People might be surprised at just how much fur one cat can actually shed. Long-haired breeds produce a lot of fur, but even short-haired cats can shed astonishing volumes of the stuff. Is there anything you can do to keep the situation under control?

Keeping your cat’s coat in good shape can be an important way to make your little companion happy and comfortable. The first key is, of course, good nutrition. You’ll notice, on regular veterinary visits, that the vet can tell a lot about the cat’s health just by seeing how shiny and healthy the coat is. Much of that good health comes from within, from the food consumed.It’s also important that you do your part to keeping your cat well groomed. Regular brushing or combing with the right cat grooming tools will not only stimulate the cat’s skin, promoting circulation and good fur growth, but it will loosen fur that’s ready to shed. You can gather handfuls that might otherwise go into kitty’s tummy. And while some cats aren’t thrilled about being brushed, others love it so much that they lie down and stretch in ecstasy.But even with frequent combing, often you’ll notice that mats have formed. These can build up in areas where the cat cannot wash itself easily: the base of the tail, the inside of the hind legs, and so on. Mats can also develop in areas where the cat sleeps or rests, for example, down their left side if they most frequently lie down on that side.Some of these mats, being made of dead, loose fur, come loose fairly easily if worked at with a brush or even the fingers. Be careful, though, not to pull at them too hard, in case you really hurt the skin. But other mats get too large or well anchored to come off without a lot of work. And some simply have to be cut out.Sometimes, to be safe, it’s best simply to visit the vet, and let him or her do the cutting in a secure way. And once that’s done, you can pay special attention to keeping that area brushed, so the mats don’t form again. Or you can get rid of them sooner, before they get so big.The most important thing is that the cat’s coat is maintained in good shape. By combing and keeping it free of tangles, you can help reduce hairballs, encourage healthy growth, and provide your kitty a gorgeous coat it can be pleased with.