Which mat cutter is best for cats: straight, curved, how to use it, how much it costs

What types of webbing cutters are there?

Mats (matted hairs of wool of various lengths)
, can easily cut a matted hairball Your pet will feel virtually no pain, and if you work carefully, no wounds will appear on the skin.

The following types of tools exist:

1. Vertical.
2. Horizontal.
3. Direct.
4. Curled.
5. Teardrop-shaped.

On a note! Providing proper care for your cat is easier if you choose the right tool. When choosing, consider the purpose and type of material used in manufacturing.

Vertical and horizontal

Vertical and horizontal varieties are among the most common.

Vertical and horizontal webbing cutters

What is their difference from each other:

1. A horizontal wedge cutter resembles a knife blade. The design is often represented by a combination of several cutting edges, which are located parallel to each other. One side of the plate is sharpened, the other is rounded, which eliminates the possibility of injury during operation. The procedure will not cause pain to the animal only if the instrument is used correctly.
2. Vertical tools are combs with a long tooth. The teeth of such a tool are sharp, but they are curved in such a way that the animal’s skin is not damaged during use.

The tool is equipped with 8-12 sharp blades made of hardened steel. Such material, even with prolonged use, does not oxidize or dull, so the item lasts a long time.

Be sure to read:

At what age can a kitten’s claws be cut: why is it necessary, how often, description of the procedure

Straight, curved and teardrop-shaped

A special group includes straight or curved tangle cutters, as well as drop-shaped cutters.

Their characteristics:

1. It is possible to remove hair from hard-to-reach places (groin, paws, armpits, etc.).
2. There is only one blade. This design makes it easier to care for even touch-me-nots.

When making the main part, plastic or ceramics are usually used.

How to use a webbing cutter

A cat should be accustomed to brushing from the age of one month. Then, in the future, the procedure using a mat cutter will be much easier for the animal to accept.

There are several rules that make the work of a cat hair cutter easier (video below):

• You cannot bathe your pet before the procedure in order to avoid even more tangling of the fur;
• It is not recommended to work with a tool on undried wool; moistened hair deteriorates more;
• before combing, experts advise treating the matted lump with an anti-tangle compound and powder;
• The device should not be directed against the fur, only in line with the growth of the coat.

It is best to prevent the formation of tangles on your pet's fur. Working with the sharp blades of the device in advanced cases can be traumatic for the cat, when the tight lump is cut off close to the skin, and the structure of the coat is greatly deteriorated. The animal must be cared for constantly, checking daily for matted areas and brushing regularly.

How to choose the right wedge cutter

The wrong choice of tool will lead to the fact that it will not be possible to remove tangles.

The wrong choice of tool will lead to the fact that it will not be possible to remove tangles

The cat owner should consider the following points:

1. The breed and size of the mats matters. Combing will be effective if the tool is selected depending on the length of the coat. The longer it is, the more teeth.
2. The vertical comb is suitable for Abyssinian, Siamese and British breeds. It is recommended to select the average tooth length.
3. Horizontal webbing cutters are considered a more universal option, but they are also more expensive.
4. To remove hairs under the paws or in other problem areas, special designs with thick, small blades are suitable.
5. To make your item last longer, choose blades made only from high-quality steel.
6. The handle should be rubberized or made of practical plastic.
7. When choosing a product, try to hold it in your hand and check how convenient it is to use.

Down with tangles!

Constantly maintaining your pet’s “hair” in perfect condition is not an easy task. This is especially true for long-haired cat breeds, for which seasonal shedding can turn into a real disaster. If during this period you do not make combing a daily procedure, then the dying undercoat will quickly and tightly bunch up into a solid felted ball, which will be almost impossible to untangle.

If you want a beautiful well-groomed cat, take care of its fur

During molting, tangles are most often formed - dense knots of varying sizes made from stray fur. However, tangles are by no means a purely seasonal problem; If not properly cared for, they can appear at any time. This is not only unaesthetic, but also creates risks for the health of the animal:

• tangles become a breeding ground for fleas;
• Diaper rash and dermatosis occur on the fur;
• Having licked the downed “felt”, the cat can clog its stomach.

Shaving a cat's head is a radical solution to the problem of mats

Needless to say, tufts of cat hair will lie all over the apartment and cling to your clothes. Many owners, in despair, solve this problem radically - cutting the fur short several times a year, as it grows back. But was it worth getting a long-haired animal for this?

