I’ve had that happen when I had to use the clipper/shaver on my cats-it takes away the pack/group scent-two of my 3 cats are fur hazards-a mostly-Persian and a Maine Coon. This winter, I’ve been brushing them every day to keep away the matts, and it is working very well. I wear gloves, because they both think the brushing is play, happily kicking and biting as they purr. My little midget shorthair gets brushed too, but she just sits there purring.
Getting brushed is my cat’s favorite thing. She comes and gets me, and leads me to her brushes. And if I ask he, “Where’s your brush?” she will seek it out.
My long hair is a maine coon also, they’re the best! He won’t let me brush him much, and he doesn’t get matted all the time but when he does I take him to the vet or a groomer, where they give him a poodle cut that looks funny and they bathe him, so I guess his scent is gone. My other cat must think I took her rusty and brought back some strange cat, and poor rusty looks like he’s saying “It’s me!”.