The combing has to start early in life or they will hate it. If matts are allowed to form before combing, it will pull and hurt, and they will NOT like it. Combing has to start before matts in order to prevent them. I have never had a problem combing with any of the 5 long hairs I have had.My long haired cat is combed with a steel comb and she is obsessive about asking for combings. She watches me to see if I approach anyplace where a nice session might be possible and then begs. On the other hand, I have a calico who mats and will fight tooth and nail to ever be brushed or dematted. So it depends.....