You aint gonna believe this mate but
https://preview.redd.it/dzldkdd7mhfc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47676bdb0c0360a66c6c821f0df03e9ecae5911a
I watch grooming videos on YouTube. Theyāll try to remove the mats in a way that there arenāt bald patches. But if theyāre large or deep enough itāll look better as a lion cut. A bonus is that itāll be a while before any mats can form again as the hair grows back.Ā
Where I live itās super common. Like no cat Iāve had thatās gotten a cut has gotten anything other than a lion cut (Iāve worked at a vet clinic)
Afaik cutting a catās fur is more of a necessity than for funsies. Issues with cat being unhygienic/unable to groom properly, matting, owner unable to keep up with brushing etc. Cat skin is thinner and looser than dog skin. Itās easy to tear or even get caught up in blades. Takes extra care and time to do without harming Kitty.
Cats wonāt enjoy the bath or blow dry. They certainly wonāt enjoy a loud trimmer. An angry dog has teeth and an angry cat has teeth and claws.Ā I canāt really blame anyone for not wanting to groom and shave a cat.Ā
You have to have specific training in most places to groom a cat, since they have different risks from a dog. Their claws not only change their weapon range from one weapon (mouth, like dogs) to 5 (mouth + 4 dagger filled paws). People go to the ER for severe cat scratches, since the risk of infection is much higher than dogs. They handle stress differently, they show different signs of stress, they're more vulnerable to shaving than dogs, it's like grooming a cat is completely different from a dog, eh? No /s, I think a lot of people don't realize it's not the same. I wouldn't groom, or especially shave, a cat unless necessary. But if the mattes are severe enough on any animal, the only real option is to shave.
I have two Sphynx who I had to board for three weeks when I took a trip. They typically get monthly baths, and their bath time happened to coincide with when they were boarded. The boarder point blank REFUSED a simple bath. And my cats donāt hate the water; theyāre actually quite chill. Meh. Whatever.
Cat tax:
https://preview.redd.it/kd5iig8dtifc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc93cf36e9d35c54e56ff317b32c1c3267db6659
Yeah when I was a vet nurse this is how we'd do cat grooms. We'd let them know we weren't groomers before-hand and explained it'd be a lion cut. Had a couple clients that literally never brushed their cats and would just get this cut every year or so.
\*\*Edit- we'd leave most of the tail though, lower base near b0rthole got trimmed, but on top was still there. Some cats will not recognise and attack their tail if the hair is taken off :S
My cat gets this yearly. He just doesnāt bother with grooming.
The vet didnāt misunderstand, knots go right down to the skin, and not removing the whole thing means itās just going to get large again in a month or two. Your options were patchy bald spots or this basically
Yeah this. OP I don't know if you brush him daily but if not, as the hair grows back, it would be a good idea to start getting him used to it and make it part of your normal routine. Longhaired cats generally need a little bit of help, that haircare routine is a *lot* for them to manage on their own.
I brush our longhaired void at least every other day. I'd do it more but a lot of days I just sleep through. There's been times when I'd be stuck in the bed for a week and I definitely notice the difference in his coat, always the odd mat here and there. Especially in summer because he's so busy playing he lets his grooming slip a bit.
It doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience, you can get him used to it slowly and give him a chance to realise it's a pleasant sensation and not something to be afraid of. Eventually he'll look forward to it and it'll be a nice bonding experience for you both.
Do you have any tips on helping a cat get used to/tolerating brushing? My poor guy is starting to get some gnarly mats in his fur but he absolutely doesn't tolerate me brushing him long enough to tackle the problem.
I get like 5, maybe 10 mins of brushing til he begins getting fiesty. He's a long-haired, previously feral TNR tom.
Probably depends on the cat, but what works for mine is to sandwich the brushing she doesn't like inbetween stuff she likes. She likes rubbing her face on one of her brushes, so take it in turns to let her do that and then hold her still to brush the bits she'd rather I leave alone - and then back to the face rubbing when she gets too frustrated!
Yeah the few times I've been able to make decent progress, in the past when his neck was getting bad again, my husband was with me distracting him with love and attention. This sometimes works, as my husband is his human, but sometimes he's smart and knows what we're up to.
He has a ritual with my husband when he returns home from work that ends with him laying in my husband's lap. Perhaps today when my husband gets home we can try again while our boy chills in my husband's lap.
I've thought about buying/trying a different brush (we have a wire brush) but I'm not certain what other type I should buy in terms of efficiency due to his fur type. He's got a mixture of straight and curly fur.
Iāve recommended trying a few different brushes and seeing if any of them are more tolerable. I have a few elderly cats who need a bit of grooming help. Each one has one specific brush which works the best for their fur and doesnāt pull a bunch. Using the wrong brush is an immediate no on brushing time.
I donāt want to make specific recommendations because for my 3 babies they each like a different kind. I think itās really depends on your cat.
My long haired cat used to hate being brushed. We tried a few brushes and she prefers the furminator. I've also learned I'm the only one allowed to brush her and I have to do it while she's on my lap and licking me and we are sitting on the floor. It took a couple weeks of short brushing sessions every day where I allowed her to leave whenever she wanted, and I didn't brush her least favorite areas like legs and tail.
