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My 16-year-old cat has stopped grooming herself and now has several small lumps of matted hair on her back, which I'm not able to brush out without seemingly hurting her. Should I get her shaved? Thank you!

My 16-year-old cat has stopped grooming herself and now has several small lumps of matted hair on her back, which I'm not able to brush out without seemingly hurting her. Should I get her shaved? Thank you!

Updated On March 14th, 2024

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

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Thank you for contacting PetCoach with your question about Lily. Poor girl! Yes I would get those matts shaved out, they will be painful to her. I'd also recommend having her seen by a vet. She's stopped grooming herself for a reason, and it could be it's painful for her to groom. Arthritis is common in senior cats. A chronic illness, such as diabetes and kidney disease, could sap a cat's energy and lead them to not grooming. Both of those are common in senior cats. I recommend having her seen by a vet this week, and getting her a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. I hope this helps!

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