A mat cutter for cats is used to remove stray hairballs - mats. This tool is a comb and scissors at the same time, and helps tidy up your pet's fur. Despite the fact that using this device is quite simple, you must be as careful as possible so as not to cause physical or psychological harm to the animal.
What types of webbing cutters are there?
Mats (matted hairs of wool of various lengths)
, can easily cut a matted hairball Your pet will feel virtually no pain, and if you work carefully, no wounds will appear on the skin.
The following types of tools exist:
- Vertical.
- Horizontal.
- Direct.
- Curled.
- Teardrop-shaped.
On a note! Providing proper care for your cat is easier if you choose the right tool. When choosing, consider the purpose and type of material used in manufacturing.
Vertical and horizontal
Vertical and horizontal varieties are among the most common.
Vertical and horizontal webbing cutters
What is their difference from each other:
- A horizontal wedge cutter resembles a knife blade. The design is often represented by a combination of several cutting edges, which are located parallel to each other. One side of the plate is sharpened, the other is rounded, which eliminates the possibility of injury during operation. The procedure will not cause pain to the animal only if the instrument is used correctly.
- Vertical tools are combs with a long tooth. The teeth of such a tool are sharp, but they are curved in such a way that the animal’s skin is not damaged during use.
The tool is equipped with 8-12 sharp blades made of hardened steel. Such material, even with prolonged use, does not oxidize or dull, so the item lasts a long time.
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Straight, curved and teardrop-shaped
A special group includes straight or curved tangle cutters, as well as drop-shaped cutters.
Their characteristics:
- It is possible to remove hair from hard-to-reach places (groin, paws, armpits, etc.).
- There is only one blade. This design makes it easier to care for even touch-me-nots.
When making the main part, plastic or ceramics are usually used.
Self-removal
You can eliminate cat tangles yourself at home if the situation is not advanced. An inexperienced owner is advised not to deal with tangles, but to entrust the procedure to a professional. A frightened cat often breaks out, but may not be able to do so.
You can trim the tangles with nail scissors or a hair clipper. Small and loose hairballs can be easily untangled using a comb and special veterinary products to make combing easier. A dense ball of wool will have to be broken up with a tangle cutter.
How to use a cat hair cutter
A modern and popular device for breaking hairballs in long-haired pets is called a mat cutter.
Externally, the tangle cutter resembles a comb, but is equipped not with teeth, but with thin steel blades (4-12 pieces). The tool is completely safe for animals. When choosing a product, it is necessary to take into account the breed characteristics of the coat: the longer the hair, the longer the blade should be.
The quality of a mat cutter for cats is determined by the following parameters:
- the number of blades (for breeds prone to forming lumps, you should choose a hair cutter with the maximum number of sharp teeth);
- the length of the blades (in advanced cases, when large trichomes appear, you will have to purchase a product with long teeth);
- material (a high-quality webbing cutter is equipped with blades made of high-strength steel);
- comfort of the handle (the shape should be optimal for gripping and holding, the surface should be rubber to prevent slipping).
For a cat with large trichomes, a vertical mat cutter is suitable. To combat regularly appearing small lumps, a horizontal product resembling a vegetable peeler is convenient. In a horizontal device, the rounded blades are directed parallel to the handle; they are safe to use, since they are sharp on one edge and blunt on the opposite.
It is difficult to remove trichomes that have formed in hard-to-reach areas: near the ears, in the groin and axillary area, on the paws with a horizontal and vertical wedge cutter. A teardrop-shaped product is required, characterized by its small size and rounded shape, equipped with a single blade.
It is important to use the purchased tangle cutter correctly without causing harm to the cat. Basic rules for using the product:
- Before the procedure, calm the cat, treat it with a treat, and caress it.
- To be on the safe side, ask a household member to hold your pet while removing lumps.
- Comb out clumps in the direction of hair growth.
- Do not press the blades on the skin, try not to cause injury.
- To make it easier to comb out dense lumps that have formed, use a softening spray available at a veterinary store.
A chain cutter is a tool used as a last resort. It is unacceptable to use the product regularly: it can seriously damage your cat’s coat. Therefore, it is advisable to prevent the appearance of tangles.
Combing tangles
You should not rush to grab the mat cutter; you should try to comb out the mat. If the lump is small and loose, it is not difficult to rid your pet’s fur of excess weight. For the procedure, it is necessary to use not a human, but a special comb for animals.
- Wait for the cat to be in a calm and peaceful mood.
- Place the animal on the pad, being careful not to scare it. The mat must be visible.
- Pet the cat and talk kindly.
- Place your palm on the tangle, and with your fingers firmly grasp the tangled strand at the base so that the animal does not experience pain during the procedure.
- Using smooth, leisurely, short movements, move the comb over the tangle, gradually breaking it into several parts.
- Comb each part in the same way.
- Finish with a standard combing.
To easily remove large mats from a cat, you can use veterinary hair softeners - powder or spray.
Cutting out tangles
Trimming is the easiest way to get rid of large mats from a cat. But you should not rush to cut off the tangles, especially if the cat is a show cat. There is a high probability that the hair will change after shearing; the grown hairs will have a different shade or structure. Therefore, before cutting, you should try to comb out the tangles.
