How to Clip Cat Fur

Your cat does a good job of grooming itself by devoting 10 percent of its time each day licking its fur to eliminate dirt and debris. However, on occasions when your cat's fur becomes matted or tangled, it can benefit from a fur trim from you. To successfully clip your cat's fur, you must have the appropriate tools and follow the correct techniques, as well as equip yourself with a great deal of patience.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat treat
  • Small, round-ended scissors
  • Fine-tooth comb
  • Grooming talcum powder
  • Clipper
  • Soft-bristle brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that your cat is calm and relaxed at the time you plan to clip its fur. Place all the grooming tools within hand reach. These include a small, round-ended scissors; fine-tooth comb; grooming talcum powder; clipper; and soft-bristle brush. Keep your cat calm by offering it a treat before you commence the clipping process.

    • 2

      Hold the cat firmly and gently brush its fur coat in the direction of the hair growth. Begin brushing from the head to the base of the tail, using a fine-tooth comb to remove loose fur.

    • 3

      Dust a little grooming powder on your cat's coat, for the powder to absorb body oils, so that the fur separates and you can easily remove any tangled and matted fur. Use your fingertips to spread the powder over the cat's coat.

    • 4

      Separate matted fur from the rest of the coat using your fingers. Pluck the matted fur with your fingers only if it comes off easily.

    • 5

      Cut or clip matted fur on your cat's coat which cannot be loosened with your fingertips. Use a clipper or a round-ended scissors.

    • 6

      Place a fine-tooth comb between the matted fur and the cat's skin before clipping to provide a barrier between the cat's skin and the scissors/clippers. This prevents injury to the cat's skin. Cut or clip the matted fur by holding it upward and away from the skin.

    • 7

      Run a soft-bristle brush all over the cat's coat to untangle any remaining knots and remove excess powder.