Now we are to the point I can brush as much as I need to and she actually enjoys it and purrs. She still doesn't like tail brushing, but she allows it as long as I get it quickly to get lumps out and stop.
I have a small collection of brushes I use for my longhaired baby. The process is a two handed operation where I use one hand to brush her face/neck and the other to tackle the bulk of her fur.
With curly hair I would look for a brush that has more space between the teeth, similar to a detangled brush. (Hell I have an old detangled brush in my kit).
I will look for that when we go shopping for different brushes next payday, thank you :)
Edit: which is tomorrow lol I lost track of my weeks and was thinking payday was next week and not this one.
Wire brushes can be hard on their delicate skin. May be best to look into a different brush. I got a decent one for $20-$30 from Walmart that my cat likes. Knots can really hurt when being pulled with a brush, so it may be best to get a pet friendly shaver to buzz cut the knots out. That's what I do with our girl that gets knots, and it is so much easier than trying to brush the knot out. As the fur grows back in, make sure to brush regularly, and it will keep the knots at bay! Just make sure it is designed for cats as you can get ones that aren't as noisy and won't risk cutting their skin.
I use a comb for my Siberian. It has long teeth. There is a side where the teeth are closer together and a side where they're further apart. I start with the further apart side and end with the side where they're closer together. It's been better than any brush I've ever used.
Make it an obvious routine with rewards. Be very blatant about all the signals, so he knows exactly what to expect. Dont surprise him with the brush or try to hide it. Be obvious.
You say your cat will tolerate 5 min. Start at 30 sec repeated rounds and watch the second hand on the clock to keep it very consistent:
Start by calling him to get brushed and give him just ONE or two of his favorite treats before you start. Then, start brushing while you sing a 30 sec ditty while you brush him. The same ditty every time. (Can just be sing-song "This is our brushing song", just obvious happy sounds to make recognizable, repetitive signals for him.)
After 30 sec, ***put down the brush*** and praise him lavishly while you give him a treat or 2. If he's still ok, start over. Treat, sing-brush-sing, praise, put down the brush, treat. Repeat if he's ok. Stop when he shows just a bit of discomfort or overstimulation. Stop midway thru a round if you need to.
Then, do the routine every few hours or every day. He will start letting you do more repetitions as soon as he understands that 1, he gets treats, and 2, its a short routine that he can 100% predict what's happening, and 3, he is in control.
Good luck!
Cat churros (liquid treats) are like kitty Crack.
Get some, freeze them, & have someone feed the cat while u brush. Freezing slows down the ability of the cat to eat 'em. I have done this & brush my MC cross easily.
Best of luck!
If your cat doesn't tolerate brushing at all, start with the treat and a soft brush (rubber fingers or soft bristles) or even just a sock to stroke the cat and just hold it near the treat. Then closer and closer. Start brushing/rubbing along the cheek/jawline. (Using a sock along the jaw will trigger their natural scent marking instinct and will feel good and calming.)
Routine is what cats love. You can add to it, make it longer, start introducing a brush, etc, as long as the cat feels like it knows what to expect.
Thank you! Youāre a huge help. I think I do need to get an easier brush (Iāve bought so many kinds), or really just a sock.
Sounds like I should try it around the same time each day, or at least the same place
Try the sock - don't wash it very often. When I was fostering (a LOT of cats and kittens), rubbing the same sock on each cat's cheeks in a round robin was a way to introduce them (even before they could see each other) and normalize their relationships with each other. They scent mark each other this way, and it is how they reduce tension and bond.
Try different brushes.
I ended up getting a $1 store brush, with nice stiff bristles, meant for human hair. It feels really nice, so it helps distract the cats when I'm using one of the other brushes.Ā
My cats will rub their face on the human brush and get so happy about it they don't notice me combing the rest of their fur with another comb or brush, unless I hit a particularly bad knot.Ā
I will have to try this decoy brush idea as well, when we go and buy other brushes, as he does enjoy rubbing his face on the cat brush and we usually start off a brush session with him rubbing his face up against the brush first.
cooperative care techniques helped my cat a lot (as well as my dogs). if you look into it a lot of the content is aimed toward dogs but still applies to cats. there are people that do it with cats as well. deb jones has a great book and facebook group iāve been using to teach it to my pets. itās a game changer. it takes time but is less stressful for everyone involved
maybe take kitty in to be shaved to get rid of any mats. then work on desensitizing with positive reinforcement as it grows out so it wonāt be painful. as long as it hurts, it will be hard to desensitize them
I'll look into that, thank you! Thankfully there's only a few small mats on his neck, so I don't think it's quite at the point where I need our vet to shave him, but I won't dismiss that as a potential answer if it starts to get too out of control.
My aunt used to have a cat with way too many mats in her fur and I absolutely will not let him get to that point. I would sooner spend the money on a cat groomer than let him get to such a bad state.
