Thread: De-mating without injury

I found the first matt in Freyja's coat, just under the front arms, at the weekend - I've not persisted with the brushing for the last two weeks - she's was cross enough with a smelly house and a small fluffy interloper and I really didn't want to push my luck. I got some good advice a couple of months ago about this very subject (distract her with a toy, get her while she's in soppy mode, get someone to help) but it takes no time at all for her to a) want to chew the comb as it's a toy that's begging to be chomped, and then b) lose her temper and get cross.

Where I come unstuck is:
1) getting OH to help should have made it easier, but he (bless his cotton socks) was hopeless; he just helped Freyja fold herself in half, successfully blocking access to the matt
2) that leaves me to 'restrain', entertain and brush at the same time, and although I'm pretty good on the multi-tasking front I still only actually have two hands; once I've dangled the toy and restrained the cat, there's no hands left for comb or scissors
3) because I have to operate on the 'one man band' system, I'm only brave enough to try scissors designed for trimming cat/dog faces and ears.
4) I can't tell where the matt stops and become skin and as I snipped away at my crumpled cat's fur I had the sickening feeling that the next chop might go through her skin

When you guys say you hold their paws, how exactly do you mean? to get under their front legs, do you get them standing on their back legs as though they're stretching upwards?