Cats love looking clean and tidy; and even though they’re good at DIY-ing it, sometimes, you want to treat them and take them to a groomer. You already booked an appointment but there are many different cat haircut styles and you have no idea which one to go for.
Regular hair trims are a must when it comes to taking care of your furry friend. Especially if you have a cat with thick fur and an undercoat.
Trimming her hair will reduce the chance of matting and prevent the formation of hairballs. Also, giving your cat a haircut during summer will help her regulate her body temperature. You can only imagine how hot it can get under all that fur.
However, before you take your cat for a grooming session, you first need to figure out which hairstyle to go for. So, how do you know what will work best for your little ball of fluff? Is there a haircut that’s recommended for a certain breed? Let’s find out!
1. The lion cut
This is probably one of the most popular haircuts that cat owners tend to go for. It requires completely shaving your feline’s torso and leaving fur on her head, feet, and tail. In the end, you end up with a kitty that looks like a lion (hence the name).
A great thing about a lion cut is that it removes all of the matted fur that can feel highly uncomfortable. Once your cat’s torso is shaved, your cut isn’t left with much fur to groom. This means that it’s unlikely that she’ll end up forming and swallowing hairballs.
If you don’t enjoy grooming your cat or if you have a senior feline who’s too lazy and doesn’t care about the way she looks, a lion cut could be a great alternative for both of you.
Some of the breeds that are suitable for a lion cut are Persian, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest, Ragamuffin, Somali, and Himalayan cats.
Just bear in mind that this haircut makes cats more prone to sunburn and it reduces their ability to keep their body cool or warm (depending on the season).
2. The tiger cut
The tiger cut evens out your cat’s fur all over her body. She’ll look neat and tidy from the top of her head to the bottom of her paws.
This haircut usually leaves 1/4 out of your feline’s fur but you can go longer or shorter than that. Just bear in mind that it’s not possible to use this method on matted and aggressive cats. It’s too risky so groomers choose not to do it.
3. A teddy bear cut
Do you want to have a cat that looks like a plush toy? Then choosing a teddy bear cut is the right option.
This haircut is done with scissors and a comb or a clipper that has a comb attachment. The main reason for that is that a groomer wants to even out the top coat of your cat’s fur. This style is similar to the tiger cut but it’s a bit longer.
It also requires the shaping of the fur on your cat’s head which will make her look like a round fluff of joy.
A teddy bear cut is particularly useful if your cat doesn’t tolerate heat well and gets hot under her fur. Also, if you have a feline who doesn’t enjoy grooming herself, this haircut could be of huge help.
It’s suitable for breeds such as Persian, British shorthair, Abyssinian, and Chartreux.
Just bear in mind that this haircut can’t be done on aggressive cats since it requires patience. Also, if you’ve noticed that mats have been forming on your feline, then choose another hairstyle since they can’t be reduced with a teddy bear cut.
4. The Asian lion
If you have an older cat who isn’t the best at cleaning herself around the back area, then this haircut could be your saving grace. It’s also a good option for long-haired breeds that don’t enjoy grooming around their butt.
The Asian lion cut shaves all the fur from the middle of your feline’s stomach to her back legs. The other part of her stomach, her head, and her front legs remain untouched. When it comes to her tail, you can choose not to shave it or you can go for a cute pom-pom.
5. The kitten clip
This style of haircut is great if you want your cat to look like a tiny, adorable kitten once again. It trims down the fur all over your cat’s body, leaving her looking as if she just came into this world.
This cut prevents mats from forming and leaves your feline looking tidy. It works great on breeds such as Ragdoll, British shorthair, Siberian, Manx, and American Curl.
6. Butterfly cut
This haircut is about cutting the shape of a butterfly (or even any other shape) into your feline’s fur. There are no specific benefits to it besides the fact that it looks cool and unique.
7. Panther cut
This hairstyle shaves as much fur as possible and leaves only a small amount of it on your cat’s head and legs. It’s great for cats who suffer from matting and different skin conditions that may worsen because of their fur.
8. Sanitary cut
If you have a cat that doesn’t know how to keep herself clean or has a tendency to suffer from urinary tract infections, a sanitary cut could be a great option for her.
This haircut trims the fur around your feline’s groin, genitals, butt, and tail base providing her with an area that’s much easier to clean.
9. Belly shave
Another great option for cats that tend to get matted fur all over their belly. It shaves your feline’s stomach and while it isn’t the prettiest look ever, at least you know that you did the right thing and saved your kitty from uncomfortable situations.