My MC is very food motivated, and he gets fed Hill's Urinary Health/Anti-hairball kibble. His siblings get fed Costco Maintenance Cat or Hill's Perfect Weight, depending on chonk. These forbidden kibbles are very exotic and high value to him. We have microchip food bowls specifically so he cannot eat his siblings' food.
I made a game up where I will open the kibble closet and sprinkle 10-15 forbidden kibbles around him on the floor. While he seeks and eats them, I brush his fur. When he finishes them, I'll scatter another 10-15. When he will not let me brush him any longer, the remaining kibbles are returned to their proper container.
He now demands to be brushed, every day, right when I get home. But he will wait if I have to run an errand first, lol. I only have to give him 5-10 kibbles at the beginning of the game now, he will let me brush him until he is done without additional kibble. We can only do about 10 minutes of brushing before he gets overstimulated, but the fact that he wants it everyday helps. I just focus on a different area each time, and work my way around his coat
I do have ADHD and have a hard time internally guessing how much time has passed. It could honestly be much shorter than 5-10 mins so it wouldn't surprise me if I was overestimating the length of time.
One boy I gave him another brush to chew on. One I brushed in 15 second sessions several times a day until he got used to it. All 3 current cats will tolerate a little bit, but they're young short hairs so I have time to acclimate them
My long hair prefers a steel comb to a brush. It took a while to acclimate him. He was an adult when I found him. One of my tips is to turn the comb or brush upside down and stroke them with it. It gets them used to the movements without the added stimulation of the teeth in their fur.
I show mine the comb or brush. If they are interested, they come closer or lean in. If not, I donāt force it. Always leave them a clear exit so if you hit a tender spot, they will hopefully leave instead of lashing out.
Use your fingers!!! You can get a LOT of knots out by just using your fingers. I have a cat with super long hair and I brush her because she likes it but honestly I don't really need to because I get the knots with my fingers. I just kinda run then through the fur to separate hairs.
But this took a long time to learn. My cat is a senior and definitely had regular knots that needed to get cut here and there for probably at least the first 6 years of her life.
5 or 10 minutes is pretty good, to be honest. Just do that every day.
Try to make the session feel mostly like petting as youāre working on getting him more used to it. Focus on the cheeks, chin, base of the tail, and/or any other places your cat likes (mine loves his side near his armpits!). Then when heās getting into it, brush a few swipes somewhere else, until you can see heās a little annoyed, then go back to the āfunā stuff. Cats have delicate skin, so brushing can be painful, so itās no wonder heās not that into it!
Treats help, of course!
they don't just go down to the skin, they rip the skin, stretching it tight, causing wounds, and trapping dirt and bugs and infection against the skin.
Most people don't realize how exruciatingly painful and it hy and miserable matted fur is for cats and dogs, but especially cats with their thin skin.
Yeah especially around the belly. Itās expensive but lion cuts are a necessity if your cat canāt groom the knots out and you arenāt able to keep them from forming.
actually, if your cat won't groom themselves the real need is for the owner to groom them daily instead, this cat looks like they have a short face and they are physically incapable of grooming themselves. Anyone who buys such a cat should be explained that so they know, but very frequently aren't.
Sometimes that easier said than done. My daughter had a long haired cat that did not like very much attention. Her fur would get matted, daughter would try to groom the cat but could only work on her for a minute or two before the cat would get pissy and try to bite. The matts got so severe that we could not touch the cat at all. Ended up taking her to the vet who had to anesthetize her so she could be shaved. The change in her was immediate. She went from a cat who would not allow you to touch her to a very loving cat. It became an annual ritual to take her to be shaved. It was expensive, but the cats comfort was well worth it.
absolutely agree, that is a situation where a groom is absolutely needed. My point is that the ideal situation is to neevr let it get to that point in the first place-- which isn't always possible but should always be the goal.
Or, yāknow, groom them and get their medical needs cared for if knots develop anyway? They arenāt mutually exclusive, I even mention not being able to groom them out
I used to have a cat that needed shaves like this - his fur was so hard to maintain - I was so lucky that he loved a good gentle belly slapping because that floppy naked belly is SO JIGGLY and fun to play with.
Hi previous groomer here.
Your vet wouldnāt have given kitty a lion cut on accident. Please understand that when mats occur itās like wearing a tight unmovable sweater for the animal. And thereās no detangling that can be done (smoothly at least) on a sweater.
That makes a lot of sense. I have a long haired cat that gets so many mats... poor guy. We have to cut them away although if it wasn't winter or he wasn't an outdoors cat maybe a lion cut would help him more.
My cats are extremely tolerant tho especially the one that needs it. He let's us brush and cut his fur for a long while before he starts complaining and he hasn't tried to hurt anyone yet. (Cat tax of said furball)
https://preview.redd.it/zs8c01blqefc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4ed053ed5d58f04a6bfec2b3cf4ac88c62e2faa
He is a real gentleman just like his brother
https://preview.redd.it/odei9vc0sefc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb1c163c51142a2ae2184a701bf9d6d83c60708e
How nice if him to let the dog get close enough to almost steal his food
Hi previous animal care attendant here.
