Question on grooming.........

[LisaK]

Which would be the best thing to use on a long haired cat who hates to be brushed or combed and who gets occasional mats?
Hair thinning scissors
De-Matting comb w/replacement blades
Matbreaker w/repl blades
Clipper w/attachment combs

I do not want to shave her, just thin the coat and remove mats easily.

Thanks!

[Traci]

If you're comfortable with using them, any of them will do. If you're not comfortable with the blades, I'd suggest a groomer to get the original mats out, then you can use whatever you are most comfortable with to keep up with maintenance.

Dematting combs, in my opinion, are nearly worthless. Good for medium or short-haired cats, that's about it.

[Jen]

I just now saw this thread, hope I can help. I am a professional pet groomer (18 years).
For a cat that hates grooming, prevention is the key. Stop the mats BEFORE they start. 9 out of 10 mats on a cat are due to shedding hair getting caught along the lenghth of the other hairs and forming the MAT. SO, your best defense is getting as much of the shedding hair brushed out. A slicker brush is good and well tolerated. But the absolutely BEST tool for a long-hair is a shedding comb. This is a metal comb with alternating long and short teeth. It will remove far more of the shedding hair thatn any other tool. But, it is not as well accepted by the fussy animal, so short grooning sessions are the best.
Thinning shears might help but to be perfectly honest I have never groomed that way.
A clipper with a comb attachment will be practically useless on a cats fine fur. The only blades that work really well on a cat would make the coat short and smooth (probably not what you want)
A matbreaker with replacement baldes, if you are speaking of a tool with a white handle and a few short curved blades that gives it the appearance of a toothbrush, will work on actual mats, but not really do much on a well brushed out coat. but it will effectively pull out tons of shedding hair IF your cat has tons to begin with.
I hope this helps.

[Mona]

I just found a shed 'n blade and cannot understand how I lived without this tool. It took all dead hair and skin flakes off of my HOneybun. Her coat is thinner and shinier and she is not itching anymore. I love it!!

I am going to do it again mid week. This must be like the other blade thing that is talked about in the post.

Mona

[Sara]

but a couple of my cats I get clipped twice a year. I do this to help keep the house clean and to help them from getting fur balls and to be more comfy. Luckily most of my cats loved to be groomed but I still love to get them bathed and clipped every once in a while. They are so happy after and so playfull. Clover who hates to be brushed is actually starting to like it every once in a while. I think they can change if you keep trying. I also clip their nails once a week or once every two weeks and they actually don't fight me at all. I find grooming time to be important because if anything is wrong that is a time you usually find it. I love how they feel just clipped, like little peaches.