Brush Matted Fur

Start by petting your dog or cat and calming him down. Grooming can be a relaxing experience when introduced slowly. Allow your pet to sniff the brush before you begin so he can see it is not an animal-eating monster. Use gentle strokes on the surface of the matted fur in an attempt to untangle the top fur without causing pain.

Use a soft, natural bristle brush for long-haired cats and one with rounded steel bristles, set into a flexible rubber base for most dogs. The general rule is to buy longer bristles if your animal has long fur.

Hold your pet's skin above the direction you are brushing to keep loose skin from pulling with the brush and causing bruising. The bristles should slide along the surface of her skin smoothly. When you come to matted fur, gently brush the surface as the hairs untangle.

Dry your pet off before brushing. Trying to brush a wet animal is a disaster. Loose hair can come out and tangle around the bristles, clogging the brush and pulling instead of gliding. Allow a pet to dry and then brush his matted fur. You may comb conditioner through a wet dog's fur but do not pull on any mats. Be very gentle.

Cut out mats that are too close to the skin and too large to brush out. Sometimes a burr can work its way next to the skin and become hopelessly entangled before you find it. In longhaired cats, mats can form quickly. Using scissors, pull the mat away from the skin and carefully clip it in half. Keep the scissors at least 1/2 inch away from the surface of the skin.

Shave out mats that are too close to the skin to cut without risking injury to your pet.

Maintain your pet's fur by brushing every week, keeping mats from forming. Grooming is a pleasurable event when it is not painful.