This article will discuss the shaved cat in detail, along with what types of a shaved cat are there. In this article, we will also discuss whether you should shave a cat or just trim it. So, here we go
Shaved cat
A shaved cat is a cat whose body hair or fur is shaved to give it a new look or save it in an emergency situation. You can see a shaved cat in various fashion photos on the internet, that is just a new way of keeping cats these days.
Many people have a shaved cat, some people have it partial while some have a shaved cat which is only partially shaved. In medical procedures such as surgeries, or intravenous fluid therapy or medicine shaving is needed to see and operate the skin easily.
Before going into the details of our main topic, shaved cats let us learn something about a cat’s fur and what function it plays in a cat’s normal functioning.
Shaved cat: Fur
The fur of a cat is thick hair surrounding a cat’s whole body and tail. These furs have very important functions and play a very vital role in a cat’s life. These fur keeps your cat warm in the winter seasons and cold environment.
Cats are mammals and they are warm-blooded which means that they can’t maintain their body temperatures, so in that case, they need to adapt. The furry skin coat of a cat is one of the main adaptations of a cat’s skin, these fur keeps the body heat inside and protects them from the cold environment.
The furs also play a very important role in protecting the cat from many kinds of infections leading to serious medical diseases. If the cat’s coat is completely shaved, the chances of it getting skin carcinomas increase.
The skin of a cat is very soft and if completely exposed to sunlight and UV radiations can develop skin cancer known as skin carcinomas.
Furthermore, a cat’s fur also protects it from different kinds of viral and bacterial diseases, but also sometimes the skin of a cat can itself catch some serious viral, bacterial or fungal infections in which a shaved cat would be the best possible way to save it.
The furs also help the owner or other cats to know each other behaviour, for example, if your cat is scared or angry the furs on its body and tail will erect giving it a fluffy erected hair appearance, a shaved cat which has no hair can face difficulty in expressing its behaviour,
Let’s discuss some types of a shaved cat in terms of shaving
Shaved cat: Full
Sometimes due to some medical diseases or emergencies the best option to save your cat’s life is to get your cat fully shaved. Cats with long fur such as Persian cats or Maine coon have a condition in which their body coat gets matted and causes the cat discomfort and itching, that may be some sort of infection that needs to be treated by your vet.
A shaved cat having no hair at all can face some serious problems such as skin carcinomas as well as difficulty in expressing their normal behavioural signs.
People shave their cats for beauty purposes as well, so it’s kind of a fashion statement for the owner having the cat, but it should be kept in mind that as long as your cat is comfortable and its health is up to mark you should not be worried at all. It should be known that more than the style the health and comfort of your cat should matter.
Shaved cat: Tail
Some cats have their tails shaved full or partially, it could probably be because of medical emergencies such as tail injuries or infection to a specific region.
A shaved cat having only the tail shaved is uncommon but it could be done in case of tail infections or tail injuries or it could also be a style, some people love to give their cats a lion or a dragon shave which give their cat an interesting look.
No matter what the reason is the comfort and health of your cat should be your topmost priority.
Some cats can have different parts of their body shaved, depending upon the owner’s choice or a medical emergency. We discussed about a shaved cat having a full body shaved or just a specific region such as its tail. Let’s discuss about some most common types of shaving styles.
Shaved cat: Lion
A typical lion shave includes the full shave of the cat’s belly and back leaving the furs around the neck as in lion and around limbs and paws. The tail can be seen to fully shaved or partially shaved in case of leaving a traditional “tuff”
The lion shave is completely a style preference, the owner likes to groom its cat in the certain way of his or her choice, but if full shaving of the belly is required because of some medical reasons, it is alright to do it in a cool way.
The question arises should you give your cat a lion cut? The suitable answer to these questions lies simply in the comfort and health of the cat. If your cat needs to have a cut go for it otherwise if you are just doing it without any actual reason you might end up hurting your cat as cats have skins that can easily be lacerated.
If you want or need to give your cat a lion cut, seek the help of a professional and avoid doing it on your own at home.
Shaved cat: Dragon
Some people like to shave their cats in a way that they look like dragons, so if you see a cute small dragon licking its paw do not think that they will spit fire at you. A shaved cat looking like a dragon is one of the cutest things you would find on the internet, but again you should always prefer the health and comfort of your cat before everything.
