The Lion Cut
If you have a longhaired cat, there may very well come a time when you consider giving her a shave, whether to help keep her cool in the summer or to make her easier to groom in general. Often times, owners of Persians and Himalayans in particular, will give their cat a lion cut. A lion cut is where every part of the cat is shaved down except for the head and mane, the front legs, back feet, and tip of the tail.
Reasons You Might Consider a Lion Cut
Some people think that shaving a cat is cruel or is harming the cat in some way or that it is a form of abuse. This is NOT cruel to the cat! The lion cut can be done for several reasons:
- Your love the personality of the Persian or other long hair breed of cat but simply don’t want to or don’t have time to take care of all that hair!
- If you live in hot climates, the lion cut can help keep your kitty cool.
- If your male cat is not neutered, the lion cut will help keep him clean.
- If your cat is a female breeder, the lion cut will help keep her clean and help her babies find mommy easier to nurse.
- Older cats are sometimes poor groomers, and the lion cut will help keep them clean.
- It cuts down on hairballs.
- It cuts down on shedding!
- And they just look adorable!
Can I Shave My Cat Myself?
If you are going to give your cat a lion cut, it is best to take your cat to a professional groomer if you aren’t experienced in clipping cats specifically! It isn’t an easy thing to do, takes a bit of time, and one nick can seriously hurt your kitty! Cat’s skin splits easily from even the smallest cut!
If you do decide to clip your cat yourself, engage the help of a friend so that the cat can be held securely. You can use standard pet sheers that are available at any store. The first time you clip the cat, you might want to use a guard and not try to get too close to the skin. It is helpful to make sure you are holding the blade of the clippers flat against the cat so that you aren’t digging into their skin when you clip. Remember, too, that the pointy tips of the guard can hurt, too.
How to Shave a Cat
If it is at all possible, it is best to start clipping on a clean, dry cat. Dirt and oils clog up your clippers and make them pull at your cat’s hair. If your cat gets severely agitated, stop what you’re doing immediately. You don’t want your cat to struggle and get hurt. Take your time, go slowly, and of course, talk in soothing, comforting tones. Sometimes it is best to work in two sessions.
Continue with Regular Grooming
You will still need a regular grooming schedule to comb the hair around their head and neck, as well as continuing with regular baths. This will most definitely save you time in the long run. You should only have to give a full clip once a year.
Also, before you give your cat a lion cut, make sure that you stock up on tuna. You will need a bribe for forgiveness from your kitty! But they get over it eventually!
