You need to get at them before they get too close to the skin. Use round
tipped scissors and be very very careful. I would think you would need
someone to hold them while you worked. However, I will say we always left
the underneath ones for a groomer or vet to shave off.

Pat, truly my best suggestion if it is that bad is to have a groomer or vet
shave those mats out because if they're that bad you run the risk of cutting
them by accident and their skin is very thin -- trust me, I never felt so
bad as when I did that very thing to my elderly long-haired cat, Shetra
(RB), using cuticle scissors,  and then had to get 2 stitches put in at the
vet's.  Once the bad mats are shaved off you can work on keeping them combed
with a pretty neat comb that I found at Petsmart -- it has rotating tines so
you can actually loosen the mats with less pulling on their fur -- a slicker
brush has also been useful.  However, I was warned by a groomer to never try
using those de-matting blade cutters that they also sell at Petsmart and
other places -- these look like curved razor blade-like combs with
handles -- apparently unless you really know how to use them you can cut the
cat with those by accident, too.

Hope this helps,
Christine

After trying that once with Tigrita (one of my long ago
cats), I leave all such "surgery" to the vet (or a
professional groomer).

The fact that she yelled when I clipped at the mats didn't
mean much - she'd scream bloody murder when I changed her
flea collar.  There were several very bad mats on her tummy,
so I started clipping - evidently I must have nicked her
side with the point of the scissors - not visibly, at the
time.  Hwever, she indignantly exited through the pet door,
and when she returned a while later, she had licked it into
a huge gaping wound on her side - which required stitches
and a "belly bandage" (which drove her nuts).  After
absorbing the vet bills for THAT, it seemed cheaper (and
much easier on the cat) to just let the vet handle the mats,
instead.

If you're not confident with cutting them out yourself VERY VERY
CAREFULLY then I would invest in seeing a groomer

We once had a cat come in for some sort of surgery.  I came in and the
cat was quite shaved and there were lacerations all over its body.  I
asked the doctor what had caused them and she said,

"This cat's owner tried to cut out the mats with scissors"

yeeks.....

Don't mean to scare you really but if you're really really careful you
might be able to take care of it.  But personally, I would let a
groomer handle it.  I've brushed cats that have been so matted that I
just reach for the trimmers.  

Kristi

I think that the only way I will ever again trim a knot in a cat's fur
is to slip a large-tooth comb between the skin and the knot.  Then I
cut the fur above the comb.  If there's still a little tangle, it can
usually be combed out.

My poor little Persian, Roxy, didn't even whimper when one time she
lost some skin as I thought I was cutting fur, but was really cutting
loose skin. (It still makes me physically ill when I think of it!)
Cats are a loose skinned animal and it can be so difficult to tell.

Regards and Purrs,
O J

You can try a few things before giving up and letting the vet or a
groomer do it (which is *the* safest method).

Matt cutters can help, if you're careful.  Believe it not,
seam-rippers can work, too.  Scissors as well.  Just be sure to
comb/groom well as you're doing it, to get rid of any other loose
furs.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is to be very, very careful not to
cut the cat's skin.  Stay as far away from it as possible.  If the mat
is too close to the skin, it's time to see a professional.

HTH.

Ginger-lyn