Lion Cut for Cats – Things You Should Know

lion cut for cats

Picture a Maine Coone or American shorthair spotting a fur that looks like a lion.

Cute right? Cats shaved like lions are no new thing in pet-lovers’ circles.

And if you feel inspired to let your precious feline rock a lion cut, you need to keep reading.

 

A lion cut on cat is a clipping style that leaves fur around the head, tail, and sometimes the legs. Cats with longhaired coats receive the lion cut more than their shorthaired felines. Also, groomers have come up with different variations of the lion cut and they all look chic.

 

Before you give your feline a lion cut, you have to be sure this style suits them.

Though a lion cut on cat has many advantages, like reducing matting and overheating, it can have negative effects if done at the wrong time and on the wrong cut.

By the end of this read, you will know if a lion cut is the best grooming style for your feline.

 

What is a lion cut?

lion cut

A lion cut on cat is a trim that leaves fur on specific places.

All body hair is trimmed leaving the tail and head untouched.

This leaves your cat with a cute mane and an adorable looking tail.

 

There are many variations to the lion cut;

  • You can shave the legs clean and only leave the head and tail with fur
  • You could shave the top half of the leg and leave the paws with ‘hairy boots’
  • Shaving the tail completely and leaving a cute fluffy bush on the tip
  • Shave the belly but live the chest fur as part of the mane
  • Leave a line of fur along the spine. This is called the Dino cut
Dino cut for cats
Dino Cut

 

Is a lion cut good for your cat?

Perhaps you saw a fluffy cut rocking the lion cut and thought to yourself, “I should try this with my cat”.

So, here are the advantages of giving your cat the famed lion’s cut.

 

 

❗ Important

A lion cut suits long-haired cats but short-haired cats can spot it too

 

 

Reduces grooming time

Short-haired cats are easier to groom compared to their long-haired partners.

If you never have the time to groom your cat, then trimming their coat down to a lion cut is advisable.

This reduces grooming time especially if you previously had to groom your cat at least twice a week.

 

Reduces matting

Long-haired cats experiencing the problem of matting coats as well.

Matts are twists of hairs on the fur coat that can cause pain when pulled.

If you don’t take care of matting early, it can cause skin damage or open wounds on a cat.

Trimming the fur coat to a lion’s cut gets rid of matting for good.

 

Reduces hairballs

Cats shed a lot of hair in summer.

They will constantly leak their coats, while self-grooming, to get rid of stray hair.

Some of these hairs get swallowed and passed out during excretion.

 

But if a cat is swallowing more hair than usual, they end up vomiting hairballs.

Hairballs can be dangerous especially when they choke the cat or cause bowel obstruction.

A lion cut on cat helps minimize hairballs in the shedding season.

 

 

Learn More:

Do siamese cat shed?

 

 

Helps in cooling down a cat

Also, in summer, cats with long-haired coats find it hard to cool their bodies.

A lion cut eliminates excess hair allowing heat to escape.

This helps the cat cool faster when it gets too hot.

VIDEO: Lion Cut Removes Feline Insulation

 

Helps with self-care

A lion cut suits that cat that has a hard time grooming itself.

A sick or aging cat may not have the strength to carry out its regular self-care routine.

 

Shaving their coat keeps the cat looking great and they do not have to worry about looking shaggy.

You also could be living with a feline that has no clue on how grooming is done.

 

Kittens learn self-grooming from their mother and if they are weaned too early, they can have problems with self-care while adults.

Long-haired cats also have a problem controlling all the excess hair hence a lion cut solves that issue.

 

Minimizes shedding

Shaving your cat’s coat helps control shedding especially in cat breeds like the Main Coone and Ragdoll cat.

As you get rid of excess fur, you also get rid of the proteins that latch onto cat fur that cause allergies.

A feline with a lion cut can safely be described as hypoallergenic.

 

Can all cats rock a lion cut?

lion cut for cats

We know, a lion cut on cat is about the cutest thing ever.

But as lovely as this cut looks, not every feline can rock it.

Here is why.

 

1. It can be stressing

Not every cat has the patience of sitting still for a haircut.

Also, you have to take your pet to the vet or a professional grooming center to have the cut.

Your cat may feel uneasy being in this new space for long.

 

To reduce anxiety, the vet or groomer may sedate the cat for the shaving process.

Start shaving your cat while they are young so they get used to the lion cut when they age.

 

2. Cats can get sunburns

A lion cut leaves your feline’s skin exposed.

In hot weather, your cat will be vulnerable to sunburn as there is no fur to protect him.

The same can be said for winter as your cat is vulnerable to winter burns.

 

 

❗ Warning

A lion cut is not suitable for a cat that spends more time outdoors. Exposing their skin to harsh sunlight or cold weather can lead to sunburns and winter burns.

 

 

3. It is expensive

It can cost between $30 to $80 for a professional lion cut.

If your cat’s hair grows or thickens too fast, you may have to book several sessions to control shedding and matting.

This accumulates to very costly grooming expenses for your cat.

 

4. It affects body temperature

Ironically, cats use their fur to regulate temperature.

When the fur is shaved off, your feline may have a problem thermoregulating themselves especially if they are old or sick.

A lion cut is not suitable for aging or ailing cats.

 

Conclusion

Before trying out a lion cut on your feline, ensure they are healthy and are accustomed to regular grooming.

Also, ensure your cat can thermoregulate after the cut and that they do not go out when it is extremely hot or cold.

 

See Also


Frequently Asked Questions

A vet will charge $50 on average to groom your cat. Some vets and grooming centers will charge as much as $75 depending on how delicate the job is. Also, consider extra charges like sedation or nail clipping.

It is okay to sedate a cat before grooming. Sedation helps the cat relax and less anxious during the grooming process. The sedative used is the same one given to cats before flying.

Yes, vets are trained to shave cats on request. Before your cat gets a lion cut, the vet will evaluate their health to ensure they will not have problems with temperature regulation. Also, vets know how to trim just enough hair to leave the cat’s skin protected from harsh weather.

For a long-haired cat, fur grows back fully within 4 to 6 months. Short-haired cats need at most 3 months for their fur to grow back. Some cats may grow hair in less than two months of grooming.

Russel

A pet owner who loves to share useful facts and information about a variety of animals.