Thread: De-mating without injury

No you are not the only one,I am right there with you.....I have seen the little gadget mentioned though & it is very good,nan was an expert with the needle !

Had another session tonight and got rid of the large mat with the use of the little seam cutter - great! He seemed to be more patient tonight and lay on my lap and let me groom him for a while until I started on the mat when he wanted to leave but with a little gentle pursasion I got him to hang in there. I have found another little one though right in his arm pit and I'm not sure how I am going to get that out because I can't get to it without holding his leg up and then I only have one hand - any suggestions? I don't know whether I missed it before or it developed in the last few days but Simba's coat has got sooooooooo thick! I have to bury down quite a way before I see skin and just brushing him only gets the top layer so it takes ages to give him a thorough brush. I think it maybe the cold weather making him grow a thicker coat? I have never seen so much fur, when he is washing himself it is almost laughable because it's so pathetic - watching his little tongue trying to work at an impossible task

Oh and by the way I'm not a seamstress or even any good with a needle but I have had for some odd reasong the little seam cutter for ages and I'm not sure when and why I got it! I think it was when drainpipe jeans became fashionable and all my jeans were flares

Great tip about the seam cutter! I have two in my sewing box, but I've always called them 'stitch rippers'.

Yes it certainly is time for the winter coats to come on, especially if they are outside a lot.

Simba is now de matted It took a while but we got there eventually. I just need to keep up with his grooming now to keep it like that. I used the seam cutter and found it very useful but also ordered some de-matting tools from the internet and one of them worked really well.

Just need to let my hands heal now

Great news, Karena - must be a relief! Tackling Freyja this weekend, but she's only got one tiny mat to deal with; just want to get her used to grooming.

Hi. When I took on Choo Choo, he had been neglected for months and was so matted from shoulder to hip that the only option was to have him shaved, leaving him with furry tail and legs and a ridge of fur over his back.

I set about grooming the fur he had left. The best tool I bought was a very small slicker brush which is really meant for small mammals. The head is only about 1" x 2" with very close wires. It is not scratchy in the least but can go right through the fur and picks up all the loose undercoat.

Now his fur has grown back and after only a few months, he loves being groomed and comes running when I show him the brush. It is small enough to get under his legs and behind his ears and he rubs his chin against it and brushes his own neck. I can also do quick brushes in sensitive spots while distracting him with cuddles and strokes.

If there are any knots now they are small and I pull them apart with my fingers. Previously for any stubborn ones I used thinning scissors to cut into the knot which loosens it and leaves less damage to the coat. Good luck.

So pleased Simba is sorted,sorry about the hands,I use the slicker brush on mine as well & they love it but I find that you still need to have a comb to get really into the base of the coat.Because Shimba has really quite short hair I have been using the slicker on him & not bothering with the comb,couldn't believe it the other day when I ran my hand down his thigh,it felt like compacted cotton wool,got the comb out & dug in & ended up with a great heap of dead fur from just one small area,poor little boy,didn't need two of us though & I didn't have to hold his front legs up....!!! All nice & sleek again,think I was hoping that at long last he was getting a coat.