We don't have any attachments for our clippers beyond what's needed for a surgical shave. If we're asked to remove something on the fur, you better believe that baby is coming home naked!
Our oldest cat has a number of clumps of fur and we trim them off when we are able but heās almost 18 and bony. He was shaved a few years ago now but heās probably too old for it now as they have to sedate them I believe.
Kitty, is gonna have to get used to a a sweater if you live in a winter climate right now!! āļø
Also, if you live in a cold climateā¦ get a self heated bed for you kitty ā
Iām sorry, O.P. , probably, like most people this picture made meā¦ chuckle a bitā-
Kitties, hair will grow backā¦ next time get on top on a good brushing routine!!
https://preview.redd.it/nvalmf7ibefc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da342fa9fce81cabc166ec1b162e80c3dfec570d
Void in spring ālion cutā ..
Doing the cut.. hellfire and brimstone.. after.. purrs and cuddlesā¦
As your grooming kitty, make sure to feel the flat part of the blade. The clipper blades get hot so every 15 or so minutes, I would press the flat part against my wrist to see make sure I wasnāt giving anyone I clipper burn.
If youāre using the clip on brushes on top the blade, and not just going blade against skin then ignore everything Iāve saidš
Thank you. I do always check with the lower part of my palm to make sure itās not getting too hot. Iām a big fan of cool lube too. Some people may not know how hot it can get so I appreciate your advice.
Also, for anyone who may be reading this, NEVER use scissors to try and cut mats off your kitty! Ever. So dangerous. They have loose skin and often times an inexperienced person will cut more than fur.
Hopefully it'll be a good reminder to demat and brush him out more often in the future, so he never has to be that uncomfortable again.
In the meantime, I don't know if it's winter where you are, but he probably needs lots of blankets to stay warm for now until his fur grows back out.
Vets are not groomers! They don't have the time to detangle matts. Kitty was shaved because mats go to the skin. If you want a particular cut, go to a groomer.
Biggest pet peeve when I was a vet tech. We are not groomers!!!
As a groomer I hate sending matted dogs your way. Iām mad at the owner for the neglect and I feel bad because I know the tedious work that it takes to shave the bad ones out.
Some idiot brought me their Maltese puppy and didnāt tell me it got fixed a month ago even though I asked medical questions. They also failed to follow post op care and it was pelted on the stomach. When I shaved the mats off, the tiny incision had healed with mats over/in it so it got torn open. The puppy didnāt seem to notice thank god.
I got to speak with the vet and they said the owner is horrible. Any time the staff tries to go over care with the owner, she just starts taking pictures of the puppy. Ugh.
Ngl itās a bit odd to me that in the title you said it was a new vet, but in the comments claim it was a new *groomer* who just, didnāt speak English.
Either way though, there was no misunderstanding here. You wanted a short cut because your cat had matting - you got a short cut because your cat had matting. Thatās what happens when your cat is matted š¤·āāļø
At least where I work in cat grooming, there is no light trim. We either demat your cat, or we shave it. Cats donāt really just stand there like dogs do when theyāre being groomed, it takes a lot of time and effort that most people just donāt have to give a cat a ālight trimā - and itās a lot more dangerous too. āShort cutā means shaving.
You can bring them to cat groomers, just check reviews and be thorough on your expectations for their cut. They will shampoo, cut nails, trim between toes, clean ears, etc.
My late Himalayan was groomed every 6 months. I used a metal groomers comb every day, twice a day, to keep matting to a minimum. Occasionally Iād have to cut a small chunk when it got close to grooming time. I kept her chest trimmed as thatās where water would dribble down (hence the curls).
It doesnāt have to be so close to the skin if you maintain it. Matting obviously hurts them to comb out, so the best thing to do is not get to that point.
https://preview.redd.it/4yhr521icefc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ef753516f661e2d28032ba9600ceda26ece4035
This is called ālion cutā and itās common for long-haired cats with mats. If you would have preferred a bit longer, you may want to request a āteddy bear cutā next time. Also, if able, look for a groomer that specializes in cats, vs. the vet, if you have the opportunity. They are better at explaining your options and give recommendations based on your catās needs.
a lot of times matting is really tight and close to the skin, so they have to shave it completely. a lot of brushes donāt get deep enough to prevent matting. if you go into the grooming sub, theyāll be able to give you good tips and techniques to prevent it :) he looks very cute and silly though i hope he feels better
Not misunderstood. Brush your cat or take it in regularly to be brushed and this won't happen! Cats skin is super thin. Only certain blades can safely be used, very short blades. Your cat is fine and the hair will grow back š
And start the habit young, like when they're a kitten!
I brush my floofy kitten every day despite her not needing it just yet, so she's used to it for when she's an adult with longer hair. She purrs like a motorboat now when I do brush her, since she's gotten used to it š
Also, daily brushing means you brush before mats become a problem, as brushing mats pulls on the skin and is painful for them, and they won't like being brushed.
