Thread: Maine Coon Grooming Basics

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.