on trapped undercoat that has accumulated within the coat structure. The goal is not simply to remove hair. The goal is to restore coat function.
That means helping the coat move, breathe, separate, and self-maintain more effectively.
Depending on the cat’s coat condition and tolerance, our team may use TANDEM Touch™ coat decompression modalities, including:
Manual release techniques used to separate and remove trapped undercoat with precision.
Warm-water-assisted release used to soften, loosen, and remove dense undercoat buildup.
Controlled airflow used to lift, separate, and remove loosened coat while supporting comfort and skin safety.
These techniques may be used individually or combined during a single appointment.
Coat Decompression™ may help support:
Reduced shedding
Fewer hairballs
Improved coat airflow
Better skin environment
Less clumping and tangling
Easier self-grooming
Greater comfort during movement
Reduced risk of future matting
Many cats appear lighter, more flexible, and more comfortable after trapped coat burden is removed.
Your cat may benefit if you notice:
Frequent hairballs
Excessive shedding
Dense or heavy-feeling coat
Greasy, sticky, or clumpy fur
Repeated small mats
Difficulty brushing through the coat
Reduced self-grooming
Seasonal coat buildup
Thick double coat
Senior age or reduced flexibility
Cats do not need to be visibly matted to benefit. Coat Decompression™ is often most valuable before matting becomes severe.
Yes, Coat Decompression™ can be especially helpful for senior cats when performed with appropriate pacing, handling, and clinical judgment.
Older cats often groom less effectively because of stiffness, arthritis, illness, dental discomfort, weight changes, or reduced mobility. Releasing trapped coat can reduce physical burden and support comfort.
Our team uses trauma-informed, feline-exclusive handling and adjusts each session to the cat’s tolerance.
No. Shedding is normal.
The goal is not to stop shedding entirely. The goal is to reduce trapped, accumulated shed hair so the coat can function more normally and the cat is carrying less coat burden.
It may help reduce hairball frequency in some cats by removing excess loose and trapped hair before the cat ingests it during grooming.
Hairballs can have multiple causes, so persistent vomiting, appetite changes, weight loss, or signs of illness should always be discussed with your veterinarian.
You can request a grooming appointment through Cats in the City and note that you are interested in TANDEM Cat® Coat Decompression™.
A Certified TANDEM Cat Groomer can evaluate your cat’s coat condition and recommend the best approach.
TANDEM Cat® Coat Decompression™ is a proactive coat health service focused on comfort, airflow, mobility, and prevention.
Less shed. More comfort. Better care for cats.