Can You Shave A Cat?

A cat’s skin is extremely thin and delicate. Many cat owners have accidentally cut their cat’s skin while attempting home grooming and ended up in the emergency clinic. Large mats should only be attended to by a professional groomer or veterinarian.

How To Safely Trim Or Shave Your Cat?

Trimming or shaving cats is not a simple matter. First, cats rarely still and patiently allowing you to cut or shave their hair. Some cats may even become aggressive when you attempt to groom them.

Second, because cats have very thin skin, it’s all too easy for an untrained person to accidentally cut or tear the skin.

Clipper blades are very sharp and they heat up when in use, which can burn the skin or give the cat bad razor burn. Scissors should never be used to trim large areas of a cat’s body, although professional cat groomers may use them to trim around the head and face.

For safety’s sake, do not attempt to shave your cat yourself. Always bring your cat to a professional groomer or your veterinarian if you want your cat dematted, shaved or trimmed.

Your groomer can advise you about a grooming schedule so your cat doesn’t become matted again.

A professional groomer can give your cat a lion cut or lion trim, shaving the cat’s body while leaving the head, ruff (mane) and tail fluffy. The legs are generally trimmed about halfway down, leaving fluff on the lower half and paws.

Is It Bad to Shave A Cat?

There are some downsides to a lion cut. Because the hair is shaved all the way down to the skin, there is more risk of cutting or injuring the skin while attempting this clip.

Additionally, longer hair protects the cat’s body from sunburn and scratches, and keeps the cat warm.

Outdoor cats should not be shaved into a lion trim and in winter, indoor cats in a lion trim might need a sweater to keep warm.