How much does a webbing cutter cost, list of popular models

Modern braid cutters are easy to use and safe when used carefully.

The price may vary significantly depending on the following factors:

• what is the tooth made of?
• size of a specific model;
• type of material of the main part of the product.

Horizontal tools can be purchased at a price of 390-700 rubles. The cost of vertical models varies in the range of 200-500 rubles.

Incorrect movement during use may cause damage to the animal's skin.

List of popular models:

• Hello Pet "Drop". A compact device that you can take with you on the road. Cuts a minimum of hair, the blade is made of high quality stainless steel.
• Artero. Particularly convenient for working with long hair. Suitable for removing tangles and knots of any complexity.
• ZOLUX. Made from high quality steel. It has a comfortable rubberized handle that does not slip out of your hands during the procedure.

Be sure to read:

How to properly trim a cat's claws at home

What is a webbing cutter?

A classic tangle cutter is similar to a comb, where instead of teeth there are blades, or to a vegetable peeler, where instead of one horizontal blade there are several protected vertical ones. At the same time, the blades are safe and difficult to injure the animal.

The length of the cutting parts varies: the longer the wool, the larger the teeth of the tangle cutter should be. Of course, on the shelves you can find tools of different manufacturers and prices. Since the price of tangle cutters is not the lowest, it is better to choose a good tool that will serve you for a long time.

How to use a cat hair cutter

Incorrect movement during use can cause damage to the animal's skin.

The main recommendations are the following:

1. Provide a calm environment. If the cat is aggressive, the procedure will not work. Immediately after active play, the pet will also not be able to sit still for the required amount of time.
2. You can moisten the hairs with a special substance or water , but then the hair becomes more vulnerable, and sudden movements with your hand can injure it.
3. There is a special product on sale that resembles the consistency of powder or spray. It will simplify the process.
4. The tangle cutter must be moved in the direction in which the lump is collected. In order not to create discomfort, you need to move the tool in the same way as when combing.
5. The problem area should be thinned until the tangle disappears completely.

The tool is quite easy to use. There is a risk of injuring the fur only with sudden movements of the hand.

Self-removal

You can eliminate cat tangles yourself at home if the situation is not advanced. An inexperienced owner is advised not to deal with tangles, but to entrust the procedure to a professional. A frightened cat often breaks out, but may not be able to do so.

You can trim the tangles with nail scissors or a hair clipper. Small and loose hairballs can be easily untangled using a comb and special veterinary products to make combing easier. A dense ball of wool will have to be broken up with a tangle cutter.

How to use a cat hair cutter

A modern and popular device for breaking hairballs in long-haired pets is called a mat cutter.

Externally, the tangle cutter resembles a comb, but is equipped not with teeth, but with thin steel blades (4-12 pieces). The tool is completely safe for animals. When choosing a product, it is necessary to take into account the breed characteristics of the coat: the longer the hair, the longer the blade should be.

The quality of a mat cutter for cats is determined by the following parameters:

• the number of blades (for breeds prone to forming lumps, you should choose a hair cutter with the maximum number of sharp teeth);
• the length of the blades (in advanced cases, when large trichomes appear, you will have to purchase a product with long teeth);
• material (a high-quality webbing cutter is equipped with blades made of high-strength steel);
• comfort of the handle (the shape should be optimal for gripping and holding, the surface should be rubber to prevent slipping).

For a cat with large trichomes, a vertical mat cutter is suitable. To combat regularly appearing small lumps, a horizontal product resembling a vegetable peeler is convenient. In a horizontal device, the rounded blades are directed parallel to the handle; they are safe to use, since they are sharp on one edge and blunt on the opposite.

It is difficult to remove trichomes that have formed in hard-to-reach areas: near the ears, in the groin and axillary area, on the paws with a horizontal and vertical wedge cutter. A teardrop-shaped product is required, characterized by its small size and rounded shape, equipped with a single blade.

It is important to use the purchased tangle cutter correctly without causing harm to the cat. Basic rules for using the product:

1. Before the procedure, calm the cat, treat it with a treat, and caress it.
2. To be on the safe side, ask a household member to hold your pet while removing lumps.
3. Comb out clumps in the direction of hair growth.
4. Do not press the blades on the skin, try not to cause injury.
5. To make it easier to comb out dense lumps that have formed, use a softening spray available at a veterinary store.

