Shaving your cat & the "kitten clip"!

[Prada]

Hi everyone!

I was just curious if any of you long haired owners have done a "kitten clip" on your feline friends? I have not been able to find many pictures online to reference it, and would love to see yours if you have them!

How do you like this compared to the lion cut? How much more difficult is it for a groomer to do? I have no experience in shaving cats - how is the fur texture once it grows back? Is it ever the same again or would you say it gets "ruined" by shaving?

Thanks! ^.^

[pauli]

Good idea!

[yingying]

I do not like the idea of shaving cats, unlike it's for medical reasons. If one find a longhaired cat too hard to maintain, then he should get a shorthaired cat. A shaved/cutted cat is ugly IMO, no matter it's "lion cut" or "kitten clip", or any other style.

[my4kitties]

Originally Posted by yingying

If one find a longhaired cat too hard to maintain, then he should get a shorthaired cat.

That's rather judgmental of you. There are some members who have long haired cats who do have them shaved because the fur mats when long...even with regular grooming. Should they give up their cats???

[catinthemirror]

Originally Posted by yingying

I do not like the idea of shaving cats, unlike it's for medical reasons. If one find a longhaired cat too hard to maintain, then he should get a shorthaired cat. A shaved/cutted cat is ugly IMO, no matter it's "lion cut" or "kitten clip", or any other style.

I really don't think the cat cares if it looks 'ugly', and sometimes cutting their fur IS the best way of maintaining them. My Sassy has very fine, long fur. Unless she gets thoroughly de-shedded every week or so she has problems with hair balls. The problem with that is I am allowed to brush her head, and a stripe down her back. Her stomach and sides are off limits, so of course that's where she REALLY needs to be brushed. So with her I either have to go through a weekly ordeal of having someone hold her while I quickly try to remove as much fur as possible - or just shaving her twice a year so her fur is easier to manage. Her comfort is most important to me so I shave her. Besides, I think a shaved cat is really cute, especially when compared to an ungroomed, over heated and unhappy cat.

I gave Sassy a lion cut for the summer and she absolutely loved it - I could tell she felt a lot cooler, and that was important because we didn't have air conditioning at the time. In my opinion her fur has grown back even silkier than it was before, but there have been some food changes since then that might have contributed to it. But I don't believe that shaving their fur would somehow change it's texture - wouldn't it just grow back, like our own hair does?

I think the kitten clip is really cute myself, no idea how difficult it would be for a groomer though. I do all the grooming for my cats, so I know it wouldn't look nearly as neat if I tried to replicate it But summer's coming up, so maybe I'll give it a try in the next few months.

[yingying]

Originally Posted by my4kitties

That's rather judgmental of you. There are some members who have long haired cats who do have them shaved because the fur mats when long...even with regular grooming. Should they give up their cats???

I'm not saying they should give up their cats. What I'm saying is, if one is not willing to take the grooming responsiblity, then (s)he shouldn't get a long haired cat in the first place.

And regular grooming does take care of the matting problem. By "regular" I mean daily. Not weekly. I use to have two Persians. The worst of all cats in terms of matting.

[yingying]

Originally Posted by catinthemirror

I really don't think the cat cares if it looks 'ugly'

Yes, cat can upset being ugly. The persian I had before has to be shaved because he got fleas. And he is very upset of losing his fur (he was obsessed with his own fur, spending hours and hours grooming). Of course not all cats are like that, but some do.

As I said, I think shaved cats look ugly "IMO", which is a personal view. I wouldn't say it out loud if I see someones cat got shaved, but I do feel it this way. And I will give my personal opinion if someone (like OP) asks. I appologize if it hurt some peoples feeling.

And I still hold my opinion that regular grooming is owner's responsiblity. If you don't like it, or you live in a very hot place with no AC, don't get a long haired cat. True, some cats don't like to be groomed, but they can be trained to at least tolerate it. Google it and you will find lots of articles on this topic.

[Heather102180]

Hi Prada! Long haired cat owner here! I get Fozzy a lion cut about once every three months. He loves it. The reason why I do it is because sometimes his poop would get stuck to his very fluffy legs. So, I took him in for a "potty patch". My groomer said he'd look silly with just a potty patch and they suggested the lion cut. ( I was thinking, wouldn't THAT make him look silly?!) I didn't let them do the full lion cut but then one day I just went for it just to see what it'd look like.

He looked fantastic! Just my opinion though.

Click on the thumbnails to see them larger.

I think my vet does an awesome job. Fozzy is so laid back that I bet they could do it while he's awake but they prefer to put him under while they do it so he doesn't move and get cut with the shears.

As for his fur texture growing back, there is no difference. His fur isn't ruined by the cuts.

He's my handsome minature lion.

[Lenkolas]

Originally Posted by my4kitties

That's rather judgmental of you. There are some members who have long haired cats who do have them shaved because the fur mats when long...even with regular grooming. Should they give up their cats???

...plus, not all cats are happy with grooming. Ideal scenario of kitty born in a home with mom and humans yes, but my cat Gatito, for instance, who has very long hair, was rescued from the streets, and he has never allowed me to groom him. I can only do it while he's asleep...and he wakes up like an angry lion.
I wish I could shave him. But I would have to sedate him.

[catinthemirror]

Originally Posted by yingying

And I still hold my opinion that regular grooming is owner's responsiblity. If you don't like it, or you live in a very hot place with no AC, don't get a long haired cat. True, some cats don't like to be groomed, but they can be trained to at least tolerate it. Google it and you will find lots of articles on this topic.

You're not even taking into account that it's sometimes hard to tell how long a kitten's fur will be when they grow up, and the fact that some people end up moving long distances with their pets from one climate to another. Plus some cats can hardly tolerate being touched at all, and with those animals it's very difficult to simply train them to let themselves be groomed. I do agree that it's an owners responsibility to keep their animal groomed - and sometimes shaving their fur to make them more comfortable IS part of regular grooming. IMO, my cat's comfort is much more important than their appearance, but of course everyone is entitled to their opinion.