Mat cutter: an assistant in caring for a cat

Any cat owner who has to deal with tangles and knots in their pet’s fur will find a mat cutter to be a useful tool. Mats are a common problem for cats with long or thick coats, particularly if they don’t groom themselves frequently enough. Your cat may experience discomfort from these tangles and possibly develop skin issues as a result.

For difficult mats, regular brushing might not always be sufficient; in this case, a mat cutter is useful. It makes the process much more comfortable for your cat by gently breaking up and removing these knots without pulling on their skin.

Both you and your cat may find grooming less stressful if you use a mat cutter. It’s an easy fix that keeps your cat happy and healthy by keeping their fur silky and free of tangles.

Benefit	Description
Removes Mats	Efficiently cuts through tangled fur, preventing discomfort for your cat.
Easy to Use	Designed for safe and smooth handling, making grooming simpler.
Safe for Skin	The rounded tips prevent injury, ensuring your cat"s skin stays protected.
Reduces Shedding	Helps remove loose fur, minimizing shedding around the house.

A mat cutter is a useful tool for cat owners, particularly those with long haired breeds, as it makes it simple to remove mats and tangled fur from cats without endangering them or their coats. This tool ensures that the cat stays clean and free of matting by making grooming easier and more comfortable for both the cat and its owner.

What are tangles

Trichome, also referred to as tangles, is a coat pathology. An animal with trichome is more likely to have tangled or stuck-together hair. This results in an unbreakable lump. The tangle feels like woolen fabric to the touch.

Long-haired cats are most likely to experience tangling issues.

Tangles most frequently occur because of coat friction, which causes them to appear:

• on the stomach and tail;
• in the groin area;
• on the paws from the inside.

Neck and back pain occurs far less frequently.

The nature of the occurrence

Two possible explanations for lumps in the fur, according to cat lovers, are as follows:

• poor grooming or untimely combing;
• local pathologies (problems in a specific area of ​​the skin).

Veterinarians, however, point out a number of more grave causes:

• dirty fur – the hairs stick together, attracting dust and dirt;
• stress in the animal (the body intensively produces hormones, which is why the fur quickly becomes dirty and sticks together);
• hormonal problems that can imbalance the metabolic processes of the skin;
• metabolic disorders;
• parasitic invasion, for example, fleas or ticks;
• diseases, old age (which again entails a violation of metabolic processes in the body);
• unsuitable diet, poor feeding – in addition to tangles, this causes an imbalance in the epidermis, provokes dandruff;
• violation of bathing rules – when bathing a long-haired cat, you need to carefully comb it, smoothing out all the hairs, the same is done when drying.

Tangles detract from the animal’s appearance. However, they also agitate and discomfort the animal. This means that the cat may begin to rip them out on her own, causing skin damage. Skin conditions may develop as a result of such behavior.

The danger of tangles

For the following reasons, any knot, no matter how tiny, needs to be cut out quickly:

• later it will become large;
• at the base of the wool lump, the skin is not supplied with oxygen, which leads to a disruption of its functioning and the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

The tangled area will remain unclean since the cat does not have the chance to lick it well. The animal tries to itch its way through the entanglements as well. Usually, this results in the claw getting hurt and scraping the skin. The process of inflammation is initiated by bacteria that infiltrate the wound.

Under the tangles, extensive wound surfaces are present in advanced cases.

It is nearly impossible to treat a tangled animal for parasites. This can be explained simply: fleas settle in the wool ball’s core, where they lay their eggs, despite its dense structure.

Tangles therefore need to be cut out. A mat cutter is a specialized tool used for this purpose.

What is a mat cutter

A mat cutter is a tool used to cut away chunks of matted wool. It’s simple to use an accessory for brushing cat fur. The tool has an appearance similar to a comb or a vegetable peeler. The sharpening on the parallel blades is one-sided. As a result, both the owner and the animal can use the mat cutter safely.

Types of mat cutters

Mat cutters come in a variety of varieties. Depending on where the wool flaws will be removed, different types of tools should be used.

Vertical mat cutter

This instrument resembles a basic cat comb in appearance, with long teeth arranged in a single row. The teeth are blades with one side sharpened. There can be four to twelve of them. The cat is not in any danger from the blades. They are chosen according to the length and thickness of the cat’s fur in terms of both sharpness and length. It is preferable if the mat cutter has blades with curved ends if the pet fidgets and becomes restless during hygiene procedures.

The most secure choice for the animal is a mat cutter with curved teeth.

Horizontal mat cutter

This kind of tool is preferred by most fluffy cat owners. Such a mat cutter resembles a vegetable knife from the outside. One side of its blades is sharpened while the other is still rounded. Depending on the pet’s fur, the length and number of blades can be adjusted. The options range from four to twelve.

It is more practical to use a horizontal mat cutter to get rid of hair clumps from the animal’s sides.

Teardrop mat cutter

This kind of tool is used for areas that are difficult to reach, like the armpits, paws, ears, and groin.

