Can You Shave A Cat?

Cats generally do not have a natural requirement for trimming or shaving. Although certain dog breeds have hair that is always growing and needs regular trimming, a cat’s hair isn’t the same.

As long as you brush your cat regularly to remove loose hair and prevent tangles and mats from forming, a cat’s coat can usually be left alone.

Even cats with long, thick coats don’t need to be shaved in summer to keep cool. A cat’s coat naturally helps to regulate the cat’s body temperature depending on whether it’s hot or cold out.

When properly brushed out, air can circulate through the cat’s hair down to the skin, helping to keep the cat cool in summer. A cat’s fur also thins out in the warmer months (you’ll see an increase in shedding around spring) and bulks up in the cooler months.

Even though a cat doesn’t need to be shaved or trimmed, you certainly can trim or shave your cat’s coat if you so desire. Contrary to what you may have heard, shaving a cat is not cruel as long as it’s done by a professional and the cat is not unnecessarily upset or stressed by the process.

Reasons To Trim A Cat’s Coat

Cat owners may want to shave their cats for several reasons. Let’s examine each of them:

• Matting: If you cat has a long coat that is matted to the skin, shaving the cat is really the only solution. Sometimes, older cats or cats that are overweight might have trouble grooming themselves. Other times, pet owners may struggle with brushing frequently and thoroughly enough to prevent mats from forming. If a cat is constantly matting, keeping the cat’s hair shaved short may be helpful.
• Hairballs: Cats that suffer from frequent or severe hairballs might benefit from being shaved. The less hair that’s on the cat, the less hair that will end up in the cat’s digestive tract, where it can wreak havoc.
• Parasites or skin problems: If you’re fighting a bad flea infestation shaving the cat can make it easier to see if fleas reappear. If cats need special medicated baths or medications applied to the skin to treat mites, ringworm, infections or other skin issues, shaving the cat can make the treatments easier to administer and more effective.
• Shedding: Some cat owners who are fed up with shedding cat hair all over the house might wish to shave their cat to cut down on how much hair ends up on their furniture and clothes. Frequent brushing can also cut down on shedding hair. Shaving your cat into a lion clip will not eliminate shedding altogether, but it might help to reduce the amount.