A chain cutter is a tool used as a last resort. It is unacceptable to use the product regularly: it can seriously damage your cat’s coat. Therefore, it is advisable to prevent the appearance of tangles.

Combing tangles

You should not rush to grab the mat cutter; you should try to comb out the mat. If the lump is small and loose, it is not difficult to rid your pet’s fur of excess weight. For the procedure, it is necessary to use not a human, but a special comb for animals.

1. Wait for the cat to be in a calm and peaceful mood.
2. Place the animal on the pad, being careful not to scare it. The mat must be visible.
3. Pet the cat and talk kindly.
4. Place your palm on the tangle, and with your fingers firmly grasp the tangled strand at the base so that the animal does not experience pain during the procedure.
5. Using smooth, leisurely, short movements, move the comb over the tangle, gradually breaking it into several parts.
6. Comb each part in the same way.
7. Finish with a standard combing.

To easily remove large mats from a cat, you can use veterinary hair softeners - powder or spray.

Cutting out tangles

Trimming is the easiest way to get rid of large mats from a cat. But you should not rush to cut off the tangles, especially if the cat is a show cat. There is a high probability that the hair will change after shearing; the grown hairs will have a different shade or structure. Therefore, before cutting, you should try to comb out the tangles.

A cat's mats should not be cut off completely, but cut lengthwise with nail scissors. You should act carefully, trying not to injure your pet's skin. A lump divided in half is easier to comb out. It is unacceptable to cut it out completely: there will be a bald spot.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GeTZKL-RMsg%3F

Is there a danger from mats for a cat?

The resulting tangles are unsightly, but they do not pose a danger to the pet’s life.

The disadvantages include the following factors:

1. Hairballs bring discomfort to the animal and there is a possibility of painful sensations.
2. When there are a large number of balls, they adhere to the body and over time disappear, which becomes the cause of various diseases.
3. Hairballs are considered a favorable environment for the appearance of ectoparasites.

Therefore, removing tangles is rather a necessity. The possibility of painless removal allows you to solve the problem quickly; the frequency of cutting depends on the breed and type of coat.

Methods for eliminating tangles and consequences

The easiest way is to not give them the opportunity to form. But if they have already appeared, you need to act quickly. Felting of wool occurs very quickly. With each movement, the tangle adds more and more neighboring hairs. Therefore, it is not recommended to postpone the fight against this disease.

ATTENTION! Large tangles are difficult to remove on your own; a visit to the veterinarian is necessary.

It is impossible to comb with a regular comb. Trimming matted fur is dangerous and can easily damage the skin. It is necessary to cut with scissors with rounded edges, without pulling back the tangle itself. The safest option is to use a webbing cutter. This is a special device for safely removing clumps of stray hair. The device will not be able to damage the pet’s skin by carefully cutting off tufts of villi.

If a cat's fur falls off, this can lead to detrimental consequences:

• irritation. A constant pulling sensation on the skin will make your cat nervous. The animal will not be able to get rid of it on its own. As a result, lethargy will appear, the cat may refuse to eat and drink, which can lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract and diseases of the genitourinary system;
• fungus and microorganisms. Wool matted into a ball does not allow air to pass through, takes a long time to dry, and retains dust and dirt, and the remains of feces. Parasites and fungus can grow inside the ball, which will lead to more complex hair problems;
• allergy. If you do not remove it in time, the mat can grow into the skin, which will lead to a violent reaction in the body;
• appearance. The matted fur looks terrible, has no shine, and hanging tangles interfere with movement.

If the cat is covered in tangles, you cannot do without contacting a veterinarian.

Varieties

To decide how to choose the right mat cutter for your cat, you need to find out what they are.

• Horizontal variety. This type of knot cutter is similar to a vegetable peeler (see photo). It consists of parallel sharp blades, rounded on one side, which allows for safe use.
• The vertical variety is a comb with long sharp teeth that are curved in such a way that they cannot cause injury to the pet when used.
• A specific tangle cutter, which is a brush with several blades. It is used to combat tangles that have formed on the ears, groin, armpits, that is, on sensitive areas of the skin.

A standard cat hair cutter consists of 8-12 blades. They are made of high quality steel, so the product does not become dull or oxidize.

