Looking for opinions on my 15 y/o male longhair cat. Seems in the last few months he's developed some matting in his fur and it seems to have gotten thicker and coarser. Like he's not really grooming himself as much. We didn't notice it soon enough and now we can't really even get a comb through some of them. We were able to carefully cut out some on his belly, but he's look really odd if we did that around his neck and on the sides. Hate to take him to the vet since that would be pretty traumatic for him, he's pretty skittish. He'd probably run in the closet and hide for 2 days after...if he made it through the stress. We lost our other 2 in the last 18 months and finally got a kitten in Feb(?)...was just too quiet around the house. Wondering if her always wanting him to play (he doesn't) and just her general terror kittenism has anything to do with his issue. Or is he just getting old? So...Vet, grooming service, do it at home? Special combs or brushes?

Normally a visit to the vet with our two dogs turns out to be a money pit, with the shots, exams, lab tests, etc. At the hospital where my wife works one of the other nurses suggested a vet in a town about 45 minutes from us who was open on Saturday morning for walk ins. She also works for Castaway Kritters, a local pet rescue operation. I figured there would be a hundred people there. Nope, the other nurse and a few rescues and us...that's it. Doc took us in shortly, examined dogs, gave 3 shots each, drew blood for heartworm test, checked neutered female for incontinent problem. Exam, bloodwork, shots, heartworm medicine a cool $140. It is usually over $300 and counting with our regular vet. Thank God for small town USA!!! Just had to post a pleasant experience. Thanks.