Seal Point Himalayan

Question
I took in a 7 year old seal point himalayan last summer, and love him dearly, brush him everyday, but as the season has started changing, he is losing mroe fur and the matting is getting out of hand. he now has such a horrible mat under is front arm that it has pulled the hair from the area and he has a large bald spot, and i can see his skin twisted where the mat is holding it. I know it has to be painful for him and i do not know how to get the mat out or make him more comfortable. i have thought of taking him to the vet but i do not know how expensive it would be fro the vet to shave? or get only that mat out. any advice would be most helpful. thanks.

Answer
Angela,

Any pet grooming shop should be able to clip down your Himalayan.  Instead of brushing your cat, look at getting metal combs with various spacings between the teeth and use that instead of a brush.

There is such a thing as a mat breaking comb, but one needs a great deal of experience to know how to use it.  The pet groomer may also have some helpful hints.

Once the mats are out, using cornstarch and powdering the cat lightly during shedding season will also help inhibit the matting. The cornstarch will absorb excess oil and help[ keep the coat separated.

One other tip: Never, never, never bath a cat with mats.  It will only make the matting worse.

Best regards... Norm.