A cat's mats should not be cut off completely, but cut lengthwise with nail scissors. You should act carefully, trying not to injure your pet's skin. A lump divided in half is easier to comb out. It is unacceptable to cut it out completely: there will be a bald spot.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GeTZKL-RMsg%3F
How to choose the right wedge cutter
The wrong choice of tool will lead to the fact that it will not be possible to remove tangles.
The wrong choice of tool will lead to the fact that it will not be possible to remove tangles
The cat owner should consider the following points:
- The breed and size of the mats matters. Combing will be effective if the tool is selected depending on the length of the coat. The longer it is, the more teeth.
- The vertical comb is suitable for Abyssinian, Siamese and British breeds. It is recommended to select the average tooth length.
- Horizontal webbing cutters are considered a more universal option, but they are also more expensive.
- To remove hairs under the paws or in other problem areas, special designs with thick, small blades are suitable.
- To make your item last longer, choose blades made only from high-quality steel.
- The handle should be rubberized or made of practical plastic.
- When choosing a product, try to hold it in your hand and check how convenient it is to use.
How much does a webbing cutter cost, list of popular models
Modern braid cutters are easy to use and safe when used carefully.
The price may vary significantly depending on the following factors:
- what is the tooth made of?
- size of a specific model;
- type of material of the main part of the product.
Horizontal tools can be purchased at a price of 390-700 rubles. The cost of vertical models varies in the range of 200-500 rubles.
Incorrect movement during use may cause damage to the animal's skin.
List of popular models:
- Hello Pet "Drop". A compact device that you can take with you on the road. Cuts a minimum of hair, the blade is made of high quality stainless steel.
- Artero. Particularly convenient for working with long hair. Suitable for removing tangles and knots of any complexity.
- ZOLUX. Made from high quality steel. It has a comfortable rubberized handle that does not slip out of your hands during the procedure.
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How to use a cat hair cutter
Incorrect movement during use can cause damage to the animal's skin.
The main recommendations are the following:
- Provide a calm environment. If the cat is aggressive, the procedure will not work. Immediately after active play, the pet will also not be able to sit still for the required amount of time.
- You can moisten the hairs with a special substance or water , but then the hair becomes more vulnerable, and sudden movements with your hand can injure it.
- There is a special product on sale that resembles the consistency of powder or spray. It will simplify the process.
- The tangle cutter must be moved in the direction in which the lump is collected. In order not to create discomfort, you need to move the tool in the same way as when combing.
- The problem area should be thinned until the tangle disappears completely.
The tool is quite easy to use. There is a risk of injuring the fur only with sudden movements of the hand.
There are several reasons why a cat's fur gets matted.
- Pet's health status. First of all, an animal stops caring for its fur if it is sick or unwell. Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, a weakened state by the disease, and the postoperative period lead to apathy in the cat, and it stops licking its fur. Skin diseases and the presence of external parasites (fleas, lice, lice) also contribute to the development of mats.
- Nutrition. An unbalanced diet can lead to the development of mats. Lack of vitamins and microelements in a pet's diet adversely affects the condition of the coat.
- Animal care. Often the cause of the formation of matted hairballs is improper care of the fur when washing the cat. The use of detergents not intended for animals, their incorrect choice without observing breed characteristics, and violation of the rules for bathing long-haired cats lead to matting and the formation of lumps.
- External factors. When adhesive and polluting substances (oil, fuels and lubricants, blood, feces, oil, sweets) come into contact with an animal’s fur, the hairs stick together and tangles form. A cat cannot remove such contaminants on their own.
What to do if a cat has mats is the main question of a caring owner. If the cause of their formation is an animal disease, parasites, the pet should be shown to a veterinarian. If the reason for the formation of hairballs is mechanical in nature, you can remove the mats yourself. This must be done, because fur matted in clumps is not only an aesthetic problem, but can be dangerous to the health of the animal.
Mats lead to the development of diaper rash and dermatitis. Hairballs quickly become dirty and become a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic bacteria. Various parasites develop in unkempt fur. The tangles cause discomfort to the cat and, trying to get rid of them, the animal often injures the skin, which is fraught with inflammation.
Is there a danger from mats for a cat?
The resulting tangles are unsightly, but they do not pose a danger to the pet’s life.
The disadvantages include the following factors:
- Hairballs bring discomfort to the animal and there is a possibility of painful sensations.
- When there are a large number of balls, they adhere to the body and over time disappear, which becomes the cause of various diseases.
- Hairballs are considered a favorable environment for the appearance of ectoparasites.
Therefore, removing tangles is rather a necessity. The possibility of painless removal allows you to solve the problem quickly; the frequency of cutting depends on the breed and type of coat.
Harm to the health of the animal from downed, matted wool
To make tangles easier to sort out, dissolve the dirt. To do this, use a spray - this special product is sold at the pet store. Soak the tangles in it and leave for a while. When the wool dries, they can be taken apart by hand.
Be sure to read: How to teach a kitten to eat on their own, at what age do they start feeding themselves? These include:
- the occurrence of dermatological rashes on the skin due to dysfunction of thermoregulation;
- the appearance of various parasites, including fleas, ticks, lichen due to contamination of the skin, bacterial growth;
- the formation of wounds and ulcers as a result of the animal’s attempts to independently free itself from tangles using claws and teeth;
- pain due to excessive skin tension;
- feeling of discomfort and stress in the animal.
The appearance of any of the listed complications due to the formation of balls of matted wool requires immediate elimination of the defect.
