Thread: De-mating without injury

My top gadget for mats/knots is a seam ripper. It is small enough to hide in your hand, just need to be careful not to 'jab' the cat (or more likely - yourself!) with it. I hold the mat gently and just 'rip' through it, working away from the skin. You can also use it to 'saw' through if you can see the sking clearly. I have never injured any of the cats with it, much safer than trying to cut anything with scissors and quite often they dont even realise what I'm doing till I've done it

Originally Posted by Wendy1969

My top gadget for mats/knots is a seam ripper. It is small enough to hide in your hand, just need to be careful not to 'jab' the cat (or more likely - yourself!) with it. I hold the mat gently and just 'rip' through it, working away from the skin. You can also use it to 'saw' through if you can see the sking clearly. I have never injured any of the cats with it, much safer than trying to cut anything with scissors and quite often they dont even realise what I'm doing till I've done it

I've seen a gadget in Pets At Home that does the same thing - it's the same principle as the gizmo Jackie mentioned but this one is small enough you can hide it in your hand. Might invest in one.

I now feel a rejuvinated sense of purpose and will set about Freyja at the weekend - as suggested, short bursts. And I like Jackie and Howlinbob's ideas for cat positions so if I relegate OH to toy dangling and treat supply, we might just get somewhere!

Hi

I use scissors myself but the breeder did tell me that they use the "quick unpick" which I think is the same as a seam cutter. I may even dig my one out of my sewing box ( from around the cobwebs as I dont sew anymore) and see if that is easier.

Zack has just starting developing a couple of knots and although he is very good if I have him upside down on my lap he starts grunting with disapproval - it is like suspense music -the grunting gets louder and more frequent the longer I muck around.

I tend to let him go before any struggling happens and continue at a later time to avoid any arguments and I seem to be able to do it for longer each time

Originally Posted by Wendy1969

My top gadget for mats/knots is a seam ripper. It is small enough to hide in your hand, just need to be careful not to 'jab' the cat (or more likely - yourself!) with it. I hold the mat gently and just 'rip' through it, working away from the skin. You can also use it to 'saw' through if you can see the sking clearly. I have never injured any of the cats with it, much safer than trying to cut anything with scissors and quite often they dont even realise what I'm doing till I've done it

Thanks for that tip! I have one of those and will give it a go. I tried again last night to get one last fairly large mat left on the side of his fron leg, but he wouldn't stay still and I had to give up. I am going to try again today with the seam cutters. I have also ordered a whole variety of different gadgets to de- mat

I am I the only chic on this forum that doesn't sew??

No you are not the only one,I am right there with you.....I have seen the little gadget mentioned though & it is very good,nan was an expert with the needle !

Had another session tonight and got rid of the large mat with the use of the little seam cutter - great! He seemed to be more patient tonight and lay on my lap and let me groom him for a while until I started on the mat when he wanted to leave but with a little gentle pursasion I got him to hang in there. I have found another little one though right in his arm pit and I'm not sure how I am going to get that out because I can't get to it without holding his leg up and then I only have one hand - any suggestions? I don't know whether I missed it before or it developed in the last few days but Simba's coat has got sooooooooo thick! I have to bury down quite a way before I see skin and just brushing him only gets the top layer so it takes ages to give him a thorough brush. I think it maybe the cold weather making him grow a thicker coat? I have never seen so much fur, when he is washing himself it is almost laughable because it's so pathetic - watching his little tongue trying to work at an impossible task

Oh and by the way I'm not a seamstress or even any good with a needle but I have had for some odd reasong the little seam cutter for ages and I'm not sure when and why I got it! I think it was when drainpipe jeans became fashionable and all my jeans were flares

Great tip about the seam cutter! I have two in my sewing box, but I've always called them 'stitch rippers'.

Yes it certainly is time for the winter coats to come on, especially if they are outside a lot.

Simba is now de matted It took a while but we got there eventually. I just need to keep up with his grooming now to keep it like that. I used the seam cutter and found it very useful but also ordered some de-matting tools from the internet and one of them worked really well.

Just need to let my hands heal now

Great news, Karena - must be a relief! Tackling Freyja this weekend, but she's only got one tiny mat to deal with; just want to get her used to grooming.