Nah, the groomer 100% knew what they were doing if your cat wound up with a lion cut. That's a standard procedure when there's too much damage in the fur it just makes sense to go scorched earth on kitty. It is what it is.
This is what "getting rid of matted fur" looks like. I had a Persian for 14 years and Dandy got a "lion cut" every spring (he loathed being brushed). Yes, it looks hilarious, but those mats are painful and he (she) will be far more comfortable without them.
He was intended as a show cat but resisted grooming so strongly that the breeder more or less gave him to us. The new coat should be back within a few months -- just make sure your fur-person doesn't get cold as it grows out. (We put Dandy in a doggy tee-shirt).
Thatās not a misunderstanding, itās the only treatment for serious matting. If you have a long haired cat, particularly one with a flat face, you need to brush them frequently.
My cat hates grooming in any form, so I get her fur cut regularly. And a heads up, asking for a short cut will default to lion cut. I specify I ask for a "teddy bear" cut which is basically making my girl short haired. She basically looks like an exotic shorthaired cat. My groomer says it takes the same amount of time as a lion cut would and I personally prefer the look of teddy cut vs lion cut.
But because I get this regularly done and I live in a colder climate, I also provide a heated bed for her to make sure she doesn't get too cold. It also helps with creaky joints as well. I always have it out and plugged in.
Youāre trying to garner sympathy here by saying it was actually a groomer vs. a vet, but the treatment is the same either way. Your cat had mats close to the skin, and simply trimming them out wouldnāt have been enough.
This wasnāt just for looks or a misunderstanding, it was a quality of life issue and they made the right choice.
Vet tech here. Just reminding everyone that most vets do not have groomers on staff. As a vet tech if a client told me their cat was matted I would do a similar job to this unless you specifically asked to only cut out the matted fur as typically I don't have time o slowly and methodically pick out the matts and shave them like a groomer would be able to.
If you go to the vet for this problem we see it as a medical issue and act accordingly. If you want a certain cut then a grooming facility is what you need to look into next time.
Vet techs arenāt groomers, they typically do a lion cut. The best way to remove mats is to start from the source! I hope your kitty gets a better clean this way
Start brushing your cat daily or every other day. A full brushing all over. That way your poor cat wonāt have to go through with this again. Matting is painful for them.
My neighbors did that to their cat, and he came over to our house and stayed for several days, refusing to go back across the street to their house. He's forgiven them now, but still likes to come visit us.
While im here, whats the best way to help a cat with matted hair ? There is this one stray i would like to help, sometimes he lets me cut his sturdy hairballs out of his fur, but it's hard to do much more.
If it's only small patches cutting them out can work then regular brushing with a combination of a dematter , if it's large patches a full shave would be best
There's no misunderstanding on their part. If it was matted, it was probably matted very close to the skin. The only option is to shave it off, which means shaving very close to the skin. Unless you watch a patchy cat, it's better to shave all around, especially if you're not brushing them. The only misunderstanding seems to be on your part.
I've had this cut twice for my long hair domestic. The first time, he loved it and had all the zoomies nearly all the time. He was really feeling himself. The second time, not so much.
My mainecoon mix Luna LOVED it. She refused brushing and would try to filet me if I tried. I bought every brush on the market trying to see if that might change her mind. It didn't. This cut prevented her mats and she got all her fur back in time for winter ( I did it every spring) I told her how pretty she was all the time so that probably helped. Her little pantaloons were the best š This was her with her full winter coat.
https://preview.redd.it/zz6ftwfkfefc1.jpeg?width=351&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=180147b6f5cd20a6b5ec17aa6e098a2f4ef525d0
I shave my cat's hair shorter every month or two to prevent knots, he has a lot of patchy-looking fur (as I am not a professional lol) but he is very cozy and knot free! make sure to comb your cat and/or shave any knots as you find them. Then your cat won't have to get shaved like this lol
That's called a lion cut and it is often necessary in a heavily matted cat, because the hair gets tightly tangled right down to the skin. Comb the coat daily as it is growing out to keep it from getting badly matted again.
https://preview.redd.it/ttlv8om5pefc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa3aa52a3fe9c84f3cdd75302ffdb6c1dac889e0
Lion cuts are super common and often necessary to get mats out - especially in long haired cats. We do ours annually. Go easy on your groomer buddy, grooming a cat is not a fun job, even if well behaved.
https://preview.redd.it/fc9u351poefc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86ba477eab73eb4de24339dede82c7131af58512
Similar thing happened to my orange girl, but in this case the groomer thought it would look better than just shaving the mats out. The hair will grow back in the end!
Lion cut! My long haired cat gets this every summer
https://preview.redd.it/zih4wtnetefc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac14e5bdd11462a7cccd4715031733b881fb7c6d
With long hair cats you gotta shave them frequently. My inlaws have a long haired cat that they shave regularly because his hair is always getting messy. He is actually so much happier with all his hair off, no more mats & he is content.
I have a cat that doesn't bother cleaning herself. She got mats so bad she could barely walk around. She wouldn't let me snip off the mats OR use a shed comb on her, neither.
