What happens if you shave a cat

Always bring your cat to a professional groomer or your veterinarian for shaving or trimming. Although cats are not known for their willingness to stand still and remain calm while being shaved, professional groomers have the training and skills to accomplish this task safely.

They are skilled at restraining the cat and gently manipulating the cat while being cautious around sensitive areas. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians can also safely shave a cat. It is not advised for pet owners to attempt to shave their own cat due to risk of injury to the cat or to the pet owner or both. Mats are piling up because our groomer moved away. I would like unscented too if there is one need to purchase ASAP. Hi Pamela, rather than using a detangling product, I would recommend a dematting comb or deshedding tool.

Hope this helps! Your email address will not be published. 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. Hairballs: Cats that suffer from frequent or severe hairballs might benefit from being shaved. 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.

How To Remove Mats? Frequently Asked Questions Is it cruel to shave a cat? What happens when you shave a cat? Can you shave a cat with human clippers? How do you safely shave a cat? More From Cat Health. Cat Diseases. All About Cats. Cat Health. Popular in the community. Cat Behavior. Cat Fun. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

Certain health conditions in cats can be resolved faster if a portion of their coat, or the entire body, is shaved. There are external parasites that live and stay on the hair strands, such as lice and certain mites. Though most external parasite infestations are easily treated with topical anti-parasitic medications, severe infestations can become persistent and difficult to completely eradicate.

In such cases, trimming down or shaving their coat can help control the infestation and helps speed up the treatment process. Cats with skin infections can also benefit from shaving their coat off. This helps expose the skin to air which is important in managing the infection. This also helps for better access to topical medications such as sprays and shampoos, which translates to better absorption of active ingredients and helps control and treat the infections successfully. Bite wounds and lacerations can also heal much faster if the hair around the affected part of the skin is clipped.

This helps prevent secondary infections from developing, keeps the lacerations and bite wounds free from contaminants, and makes disinfection and cleaning easier. What causes hair loss in cats? Indoor cats have the luxury of taking it easy in a cool corner for most of the day. They will be fine as long as they have access to enough of fresh water should they need to drink more to stay hydrated. Cats who go outside tend to be more active and can experience more extreme heat, but they need the protection afforded to them by their cat fur even more than do their indoor-only counterparts.

Shaving a cat who lives outdoors puts them at risk for sunburn or other skin injuries, and the cat could even become hypothermic should he become wet or if the temperatures drop. Brushing helps remove shed hair and prevents uncomfortable mats from developing. If you have trouble keeping your long-haired kitty mat free, find a groomer with experience handling cats.

Published: May 22, What Is the Function of Cat Fur? Shaving Indoor Versus Outdoor Cats If your felines have an indoor-only lifestyle, shaving cats should not be necessary for heat reasons, even if they have long or dark fur. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful?