Knots!!!

get a universal slicker brush. they are kind of a rectangle shape, and they come in soft to hard bristles. you can get them at petsmart. :)

Unfortunately my employer won't allow access to MySpace... there's a group on there called "Cat Lovers" and this discussion was brought up--one of the people who has a rescue uses a hook-like product that she says is WONDERFUL for de-matting long haired cats, works even faster on short haired cats. I don't remember what it's called though. I'll see if I can contact her another way...

Depending on how close it is to the skin, you may want to try and cut it out. Zoey and Hannah both have long hair and get tiny mats from time to time. I have a comb that works fairly well and a a brush with fine teeth that kind of looks like a sheep's wool comb that works well too. If your cat's not used to brushing, you may not have much luck brushing at all. Last resort, a groomer could definitely get that knot out.

if it is so bad that it needs cut out, PLEASE don't try yourself!!! cat skin is sooo easy to cut! it's like wet tissue paper! if you cannot brush it out, please call a groomer to have them clip it out, it's just too dangerous to try cutting hair on a cat if you are not experienced with scissors or a clipper. if they pull one way as you are cutting, you will cut them badly, and i know you don't want that to happen.