Cat Shaving Tools

Home cat grooming can at times be both difficult and frustrating for both the owner and the cat. When deciding that the family cat needs a trim it is best to wait until the cat is calm and relaxed. Trying to get the cat to cooperate during its normal "frisky" time of day will most likely lead to frustration and several scratches for the owner, and one really bad fur cut for the cat.

  1. Thinning comb

    • Thinning the fur may be one solution to grooming a long-haired cat. This may also be used as a starting point for training the cat to accept the grooming process. Any thinning comb can be used for this process; these can be found at both pet supply stores and beauty supply stores. Simply use the comb to brush the cat, and the comb does the work while the cat is calm and relaxed. Be sure to comb the entire body in long even strokes in the same direction of the fur.

    Sheep Shears

    • If shaving is necessary due to matted fur or the cat simply has too much hair in the heat of summer, sheep shears are the best tool to use. Sheep shears can be found at farm supply stores and are relatively affordable. To use the sheep shears, again make sure that the cat is calm and willing. A few times before actually using the shears, try turning them on while holding the cat so the sound does not startle the animal. Same as with the thinning comb, shear in the direction of the fur growth to avoid irritating the cat's thin skin. This may take a few times before the cat is comfortable with the shaving process, don’t worry about “styling” the fur until the cat is accepting of the whole routine.

    Trimmers

    • Pet trimmers can be purchased at pet supply stores and are designed specifically for home grooming. Trimmers, unlike the sheep shears, are designed not to shave the cat completely, but to remove problem areas such as mats. Trimmers come in many brands and styles so the owner has a wide range of options to choose from. Using the cordless style of trimmer is often the simplest to use as there is not a cord to get in the way or distract a playful cat. The drawback of using trimmers is that few brands have the attachments to reach the undercoat of the cat's fur. The undercoat usually sheds first, and the hair is trapped beneath the top coat; this causes matting of the top coat. Trimmers will remove the mat, but are not likely to remove the problem of the loose undercoat fur that is causing the mats.