Should I take my cat to the vet or the groomer?

My 4 year old Maine coon has recently developed a matting problem on his back near his tail and in his "mane" around his face. He's a bit stressed by the brush for some reason (possibly to do with a traumatic experience before we rescued him) so I only brush him out every 2-3 days. It seems like every time I brush him he's got a new mat in one of these areas. That seems really quick for a cat, even a long-haired breed, to be getting matted up. He's neutered, up-to-date on his shots, strictly an indoor cat and has never had this problem before.





Is this a symptom of a skin condition? Is it related to the season change? It's apparently not going to get better on its own, so should I make an appointment with my vet or a groomer?

Should I take my cat to the vet or the groomer?
i would go with vet, just to be safe. although if you do go to the groomer and explain all of his symptoms to them, chances are that they will have seen this before, and tell you what it is, and what your next step should be! good luck, and i hope he's ok.
Reply:Go to or call your vet before you do anything. there's no harm in being careful.
Reply:take him to the vet or atleast call one and tell them and see what they say.
Reply:give the cat a bath it should help
Reply:Not at all, my previous cat has the same problem she had longhair. but she went outside sometimes and that is how she got matted.





Your cat might be scratching due to fleas, or maybe even like you said a skin condition, which is causing matting, check with your vet and see what the problem is.
Reply:If the matting continues it is a skin problem that is oozing.. Some kind of infection. Go to the vet. Clear the skin condition and the matting will stop.
Reply:Brush him daily and speak to your vet about changeing his diet.
Reply:call your vet for sure that doesent sound good .