Essentially, a webbing cutter is a knife. With its help, you can carefully remove a matted clump of fur without causing any inconvenience or pain to your cat.

Manufacturers offer the following types of tools:

• vertical;
• horizontal.

Vertical webbing cutter

Vertical

Long and medium teeth are suitable for the following breeds:

• Persian;
• Maine Coon;
• Siberian;
• Somali;
• Burmese;
• Turkish Angora and others.

A short-toothed tool will help remove tangles from short-haired breeds:

• British;
• European;
• Oriental;
• Siamese;
• Scottish;
• British and others.

If the cat does not like to be combed, then you need to take a mat cutter with curved blades.

Horizontal tangle cutter for cats

Horizontal

A horizontal wedge cutter visually resembles a knife for slicing vegetables in the shape of noodles. It has several blades located parallel to each other. Moreover, one edge is sharpened, while the opposite edge is rounded. This design guarantees the safety of the pet device during use.

Like the vertical, horizontal webbing cutter can have 4 to 12 blades of different lengths. The tool is suitable for removing mats from cats of almost all breeds.

Mechanical

Mechanical devices do not have an electric drive. You perform all movements of the instrument yourself. These are both rounding and forward movements. As a rule, such a gadget is perfect for home use, provided you follow the rules for its use.

Battery-powered electric

Electric

Electric braid cutters are powered by batteries—usually AA batteries—and the knives are driven by pressing a button on the handle body. A similar, more complex gadget than the one described above is intended primarily for professional groomers. Although at the same time, even professionals most often prefer a mechanical welt cutter.

Small but convenient webbing cutter Drop

If necessary, you can buy a welt cutter for narrow applications. It is teardrop-shaped and is used for hard-to-reach areas, such as cats' ears and paws. It is a plastic hook for capturing a tuft of wool and a sharp blade for cutting it, as in the photo. Some skill is required to use this tool.

What are the preventive measures?

Owners who take proper care of their pet will not need a cat tangle cutter or knowledge of how to use it. The main thing that needs to be done regularly is to comb your pet. This procedure must be carried out at least weekly. Some breeds require daily grooming. Owners of long-haired cats should accustom their pets to regular brushing from childhood. This will help avoid many problems. A pet accustomed to such procedures will not break out and behave aggressively. Therefore, caring for his coat will be easy.

A good preventative measure will also be a high-quality shampoo-conditioner, which prevents the hair from tangling and makes combing easier. You can find a good shampoo by studying reviews from owners of long-haired cats.

In summer, the animal can be taken to a grooming salon for a haircut. This will temporarily relieve the owner from problems with long hair. Gourmets can offer very original and individual haircuts for each pet (see video).

Another important nuance in preventing mats is maintaining the correct diet for your pet. The pet's diet must be balanced and contain all the necessary substances in sufficient quantities.

There are several reasons why a cat's fur gets matted.

• Pet's health status. First of all, an animal stops caring for its fur if it is sick or unwell. Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, a weakened state by the disease, and the postoperative period lead to apathy in the cat, and it stops licking its fur. Skin diseases and the presence of external parasites (fleas, lice, lice) also contribute to the development of mats.
• Nutrition. An unbalanced diet can lead to the development of mats. Lack of vitamins and microelements in a pet's diet adversely affects the condition of the coat.
• Animal care. Often the cause of the formation of matted hairballs is improper care of the fur when washing the cat. The use of detergents not intended for animals, their incorrect choice without observing breed characteristics, and violation of the rules for bathing long-haired cats lead to matting and the formation of lumps.
• External factors. When adhesive and polluting substances (oil, fuels and lubricants, blood, feces, oil, sweets) come into contact with an animal’s fur, the hairs stick together and tangles form. A cat cannot remove such contaminants on their own.

What to do if a cat has mats is the main question of a caring owner. If the cause of their formation is an animal disease, parasites, the pet should be shown to a veterinarian. If the reason for the formation of hairballs is mechanical in nature, you can remove the mats yourself. This must be done, because fur matted in clumps is not only an aesthetic problem, but can be dangerous to the health of the animal.

Mats lead to the development of diaper rash and dermatitis. Hairballs quickly become dirty and become a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic bacteria. Various parasites develop in unkempt fur. The tangles cause discomfort to the cat and, trying to get rid of them, the animal often injures the skin, which is fraught with inflammation.