Why Didn't I Think of That?: Pets: Use a Fork. Yes, a Fork!

My cat Domino is a big, fat, sweet, ball of fluff. When I took him in as a kitten I had no idea he would grow in to such a huge mass of hair. When he lays in my lap I am engulfed in a cloud of cat hair. But, he is a sweetie and I love him. I try to keep his fur combed and neat but sometimes, because I am, afterall, a slob, I misplace his comb. It is at these times that he always seems to produce a fur mat somewhere on his body. One day, after having discovered one such mat, I became frustrated while looking for his comb. I passed by the dish drainer and spied a plastic fork. Yes, I do sometimes wash them and reuse them. Anyway, I picked it up and thought...this might just work. I used the plastic fork to gently loosen and comb out the mat in Domino's fur. It worked great and I just threw it away afterwards. A pet comb is still a better tool for this but, in a pinch, a plastic fork works just fine. Just be very gentle and be careful not to poke your pet!