There is only one blade on the drop-shaped tangle cutter. The tool is simple to use, particularly for touchy pets where you need to remove tangles without the animal noticing.

The tangle cutter with a drop shape works well for swiftly cutting through small tangles.

Table: popular tangle cutters

Tool	Name	Price (RUB. per piece)
Teardrop-shaped tangle cutter with one blade, pocket	Hello Pet	272
Side tangle cutter, 9 blades	Artero	785
Tangle cutter with curved blades	Artero Special	970
Straight, side tangle cutter	Zolux	525
Tangle cutter, 15 cm	TRIXIE	379

Photo gallery: tangle removal tools from popular manufacturers

Professional rare mat cutter Artero Special with curved blades is composed of sturdy stainless steel and has a rubberized handle for comfort. The Italian brand Artero produces grooming tools that are long-lasting due to their high-quality construction. The anti-slip handle of the TRIXIE mat cutter fits comfortably in your hand, and its curved serrated edges provide a grip. ZOLUX is a vertical mat cutter that was created in France with consideration for the animal’s anatomical features. It works flawlessly even with old mats. You can always carry the Hello Pet drop-shaped mat cutter with you because it is small and lightweight.

Video: TRIXIE tangle cutter review

How a tangle cutter fights tangles

There is a standard operating principle for tangle cutters. In trouble spots along the hair growth line, the tool is moved as though combing the wool. The lump is divided into strands by the tangle cutter, which also carefully trims any hairs that are uncuttable. Next, a standard slicker brush is used to remove the chopped wool.

The majority of tangles on an animal’s sides and belly are removed with the use of horizontal and vertical tangle cutters. It is preferable to use a teardrop-shaped tool to cut off tangles of wool that a cat develops on its own, as this prevents damage to other parts of the wool.

I have three cats, they live in the yard of a private house. And then one morning, in the fall, I go out to feed them and see a terrible picture: all the cats have matted fur. It turned out that there was a strong wind at night, from which the grass fell. It contains a lot of weeds with seeds that cling to clothes and, naturally, wool. That is, they now had to make their way along the paths where the cats used to walk calmly. I saw the result in the morning. It was not possible to cut out such a number of tangles in all three of them. The store recommended a tangle cutter. I didn’t even know that such things existed, I went for a rare comb. My beauties love to comb their hair. In general, I managed very quickly with the help of a tangle cutter. The fur regained its former appearance. I used it several more times during the season (the cats were probably wandering along their usual paths).

How to choose a tangle cutter

The wide selection available in the veterinary supplies market makes it difficult to follow the rules when selecting a cat accessory for fur grooming. Tools whose brands have long established themselves on the positive side are available in stores. Some products have an unknown manufacturer, but it has no bearing on the product’s quality.

There are several factors to consider when selecting a tun cutter:

• Number of blades. When a pet lives indoors and does not accept outdoor walks, and its fur is always under the owner"s control, then the choice should be made in favor of a tool with a small number of blades, for example, 4-6 teeth. If the cat goes for a walk outside, and the owner is very busy and cannot always control the condition of the animal"s fur, it is necessary to purchase a mat cutter with the maximum number of blades.
• Length of cutting parts. A medium length is considered universal, which is suitable for any fur (13-15 cm). But if the tangles are in a neglected state, then you need to use a tool with the longest teeth (17-19 cm).
• Material of manufacture. One of the most important criteria when choosing a mat cutter is the metal of the blades. The mat cutter cannot be sharpened additionally, that is, as you use it, you will not be able to independently return the blades to their original state. Therefore, when choosing a tool, it is worth giving preference to models with high -quality steel blades. Then the accessory will be functional for a long time.
• Base. The handle of the mat cutter is important. You need to choose tools that are rubberized and fit comfortably in your hand.

Use rules

Cutting mats involves no complicated technology. It suffices to be aware of these basic guidelines:

• Before use, wash the tool with soap and dry it. If this is its first use after purchase, you can pour boiling water over the blades.
• You should not start the procedure if the animal is excited or irritated. The cat should be calm, ideally sleepy.

Utilize the mat cutter in this way:

1. Take the animal in your arms and gently feel the places where the mats have formed.
2. If possible, treat the wool with cosmetics to make combing easier.
3. The process of cutting mats is similar to combing. Turning the instrument blades down, Koltunoresis lead in the direction of the lump. No need to use sudden movements.
4. The mat is combed out as many times as it takes to smooth out the lump.
5. After removing the mats, the animal is combed out with a slicker brush to collect the remains of the cut hairs.

Using a mat cutter can greatly simplify the process of grooming your cat, particularly if they have thick or long fur. This useful tool allows you to get rid of mats and tangles without endangering your pet.

Using a mat cutter for routine grooming can help maintain the health and sheen of your cat’s coat. Moreover, it lessens the possibility of uncomfortable mats developing, which can irritate the skin.

If your cat dislikes being groomed, you can both enjoy the process more if you use a mat cutter carefully and patiently.

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