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Outside of behavioral issues, pet hair, namely mat removal can be one of the biggest problems for owners of certain breeds of cats and dogs. Dear pet owner, I may have a low-cost solution to this issue so removing mats will be a thing of the past.

Am I making lofty claims? What gives me the right to speak on this. I live with these two creatures (20 lb ragdoll cats) and mats can start in long-haired cats pretty much from the first week they come into your home. I have used MANY mat-removing tools, some claim to be mat-removing tools and they do no such things and have found a low-cost solution.

I have also referred multiple long-haired pet owners to this product and they have had the same good result so let’s talk details so you too can have a less matted life in your household.

How mats develop on animals

Loose hair, activity (how the animal sits, plays, sleeps, etc) and seasonal shedding can all combine to make a perfect storm for mats to develop. Long hair and curly-haired breeds often struggle with this. They cannot maintain their coat on their own and without our intervention with regular brushing that gets down to the skin mats are likely to develop. Animals can lick but they can’t GROOM like a long toothed brush and comb can stop tangles from turning into painful mats.

Mats pull on the skin, especially painful for cats who have paper-thin skin, and even prohibit how freely an animal can move. Underarm mats, around the neck and back are particularly uncomfortable.

Shaving is one option but if you want to keep the coat fully in tact mat removing tools are available.

The best tool for mat removal

Affiliate disclosures can be found here.

The Furminator vs. Four Paws mat remover tool

I did not find the original furminator effective for mat removal of long-haired pets. It cuts the hair rather than breaks up the mat itself. It worked beautifully in removing loose old dead hair on short-haired dogs and cats though. It is fantastic for deshedding short haired animals. (long hair deshedding tool that does the job without cutting the coat I will link below).

What did work like a dream is this inexpensive tool from Four Paws. It is designed so your finger fits near the top for precise control and comfort while working the mat out of the coat. Not that it will take long! Working the long teeth into the mat and wiggling it gently to break up the mat then raking it away happens in seconds if not a minute or two. If a tangle is developing simply brush it carefully through the area to prevent it from getting worse.

Day to day maintenance you can use the Four Paws tool or a very long tooth metal comb – whatever tool that will get all the way to the base of the coat.

Four paws is about 75% less expensive depending which furminator you compare it to. My furminator purchased 5 years ago was $54 but has since come down to be more competitive. Four paws mat removing tool is under $10. The combs are a similar price.

Where to buy:

Amazon of course!

• Furminator short hair deshedding tool: click
• Four Paws mat remover: click
• Long tooth metal comb for pets: click
• Deshedding tool for long haired pets: click

If you are in the market for an effective powerful low cost pet vacuum check out this post.

Long hair deshedding with one of my models post shed treatment (do it in the tub if you can’t go outside).

Final review of the Four Paws mat removing against the original furminator for mat removal: A purple dot.