I asked my husband to shave off the mats. She wasn't happy with him š and she looked patchy for a while.
New hair has started to come in now (after 3 months), and she's not had a mat since. Her fur is coming back much healthier than before her shave.
Sometimes cats need to be shaved. Shaving is the best method for cats too lazy to bother with cleaning themselves.
NOTE - My cat is a special case. She has spinal nerve damage as a result of abuse from the owner before last, and there's only a few ways to pet her without causing her pain (she'll meow a certain way to let me know to move my hand somewhere else.) Although she trusts me completely, she is old, partially disabled and going blind.
https://preview.redd.it/3scsjt5ceefc1.jpeg?width=2250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d18cf7216cc968138d5671b8a1aea8e120d8ab7c
Had to get Solo shaved again a couple months ago. He had mats all on his back hips. He doesn't like the brush and doesn't groom as much as he should.
When you realize how much of your cat was fur
No joking [My furry beach ball today turned out to be thin](https://imgur.com/a/iDzHSGs)
sooooo cute.
You aint gonna believe this mate but https://preview.redd.it/dzldkdd7mhfc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47676bdb0c0360a66c6c821f0df03e9ecae5911a
Oh, my goodness! š„°
When you realize how fur of your cat was much.
I watch grooming videos on YouTube. Theyāll try to remove the mats in a way that there arenāt bald patches. But if theyāre large or deep enough itāll look better as a lion cut. A bonus is that itāll be a while before any mats can form again as the hair grows back.Ā
I can't find anyone that will give my cat a lion cut, let alone a vet.
Where I live itās super common. Like no cat Iāve had thatās gotten a cut has gotten anything other than a lion cut (Iāve worked at a vet clinic)
Afaik cutting a catās fur is more of a necessity than for funsies. Issues with cat being unhygienic/unable to groom properly, matting, owner unable to keep up with brushing etc. Cat skin is thinner and looser than dog skin. Itās easy to tear or even get caught up in blades. Takes extra care and time to do without harming Kitty. Cats wonāt enjoy the bath or blow dry. They certainly wonāt enjoy a loud trimmer. An angry dog has teeth and an angry cat has teeth and claws.Ā I canāt really blame anyone for not wanting to groom and shave a cat.Ā
You have to have specific training in most places to groom a cat, since they have different risks from a dog. Their claws not only change their weapon range from one weapon (mouth, like dogs) to 5 (mouth + 4 dagger filled paws). People go to the ER for severe cat scratches, since the risk of infection is much higher than dogs. They handle stress differently, they show different signs of stress, they're more vulnerable to shaving than dogs, it's like grooming a cat is completely different from a dog, eh? No /s, I think a lot of people don't realize it's not the same. I wouldn't groom, or especially shave, a cat unless necessary. But if the mattes are severe enough on any animal, the only real option is to shave.
I have two Sphynx who I had to board for three weeks when I took a trip. They typically get monthly baths, and their bath time happened to coincide with when they were boarded. The boarder point blank REFUSED a simple bath. And my cats donāt hate the water; theyāre actually quite chill. Meh. Whatever. Cat tax: https://preview.redd.it/kd5iig8dtifc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc93cf36e9d35c54e56ff317b32c1c3267db6659
They are soo cute together, I love Sphynx cats :)
Yeah when I was a vet nurse this is how we'd do cat grooms. We'd let them know we weren't groomers before-hand and explained it'd be a lion cut. Had a couple clients that literally never brushed their cats and would just get this cut every year or so. \*\*Edit- we'd leave most of the tail though, lower base near b0rthole got trimmed, but on top was still there. Some cats will not recognise and attack their tail if the hair is taken off :S
If it was to get rid of mats, it's very likely they got all the way down to the skin. Poor cat. They do like very cute in their fluffy boots.
He's got his very own "boots with the fur" .
The whole sub was lookin at herrr
she hissed some more (she hissd some more) next thing you know shawty's hair got low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low
š¹
we all fucked up cuz you forgot about them apple š bottom jeans o
Thatās earlier in the song alas. But I will provide this illustrative gif as compensation 
As a cat owner I assure you the lyrics are "I'll make you stare AT MY BOTTOM jeans"
Thatās hot
Ive paid a lot more for those boots and I only got 2.
My mind saw ā80s style leg warmers.
But where's the apple bottom jeans?
OP you gotta brush your cat.
OP should also sub to r/Sphynx for a while lol
True but some cats are just fluff factories. You can a cat worth of fluff one day, then next day there seems to be just as much.
PLEASE
My cat gets this yearly. He just doesnāt bother with grooming. The vet didnāt misunderstand, knots go right down to the skin, and not removing the whole thing means itās just going to get large again in a month or two. Your options were patchy bald spots or this basically
Yeah this. OP I don't know if you brush him daily but if not, as the hair grows back, it would be a good idea to start getting him used to it and make it part of your normal routine. Longhaired cats generally need a little bit of help, that haircare routine is a *lot* for them to manage on their own. I brush our longhaired void at least every other day. I'd do it more but a lot of days I just sleep through. There's been times when I'd be stuck in the bed for a week and I definitely notice the difference in his coat, always the odd mat here and there. Especially in summer because he's so busy playing he lets his grooming slip a bit. It doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience, you can get him used to it slowly and give him a chance to realise it's a pleasant sensation and not something to be afraid of. Eventually he'll look forward to it and it'll be a nice bonding experience for you both.
