Thread: How do I deal with knots?

Unfortunately I have found that coonies do get knots quite easily, especially under their legs and around their trousers and tummy etc !!! I know other breeders that have the same problem too !!! Montys' fluffy kitten coat should be starting do develop into his grown up coat soon! But even with a full adult coat they will still get knots.

Because I show my cats they have got used to having baths on a regular basis, and this involves various shampoos and conditioners. I will have a look later and let you know which I prefer. I find the knots can then be worked out easier with the hairdryer and comb!

Have you bathed Monty at all yet?

If you want to try something before you resort to shaving him, myself and other breeders have used a special brush called a "Furminator" which is a bit pricey but does a good job. It works by stripping the fluffy undercoat out and is great with knots. Just hold the fur at the base of the knot and repeat brush strokes. If you are showing your cat not great as the Maine coon is supposed to have both coats visible but for the knot purpose is good.

Some Maine Coons are luckier than others in the fact that they will have a fantastic flowing coat - but this makes it prone to knotting!! Sounds like Monty- you will have to post some pics so we can see Other coonies get a bit dirty if they are outside sometimes and this doesn't help.

I know everything you read says MC's only need grooming up to twice a week, but I have found a little be more often if truth be known!!!

Hope this is of some use

Thanks
Jo

Thanks Jo, great advice. We'll certainly try the bathing and washing first. He loves water and often jumps in the shower to catch the drips after either of us have showered.

Can you tell me where I can source the Furminator and can you recommend shampoo and conditioner please?

I am not a cat lover that keeps my cats housebound, so Monty is an outdoor Coon and has some fantastic "chatty" moments with the birds in the garden. The neighbours love him and he has a couple of cat friends in the road. From what you said, I guess being outdoors doesn't help with the knots.

It's doubtful that we will be showing Monty, so I am not too worried about the under fur being stripped out, I am more concerned with how uncomfortable the knots must be for him.

Thanks again, look forward to your reply.

I brush twice a week and have to admit that Ive only ever found 1 knot. We dispensed of that with a pair of scissors and one of us distracting her with a brush

That's good advise from Jo, I haven't had too many problems with Harry and knots yet, he did have one under his front legs which was too close to the skin to ease off with the comb and brush so i sprayed a little of my leave in conditioner on it, left it for a few mins and it came out straight away with the comb

It's funny how maine coons love water! Just like Monty mine love to play with water- so much that I can never have a bath in peace as they are always sat on the side watching and dipping their toes in Sounds great that Monty is such as sociable boy too. He seems very popular in the neighbourhood!

I think the knots pull on the cats skin when they are under their legs, especially as they move, so can't be very comfy for them.

I bought my Furminator from a good website where I get quite a few things for the cats Vet UK: Selling Hills Prescription Diet, Frontline Spot On, Royal Canin, Feliway, DAP, Drontal, Hills Science Plan, Seraquin, James Wellbeloved for less. Pets at home also do their own version of the comb if you look in the grooming range.

My fave products for washing the cats belong to the "ANJU Beaute" range. The Cachemire nourishing shampoo brings the coat up nicely and they have various detangling sprays which help along the way. I tend to use Absolu Professional Detangler with good effect. I was first introduced to these products at the Supreme cat show, and thought i'd give them a go. They also have a website Anju Beauté - La ligne cosmétique pour les chiens et les chats but I am not too sure who sources it in the uk directly as have only bought it at shows.

Hope this is useful enough for now.

Cheers
Jo x

There's some good advice there.... I will ahve to remember it.

I try to brush Gryfn every couple of nights, just to get him used to being brushed. So far we haven't had any knots.

Sarah seems to have a tendency to knot under her arms and back legs, I give her a quick comb every night just before bedtime which seems to slow it down. If I have missed a couple of nights and she gets a knot then I either break the knot open with the scissors ( cutting through the middle of the knot ) or cut it out. She does NOT like me trying to comb it out and gets cranky. Zack is yet to grow enough length to knot

To answer your question I found a quick comb every night seemed to lessen the problem

Been pretty lucky with Winston. the only place he has got1/2 few knots is on his behind I just snipped them off with a sissors and he was fine again.
I would imagine if he were going outdoors though that he would ge more knots on his coat.

I have tried dealing with knots in multiple ways. Maxie played too much with the furminator, and I cut myself one time using scissors, so those are out. Fortunately, he is so good natured that he will tolerate being shaved without having to be medicated in any way, and with just me holding him down. This is extremely stressful to him, however, so I hate having to do it. What has finally been the best solution is hand-grooming him during "cuddle time." He loves to lie with my in bed with his legs in the air. I worry at the knots in between petting him, and after they are worried with enough, I can finally simply pull them out. Yes, these cats are so gentle that mine tolerates me pulling out big clumps of hair, leaving a bald spot. May not work for your guy, but Maxie seems to enjoy it.