Matting & Coat Health
Does My Senior Cat Need Sedation for Mat Removal?
Does My Senior Cat Need Sedation for Mat Removal? Many guardians are told that severe matting in an elderly cat automatically requires sedation and shaving. In some cases, sedation may be appropriate and necessary. In many others, however, the answer ...
Why Cats Mat®
Why Cats Mat® A Trauma-Informed Explanation from Inside the Coat Matting is not neglect. It is the result of biology, moisture, friction, pressure, and time interacting within the coat. Many guardians are led to believe that mats develop solely ...
Fused, Not Twisted: The Felting Model of Feline Matting
Fused, Not Twisted: The Felting Model of Feline Matting A TANDEM Cat® Perspective on Progressive Coat Compression Matting is often described as tangling. In practice, that description rarely matches what we observe. At TANDEM Cat®, we frequently ...
Understanding the TANDEM Cat® Matting Severity Scale
Understanding the TANDEM Cat® Matting Severity Scale Why a Matting Scale Matters Not all mats are the same. A small tangle behind an ear and a full-body pelt may both be called "matting," but they represent dramatically different levels of coat ...
Signs Your Cat Is Developing Coat Problems
Signs Your Cat Is Developing Coat Problems Coat Problems Usually Develop Gradually Most significant coat issues do not appear overnight. Whether a cat eventually develops matting, pelting, excessive shedding, skin irritation, or coat compression, the ...
How to Prevent Matting
How to Prevent Matting The Best Treatment for Matting Is Prevention Matting is one of the most common coat problems seen in cats, but it is also one of the most preventable. Many guardians assume matting happens suddenly. In reality, most mats ...
What Is Pelting?
What Is Pelting? Pelting Is the Most Advanced Form of Matting Pelting occurs when individual mats merge together into a continuous, dense layer of compressed coat that covers part or all of a cat's body. Unlike isolated mats, a pelt behaves as a ...
The Risks of Home Dematting
The Risks of Home Dematting Why Removing Mats Is More Complicated Than It Looks When guardians discover mats in their cat's coat, the natural instinct is often to try to remove them at home. Many people assume mats can be brushed out, cut away with ...
Why Cats Cannot Groom Through Severe Mats
Why Cats Cannot Groom Through Severe Mats Cats Are Excellent Groomers—Until the Coat Becomes Physically Unmanageable One of the most common misconceptions about matting is that a cat should simply groom the mats away. Guardians are often surprised ...
How Matting Affects Skin Health
How Matting Affects Skin Health Matting Is Not Just a Coat Problem Most people think of matting as tangled fur. However, mats form directly against the skin and can significantly affect skin health, comfort, hygiene, and overall wellbeing. As mats ...
How Matting Affects Mobility
How Matting Affects Mobility Matting Is More Than a Coat Problem Many people think matting only affects a cat's appearance. In reality, matting can have a significant impact on how a cat moves, stretches, rests, grooms, and interacts with its ...
Why Mats Hurt
Why Mats Hurt Mats Are More Than Tangled Hair Many people think a mat is simply a knot in the fur. In reality, mats can create continuous tension on the skin, restrict movement, interfere with grooming, and significantly affect a cat's comfort. What ...
What Is Cat Matting?
What Is Cat Matting? Understanding One of the Most Common Coat Problems in Cats Cat matting occurs when loose hair becomes trapped within the coat and tangles together, creating dense clumps that cannot be removed through normal grooming. While mats ...