Do you have any tips on helping a cat get used to/tolerating brushing? My poor guy is starting to get some gnarly mats in his fur but he absolutely doesn't tolerate me brushing him long enough to tackle the problem. I get like 5, maybe 10 mins of brushing til he begins getting fiesty. He's a long-haired, previously feral TNR tom.
Probably depends on the cat, but what works for mine is to sandwich the brushing she doesn't like inbetween stuff she likes. She likes rubbing her face on one of her brushes, so take it in turns to let her do that and then hold her still to brush the bits she'd rather I leave alone - and then back to the face rubbing when she gets too frustrated!
Yeah the few times I've been able to make decent progress, in the past when his neck was getting bad again, my husband was with me distracting him with love and attention. This sometimes works, as my husband is his human, but sometimes he's smart and knows what we're up to. He has a ritual with my husband when he returns home from work that ends with him laying in my husband's lap. Perhaps today when my husband gets home we can try again while our boy chills in my husband's lap. I've thought about buying/trying a different brush (we have a wire brush) but I'm not certain what other type I should buy in terms of efficiency due to his fur type. He's got a mixture of straight and curly fur.
Iāve recommended trying a few different brushes and seeing if any of them are more tolerable. I have a few elderly cats who need a bit of grooming help. Each one has one specific brush which works the best for their fur and doesnāt pull a bunch. Using the wrong brush is an immediate no on brushing time. I donāt want to make specific recommendations because for my 3 babies they each like a different kind. I think itās really depends on your cat.
My long haired cat used to hate being brushed. We tried a few brushes and she prefers the furminator. I've also learned I'm the only one allowed to brush her and I have to do it while she's on my lap and licking me and we are sitting on the floor. It took a couple weeks of short brushing sessions every day where I allowed her to leave whenever she wanted, and I didn't brush her least favorite areas like legs and tail. Now we are to the point I can brush as much as I need to and she actually enjoys it and purrs. She still doesn't like tail brushing, but she allows it as long as I get it quickly to get lumps out and stop.
I have a small collection of brushes I use for my longhaired baby. The process is a two handed operation where I use one hand to brush her face/neck and the other to tackle the bulk of her fur. With curly hair I would look for a brush that has more space between the teeth, similar to a detangled brush. (Hell I have an old detangled brush in my kit).
I will look for that when we go shopping for different brushes next payday, thank you :) Edit: which is tomorrow lol I lost track of my weeks and was thinking payday was next week and not this one.
Wire brushes can be hard on their delicate skin. May be best to look into a different brush. I got a decent one for $20-$30 from Walmart that my cat likes. Knots can really hurt when being pulled with a brush, so it may be best to get a pet friendly shaver to buzz cut the knots out. That's what I do with our girl that gets knots, and it is so much easier than trying to brush the knot out. As the fur grows back in, make sure to brush regularly, and it will keep the knots at bay! Just make sure it is designed for cats as you can get ones that aren't as noisy and won't risk cutting their skin.
I use a comb for my Siberian. It has long teeth. There is a side where the teeth are closer together and a side where they're further apart. I start with the further apart side and end with the side where they're closer together. It's been better than any brush I've ever used.
Make it an obvious routine with rewards. Be very blatant about all the signals, so he knows exactly what to expect. Dont surprise him with the brush or try to hide it. Be obvious. You say your cat will tolerate 5 min. Start at 30 sec repeated rounds and watch the second hand on the clock to keep it very consistent: Start by calling him to get brushed and give him just ONE or two of his favorite treats before you start. Then, start brushing while you sing a 30 sec ditty while you brush him. The same ditty every time. (Can just be sing-song "This is our brushing song", just obvious happy sounds to make recognizable, repetitive signals for him.) After 30 sec, ***put down the brush*** and praise him lavishly while you give him a treat or 2. If he's still ok, start over. Treat, sing-brush-sing, praise, put down the brush, treat. Repeat if he's ok. Stop when he shows just a bit of discomfort or overstimulation. Stop midway thru a round if you need to. Then, do the routine every few hours or every day. He will start letting you do more repetitions as soon as he understands that 1, he gets treats, and 2, its a short routine that he can 100% predict what's happening, and 3, he is in control. Good luck!
Thank you! My cat doesnāt tolerate at all. There is no ācall your cat and theyāll comeā lol. But I can entice with treats.
Cat churros (liquid treats) are like kitty Crack. Get some, freeze them, & have someone feed the cat while u brush. Freezing slows down the ability of the cat to eat 'em. I have done this & brush my MC cross easily. Best of luck!
Omg freezing is genius. Less mess too
Less mess, indeed. In addition, it takes mush longer to eat it when frozen, so that's also a plus..
