A cat whose coat has felted into tight mats, or who bites and scratches when handled, should be groomed under sedation with a vet in the building. Sedation is kinder than restraint, and it lets the groomer clip close to the skin without cutting it.
Do not use scissors at home. Cat skin is thin and loose, and many of the grooming wounds vets stitch were made at home with scissors.
Petflix grooms inside the clinic, which is open 8 AM to 12 AM every day. Book on 055 620 4085.
Why do long-haired cats mat so fast in Dubai?
A mat starts as shed undercoat that stays trapped in the top coat. Friction, moisture and skin oil bind it into a knot. The knot catches more loose hair and tightens towards the skin.
Persians, Himalayans, Exotic Longhairs, Ragdolls and Maine Coons have a dense, fine undercoat that does this easily. A Persian's short face also makes self-grooming less effective. Older, overweight and arthritic cats stop reaching their back, belly and hindquarters at all.
The climate speeds it up. An indoor cat in Dubai sheds year-round, because air conditioning and artificial light flatten the seasons. From June to September she moves between dry, chilled rooms and a humid balcony or window ledge. Damp hair tangles, then dries tight. A coat that was manageable in March can be felted by August.
The first mats form where skin rubs on skin. Check behind the ears, in the armpits, along the belly, inside the back legs and under the tail.
Why is a matted coat a medical problem?
A tight mat pulls on the skin every time the cat moves. It hurts, which is why a matted cat resents being touched. Under the mat the skin stays damp and airless.
- Skin becomes red, thin and sore, and can ulcerate.
- Bacterial and yeast infections grow in the damp.
- Fleas, flea dirt and wounds stay hidden.
- Mats under the tail trap urine and faeces and scald the skin.
- In severe cases mats between the legs restrict walking.
When a whole coat has joined into one sheet, groomers call it pelted. A pelt cannot be brushed out. Trying to do so is painful and tears the skin. The only humane fix is to clip it off close to the skin and let a new coat grow. That is where the lion cut comes from.
Why do scissors at home cause wounds?
Cat skin is thinner than a dog's and far looser than it looks. When you lift a mat to slide scissors under it, the skin lifts into a tent inside the mat. You cannot see or feel where hair ends and skin begins. The blades close on the tent.
The result is a clean, gaping cut, often several centimetres long. It rarely bleeds much, so owners sometimes find it a day later. These wounds usually need sedation and stitches. One wriggle from the cat at the wrong moment makes it worse.
Bathing is the other common mistake. Water makes a mat shrink and tighten like wet wool. A matted cat should be clipped first and washed afterwards, never the other way round.
Groomers use clippers with a guarded blade held flat to the skin, and work under the mat a little at a time. It takes skill, good light, a second pair of hands and a cat who stays still.
When does a groom need sedation?
Many cats tolerate a groom awake with gentle handling and breaks. Sedation is the right choice in these situations.
- The coat is pelted, or mats sit tight against the skin over large areas.
- Mats are in the armpits, groin or under the tail, where skin is thinnest.
- The cat is in pain when the coat is touched.
- She bites, scratches or panics when restrained, or has injured someone at a previous groom.
- The skin under the mats is already sore or infected.
Forcing a frightened cat through an hour of clipping is dangerous for her and for the staff. Fear drives heart rate and body temperature up. A struggling cat is also the one who gets cut. A short sedation removes the fear, the pain and the movement.
What does sedated grooming involve?
Sedation is a veterinary procedure, which is why it needs a vet on site and not a salon. The vet examines her first and listens to her heart. Persians and other flat-faced cats get particular attention to the airway, and breeds prone to heart disease get a careful check of the heart.
For cats over about seven years, or any cat with a known illness, the vet will advise a blood test beforehand. It is run in the in-house laboratory and checks that her kidneys and liver can handle the drugs. You will be asked to withhold food for some hours before. The clinic tells you exactly how long when you book.
During the groom a nurse watches her breathing, heart rate and temperature. The groomer clips the coat, trims the nails and cleans the ears while she is still. If the vet finds sore or infected skin under the mats, it is treated at the same visit.
She wakes up in a warm kennel under observation and goes home the same day.
A clipped cat feels the cold of air conditioning more for the first weeks. Give her a blanket and keep her indoors. Bare skin burns in the sun on a balcony.
How do you stop it happening again?
- Comb for five minutes every day, not for an hour once a month. Use a metal comb that reaches the skin, not only a soft brush that skims the top.
- Start with the areas she enjoys, and finish with a treat.
- Check the armpits, belly and behind the ears weekly with your fingers.
- Book a professional groom every six to eight weeks for a Persian in full coat, and more often in the humid months.
- Ask about a shorter trim for summer if daily combing is not realistic.
- If an older cat stops grooming herself, book a consultation. Arthritis, dental pain and weight are common reasons.
What does it cost?
Basic and full grooming prices for cats are fixed and listed on the price page. Sedation, a pre-sedation blood test and any skin treatment are extra. You get a written estimate after the vet has seen the coat and before anything is given.
When to call
Call 055 620 4085 if you can feel hard lumps of hair against the skin, or if your cat cries or bites when you comb her. Call if there is a smell or a damp patch under a mat. Call the same day if you have cut her skin while trimming.
Say in the call that she is matted or hard to handle, so the grooming appointment is booked with a vet check and enough time.