I am having a nightmare with my 5 year old long haired tabby as whenever she goes out which is everyday she is coming back and she has been in bushes and all her fur is matted with twigs and all these little green things.

Her fur used to be so lovely but now it is all matted and i have tried to bath her and brush them out but doesn't work.

Has anyone else got a long hair with the same problem, what do you use and do you ever cut there fur, this is an option as i do not know what else to do.

have you tried a slicker brush Kath?

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

No i haven't, do you use it on them wet or dry, i can't keep bathing her everyday she absolutely hates it and is too stressful for all of us to be honest.

I find slicker brush's really good for long haired cats, does she enjoy being groomed? I dont let mine out so dont have the problem much.

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

Does she keep getting covered in little green sticky balls? Mine are short haired but Lyla is a nightmare for coming back covered in them as she's a sleep under a bush cat lol

With her I just pull them out one at a time as a brush doesn't seem to touch them but then she's short haired so not sure how you'd manage with long hair im afraid x

oh i`m having the same problem with twix!! he`s 3 and never had a matt in his life but since he`s started going out he`s getting covered in them. he hates brushes and will attack if you try to go near him with one, ive even tried whilst he`s munching on treats/food but he isn`t that stupid i try to grab any i can and just cut them out but am really struggling with the ones on his bum and they`re getting bad but i can`t brush or cut those as he won`t let anyone touch his bum and the only suggestions i`ve had are to put him under and get rid of them that way but it seems way too extreme if you find a solution let me know hun!

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owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx

I use a slicker and find it really good at removing the loose hairs. Bessie doesn't go out at all so we don't have to worry about twigs or grass and stuff sticking to her. If you do have something stuck in the coat, try to get a good look at it before pulling, if there's anything that could catch the coat like little hooks then remove it by pulling it backwards if you know what I mean. You can get a dematting tool which is really good but you need to be careful as they are very sharp.
You really shouldn't be bathing a cat everyday or every week even because it will strip all the natural oils out of the coat and ideally you shouldn't wet a matt because it makes it much harder to remove. You could try using some fabric conditioner to help loosen the matt, just work it in using your fingers and then try to separate the matt into smaller sections to work out with the tip of a wide toothed metal comb.

Yes it is the little green balls, i HATE them!!!

No she hates being groomed so is an added nightmare

I will get one and see of it works thanks xxx

I am glad i am not on my own here, and i will let you know of course if anything i try works xx