If you need to shave your cat at home you should be really careful and follow the following protocols.
So let’s discuss how you can shave your cat at home.
How to shave a cat?
You should keep in mind that some cats are resisting while some are mild and can easily undergo the whole process of shaving. Keep the following points in mind while shaving a cat
Trimming the nails
First of all, trim the nails of your cat. The nails should be cut in a way that the part containing skin should not be cut with it. Try to cut only the sharp-pointed part. This will help you protect yourself from the scratches that your cat can give you while shaving.
Testing the sound
Test the sound of the clipper near your cat so you can notice if your cat becomes fearful or alert because in that case, you should go for proper restaining and harness of your cat.
Holding the skin taut
Cats have a very soft and flexible skin which can easily come under the clipper and give your cat cuts or pinch it, so to avoid this from happening, grab the skin of your cat as taut as you can and not let it slip from your hands.
Starting from the top
Start softly from the top and then go all the way down to the tail gently, if needed. You can also leave the tail, or shave it full or leave a tradition tuff according to your own choice.
Holding your cat
Hold the cat firmly but gently as well, don’t hurt the cat. Scruff it if needed, and always start from the back of the neck and work your way around the cat’s body. Shaving it safely
Wash the cat
Wash the cat carefully when you are done shaving and then dry it with a clean towel, this way the skin of the cat will be cleaned and be saved from many pathogenic bacteria or viruses etc.
Follow the above-mentioned points to have a shaved cat at your home. Keep in mint that shaving should only be done when it is needed. Unnecessary shaving of cats may lead to complications such as skin carcinomas or cuts leading to bacterial or viral infections which are highly life-threatening to your cat.
Shaved cat: types
Let’s discuss some types of shaved cat in terms of different breeds.
Shaved cat: Persian
Persians cats have round faces, short muzzles and coats with long fur, grooming if their hair should always be done. Grooming of a Persian cat includes its hair to be trimmed and nails as well along with other important measures to keep it healthy and comfortable.
A Persian cat should only be shaved when needed, un-necessary shaving may make the cat uncomfortable and can also damage its skin.
Shaved cat: Himalayan
Himalayan cats are the breed of cat which have very beautiful light colourations on their fur especially ears, tail and paws. Their coat consists of long hair, which should be regularly and properly groomed.
Shaving off a Himalayan cat should be avoided as it may damage their skin and cause complications.
Conclusion:
In this article, we discussed the shaved cat in detail, along with what types of a shaved cat are there. We also discussed whether you should shave a cat or just trim it.
We came to know that a cat should only be shaved when needed, un-necessary shaving may make the cat uncomfortable and can also damage its skin.
Feel free to ask anything about a shaved cat in the comment section below.
FAQs: Shaved cat
Frequently asked questions about a shaved cat
Is it cruel to shave a cat?
Shaving a cat can lead to skin damage as cats have very soft skin, easy to be cut by the trimmer or blades. A cat should only be shaved when needed, un-necessary shaving may make the cat uncomfortable and can also damage its skin.
What happens when you shave a cat?
Shaving a cat can lead to skin damage. The furs play a very important role in protecting the cat from many kinds of infections leading to serious medical diseases. If the cat’s coat is completely shaved, the chances of it getting skin carcinomas increase.
Does shaving your cat help with shedding?
Yes, if you are experiencing an issue such as hair shedding, shaving might help you. But the proper treatment of shedding should be done, go to your vet and find out what is best for your cat instead of experimenting on your own.
Can you shave your cat at home?
Yes, you can shave your cat at home, but you should be extremely careful while doing it as the skin of a cat is very soft and easily prone to cuts and lacerations.
Should I shave my matted cat?
Yes, if you are having a serious issue such as matting of your cat’s hair coat, you can go for shaving. Shaving should be done carefully and properly, so it is better to have a professional groomer to do it.
References:
https://www.shutterstock.com/search/shaved+cat
https://thecatspyjamas.ca/the-shaven-pussycat-blog/lion-trims-for-cats
https://cats.lovetoknow.com/cat-care/how-shave-cat
https://www.petmd.com/cat/shaving-cat-good-idea-keep-them-cool-summer
