Thread: Maine Coon Grooming Basics

Thank you for all your answers, I am quite surprised that there are many supportive members here. Compared to other forums that I have visited asked questions, this is the best.

Okay ... I have no problem cutting out most mats with scissors, but how do others here get rid of the small mats that are very close to the skin?

Also, while I am thinking of it -- what areas of the skin are most tender and thus require special care when combing/brushing/removing mats?

Originally Posted by Walter Coonkat

Okay ... I have no problem cutting out most mats with scissors, but how do others here get rid of the small mats that are very close to the skin?

Also, while I am thinking of it -- what areas of the skin are most tender and thus require special care when combing/brushing/removing mats?

I'd say the britches are the most sensitive, I hit a snag in Samantha's britches she'd cry hiss swat and run all in about a 1/10th of a second, she'd come back in a couple minutes and I'd apologize for hurting her and she'd let me know she was sorry for swatting me.
Bit I imagine it's very tender skin there.
If there's a down side to Maine Coon ownership it's how fast they mat up on their rear ends, once my ex left I could trim by myself so it was 2-3 times a year trips to the groomer luckily I found a good groomer close to my house where they'd loved Samantha and would schedule me when there were no dogs in the shop and get her in and out pretty quickly.

Under armpits & around those private parts are also places where care extra is needed,even though his bits are gone when you do Shimba in that area you would think he still had them,I also find it easy to get a thumb nail under the smaller mats a tease them a bit looser & then just pull them out,something that you can work on while they are having that cuddle time with you,although thinking about it I expect you gentlemen on the forum might have to go & have a nail extension attatched,no need to have a glittery pattern on it though...!

I've found a stitch picker/seam ripper to be a very handy tool. Once you get proficient with it, you can easily hide it in your hand and pretend to be doing something else, whilst cutting knots and mats quickly. Just be careful not to prick the cats skin with the sharp bit. I've never pricked any of the cats, but I've stuck it in my own hand numerous times

One of my cats comes and requests to be brushed several times a day. Thanks to this habit, she seldom has mats.
Anastasia, her sister, has longer and thinner hairs which get matted easily despite regular brushing with PetZoom (brush w/short wires)
Furminator IS NOT FOR REMOVING MATS. In our house it is only used 2-3 times a year during shedding season when I have no time to deal with clumps of hair lying everywhere. I have a high quality device and know how to use it.
You have to make short strokes rather than pulling motion, and advance Furminator forward with each stroke.
I tried mat breakers, my husband's electric "personal groomer for beard and mustache" ,etc., and nothing works better than a comb plus small scissors with slightly blunt ends. If the mat is close to the skin I use multiple runs with scissors to avoid nicks.

I'm a cat groomer and I never use the furminator.

The best way to groom these cats is with a comb and everyday.

The comb will reach the underlay fur which is the fur which matts under the top coat.

These cats are beautiful and their coats amazing so please don't ruin with the furminator.

If anyone hear would like to ask me any questions please feel free. I am 2 years late in joining this conversation LOL

http://www.catnips.co.uk

Originally Posted by Ggonkin

Thank you for all your answers, I am quite surprised that there are many supportive members here. Compared to other forums that I have visited asked questions, this is the best.

Glad you did though, as its revived a thread that interests me. We have a kitten, nearly 8ths old now and boy is she shedding atm. We have wooden floors throughout almost the entire house and it's like tumbleweed in a western desert daily here! [we were quite worried at first, but the more she loses, the fluffier and healthier her coat looks and feels so am I right to assume this is normal both at this time of year and possibly because she is losing left over kitten coat?] I groom her daily, mainly with the wide toothed side of one of these but rarely with fine side, which I think is similar to the furminator mentioned a lot in this thread. The finer side works very well on the other two short haired cats at shedding season, and has done their coats a world of good, but a bit worried about using it on Ella, and this thread has simply confirmed my thoughts. She also matts, so far only in the 'pits' of her front legs and she is quite comfortable with my snipping them away. We tried teasing them out but she really didn't like it. We occasionally have to trim away round her rear end too where those 'um bits' have, errr...hung around

I super happy this thread got bumped! I was just about to post about grooming questions. As Pina is getting older her fur has thickened and she's got her undercoat. Unfortunately she hates being brushed! I use a regular wire brush, about twice a week. It does the job for now but I need about 6 hands to hold her down and avoid being bitten! She is particularly sensitive about her bloomers being brushed and that's where she needs it!

Originally Posted by Becka

I super happy this thread got bumped! I was just about to post about grooming questions. As Pina is getting older her fur has thickened and she's got her undercoat. Unfortunately she hates being brushed! I use a regular wire brush, about twice a week. It does the job for now but I need about 6 hands to hold her down and avoid being bitten! She is particularly sensitive about her bloomers being brushed and that's where she needs it!

Try the "Untangler" this is a comb with wide spread rotating tines, it gets deep into the coat and is less likely to snag then a regular comb.
The secret it to get kitty used to being groomed.
Start with short sessions and just comb the same places where she likes to be petted, cheeks, top of the head, middle of the back.
Stop combing before she gets upset and be sure to give treat.s pets and praises.
Samantha grew to love out nightly sessions before bed, unfortunately she would still mat up on her britches and about 3 times a year I'd have to take her to a local groomer.
They were really close to my home and love Samantha and after a dematting, a coat thinning and a bath she just glowed and smelled wonderful.