7 Cat Haircut Styles for Inspiration (With Pictures)
While most cats don’t need a haircut, sometimes you might still need to book a trip to the groomer. Getting your cat’s hair cut can reduce matting and hairballs. A cat’s fur is used to help them keep warm in the winter and also to help them cool off in the hot summer months, so full trims are not recommended. However, certain cuts can help keep your cat feeling cooler in summer.
Normally, cats shouldn't be fully trimmed unless it is indicated by the vet. Older cats, arthritic cats, or overweight cats that are unable to groom themselves might benefit from a haircut, especially cats with too much fur who do not allow their owners to brush them. Cats belonging to allergic owners might also be candidates for haircuts.
As our colorful world is full of variety, there are some cases in which a cat might benefit from a haircut, and for those pets, we’ve rounded up various popular haircuts for cats for you to consider!
Top 7 Cat Haircut Styles
1. Comb Cut
This is the most common cat haircut and involves trimming a long-haired cat’s coat down to roughly 1 inch in length. This can help reduce matting and decrease the risk of your cat getting hairballs. If your cat has a skin condition, then the comb cut makes it easier to check their skin, give them a medicated bath, and apply any necessary cream or lotion.
2. Belly Shave
This haircut involves clipping the hair on a cat’s belly and between their rear legs. These areas often get uncomfortably matted on long-haired cats. It is also popular for cats who live in warmer weather, as they can use the shaved area to lie on a cold floor. If your cat won’t tolerate regular grooming sessions, it can be easier to take them to a professional groomer, so they can clip their fur for you. Your cat will feel more comfortable as a result!
3. Lion Cut
As one of the most popular novelty cat haircuts, the lion cut is most commonly seen on long-haired breeds with a profuse coat. It involves trimming the hair off your cat’s body and leaving the hair on their face, legs, and the tip of their tail. This cut shouldn’t be pursued for the incredible mini lion look your cat will have; it is only a solution for when a cat’s hair is too matted. The cut needs to be performed by a professional groomer. The owner’s goal should be to continue with regular brushing and prevent future matting.
4. Hygiene Cut
Some long-haired cats can get matted and dirty hair around their anus, especially if they’re overweight and can’t groom that area easily. This haircut is also sometimes called a sanitary cut. It helps reduce poop and litter getting stuck in your cat’s coat and will keep your cat more comfortable. It’s a good option for senior or overweight short-haired cats with limited mobility as well.
Questionable Cat Hair Styles
A cat’s coat is important for their thermoregulation and health, and while there are certain situations in which a haircut is the only solution, this should never be done without considering the pros and cons. It’s also important to note that you should never attempt to shave your cat at home. The risk of cutting or nicking the cat is very high. This is why we recommend avoiding hairstyles done for purely aesthetic reasons, like the following:
5. Dragon Style
The dragon cut is a purely aesthetic haircut that doesn’t really benefit your cat. This haircut involves clipping most of your cat’s coat away on their body and leaving just a strip down their spine. A talented groomer can then shape this strip into dragon scales. In the winter, this cut will leave your cat feeling pretty cold. We’ve also seen disastrous versions where this has gone wrong, so you’ll definitely need to choose your groomer with care!
6. Ripple Cut
This haircut works better on short-haired cats because it’s easier to see the gradations between each ripple. This is a haircut that’s for aesthetic reasons only, as it won’t help to remove any mats or tangles. It’s important to find an experienced groomer to create this cut, as the lines need to be sharp, which is difficult to achieve on a wiggly cat!
7. Butterfly Cut
This delicate cut needs a careful hand and an experienced groomer. You can choose to cut almost any shape into your cat’s fur and either leave their tail uncut or trimmed into bobbles. This haircut works best on solid-colored cats, as the pattern won’t show up well on cats with multiple colors, like tabbies or Vans.
Always Use a Professional Groomer
Creating a new haircut for your cat isn’t something that we recommend attempting at home. Vets may carry out hygiene or belly shaves if necessary, but most other cuts will need the help of a professional groomer. There are plenty of photos of DIY cat haircuts gone horribly wrong, and your cat will thank you for not adding them to that list!
Bear in mind that your cat’s coat serves a double purpose of keeping them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. So, while you might think that you’re doing your cat a favor by trimming their coat for hot weather, you might be causing them to overheat. If your cat goes outside, you’ll need to monitor their skin for sunburn and perhaps apply a pet-safe sunscreen. In the winter, a clipped coat can leave your cat feeling cold and unable to regulate their body temperature.
Shaving, for cats with certain skin infections or thin skin due to health conditions, is very dangerous. It is also dangerous to shave a cat with aggressive tendencies or a very anxious and wiggly cat. In extremely matted cats, shaving the pelt off requires using a clipper blade very close to the cat’s skin, and often, the ability to see what is underneath is impossible. Oftentimes, sensitive, open sores hide underneath a tight pelt, so some extreme precaution and experienced hands are a must.
That said, cat haircuts for sanitary reasons can help your cat stay cleaner and avoid hairballs. Aesthetic clips are adorable to look at but keep your cat comfortable by making sure they can stay warm (or cool!) enough with their new hairdo.
In Conclusion
While there are definitely a few haircuts that can benefit cats, there are also plenty out there that are purely for aesthetic reasons and don’t offer any benefits to your furry friends, so they’re usually best avoided. However, if you think a haircut could be good for your cat’s hygiene, it’s always a good idea to get this cleared with your vet first and then find a trusted, professional groomer who can help keep your cat’s coat clean and mat-free.
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Featured Image Credit: Siam Stock, Shutterstock
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Emma is a freelance writer, specializing in writing about pets, outdoor pursuits, and the environment. Originally from the UK, she has lived in Costa Rica and New Zealand before moving to a smallholding in Spain with her husband, their 4-year-old daughter, and their dogs, cats, horses, and poultry. When she's not writing, Emma can be found taking her dogs for walks in the rolling fields around their home...and usually, at least some of the cats come along, too! Emma is passionate about rescuing animals and providing them with a new life after being abandoned or abused. As well as their own four rescue dogs, she also fosters dogs for re-homing, providing them with love and training while searching for their forever homes.
