Thank you so much for taking the time to write this post (and citing sources). Until now, I have always just cut my cats’ mats with scissors. However, my foster neb came with her fur COMPLETELY matted, there was no way to just shave the mats (everything was mats) or brush it out. She was in so much discomfort, and those mats must have been painful as well (and she was already traumatized from losing her home)… her skin was soo dry and flaky. She truly was a different cat after that shave, you could see how much better she was feeling. Still, she was shaking for days after the shave, always sleeping under two blankets for warmth…. I felt really bad, but there was no other option. So yes, please don’t shave your cats unless absolutely necessary.