Cat’s matted fur problem
Our vet offers his advice
QMy 12-year-old male neutered cat has developed clumps of fur along his back. Is there a shampoo you could recommend to soften the clumps up so that I can comb them all out? He is not very cooperative.
AThis is a very common problem in cats, particularly as they get older. I do not recommend trying to deal with this yourself, particularly as your cat will then resent you attempting to remove the matting.
Shampoos or oils will not help, as by the time the mats develop they are very dense and cannot be teased out. It is also very important not to try to solve the problem with scissors. I have had to stitch wounds on cats accidentally inflicted by their owners on many occasions.
These cases are best dealt with at the veterinary clinic. In your cat’s case it is very likely that sedation will be needed or, depending on how bad the mats are, perhaps a short general anaesthetic.
Removing the mats is done using special veterinary clippers, which do not damage or irritate the underlying skin.
This is only the first phase of a detailed examination to investigate why the mats suddenly developed.
Possible reasons could include a sore mouth causing a reduction in grooming, arthritis in the neck area, or obesity, which prevents the cat being able to groom some sections.
After the procedure the cat will look a bit bedraggled, but, provided any underlying cause has been dealt with, the fur will grow back.
Regular grooming will help this. Visit icatcare.org/advice/groomingyour-cat.
QI have an 18-month-old Australian kelpie cross huntaway female dog. Since spaying at 12 months she is increasingly anxious. She won’t go out for a walk on her lead and pulls until she gets home. At the vets she is not anxious, and is fine on walks when taken by car. Do you think this could be due to the neutering operation?
AI think it is very unlikely that her behaviour is due to spaying because she is only having problems near to home.
She is displaying classic features of fear, and you have mentioned she also has her tail between her legs until she is back home. It is interesting that if you take her out to a quiet place, she is fine, and is not stressed at the vets.
It would be worthwhile looking at simple things such as ensuring her lead and collar is not uncomfortable.
Perhaps a trigger in the past has caused fear and anxiety. This could be a thunderstorm, fireworks, an aggressive barking dog or loud cars.
You could make things worse by trying to force her to continue walking, or trying to reward her with treats as an incentive to walk, as this might have the effect of reinforcing the behaviour.
It seems that your dog is unwilling to cross the threshold, therefore you could try leaving by a different entrance or the back and then adopting a different route.
It is obviously not pleasant for her so if simple measures fail, ask your vet to refer you to a qualified behaviourist.
David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth hospital for animals Email questions to him at pamperedpets@reachplc.com