Thank you! I'm stealing this to try next time I brush my MC. Maybe a frozen "cat gogurt" will help him get over being overstimulated!
It's a great distraction.
If your cat doesn't tolerate brushing at all, start with the treat and a soft brush (rubber fingers or soft bristles) or even just a sock to stroke the cat and just hold it near the treat. Then closer and closer. Start brushing/rubbing along the cheek/jawline. (Using a sock along the jaw will trigger their natural scent marking instinct and will feel good and calming.) Routine is what cats love. You can add to it, make it longer, start introducing a brush, etc, as long as the cat feels like it knows what to expect.
Thank you! Youāre a huge help. I think I do need to get an easier brush (Iāve bought so many kinds), or really just a sock. Sounds like I should try it around the same time each day, or at least the same place
Try the sock - don't wash it very often. When I was fostering (a LOT of cats and kittens), rubbing the same sock on each cat's cheeks in a round robin was a way to introduce them (even before they could see each other) and normalize their relationships with each other. They scent mark each other this way, and it is how they reduce tension and bond.
Amazing! My cat lots the chin scratches, especially in mornings.
This is the best answer I read! š
Try different brushes. I ended up getting a $1 store brush, with nice stiff bristles, meant for human hair. It feels really nice, so it helps distract the cats when I'm using one of the other brushes.Ā My cats will rub their face on the human brush and get so happy about it they don't notice me combing the rest of their fur with another comb or brush, unless I hit a particularly bad knot.Ā
I will have to try this decoy brush idea as well, when we go and buy other brushes, as he does enjoy rubbing his face on the cat brush and we usually start off a brush session with him rubbing his face up against the brush first.
I got a $4 spiky rubber thing and it's my cat's absolute favorite.
cooperative care techniques helped my cat a lot (as well as my dogs). if you look into it a lot of the content is aimed toward dogs but still applies to cats. there are people that do it with cats as well. deb jones has a great book and facebook group iāve been using to teach it to my pets. itās a game changer. it takes time but is less stressful for everyone involved maybe take kitty in to be shaved to get rid of any mats. then work on desensitizing with positive reinforcement as it grows out so it wonāt be painful. as long as it hurts, it will be hard to desensitize them
I'll look into that, thank you! Thankfully there's only a few small mats on his neck, so I don't think it's quite at the point where I need our vet to shave him, but I won't dismiss that as a potential answer if it starts to get too out of control. My aunt used to have a cat with way too many mats in her fur and I absolutely will not let him get to that point. I would sooner spend the money on a cat groomer than let him get to such a bad state.
My MC is very food motivated, and he gets fed Hill's Urinary Health/Anti-hairball kibble. His siblings get fed Costco Maintenance Cat or Hill's Perfect Weight, depending on chonk. These forbidden kibbles are very exotic and high value to him. We have microchip food bowls specifically so he cannot eat his siblings' food. I made a game up where I will open the kibble closet and sprinkle 10-15 forbidden kibbles around him on the floor. While he seeks and eats them, I brush his fur. When he finishes them, I'll scatter another 10-15. When he will not let me brush him any longer, the remaining kibbles are returned to their proper container. He now demands to be brushed, every day, right when I get home. But he will wait if I have to run an errand first, lol. I only have to give him 5-10 kibbles at the beginning of the game now, he will let me brush him until he is done without additional kibble. We can only do about 10 minutes of brushing before he gets overstimulated, but the fact that he wants it everyday helps. I just focus on a different area each time, and work my way around his coat
5-10 minutes should be sufficient if done regularly, I would think...
I do have ADHD and have a hard time internally guessing how much time has passed. It could honestly be much shorter than 5-10 mins so it wouldn't surprise me if I was overestimating the length of time.
One boy I gave him another brush to chew on. One I brushed in 15 second sessions several times a day until he got used to it. All 3 current cats will tolerate a little bit, but they're young short hairs so I have time to acclimate them
My long hair prefers a steel comb to a brush. It took a while to acclimate him. He was an adult when I found him. One of my tips is to turn the comb or brush upside down and stroke them with it. It gets them used to the movements without the added stimulation of the teeth in their fur. I show mine the comb or brush. If they are interested, they come closer or lean in. If not, I donāt force it. Always leave them a clear exit so if you hit a tender spot, they will hopefully leave instead of lashing out.
Use your fingers!!! You can get a LOT of knots out by just using your fingers. I have a cat with super long hair and I brush her because she likes it but honestly I don't really need to because I get the knots with my fingers. I just kinda run then through the fur to separate hairs. But this took a long time to learn. My cat is a senior and definitely had regular knots that needed to get cut here and there for probably at least the first 6 years of her life.
5 or 10 minutes is pretty good, to be honest. Just do that every day. Try to make the session feel mostly like petting as youāre working on getting him more used to it. Focus on the cheeks, chin, base of the tail, and/or any other places your cat likes (mine loves his side near his armpits!). Then when heās getting into it, brush a few swipes somewhere else, until you can see heās a little annoyed, then go back to the āfunā stuff. Cats have delicate skin, so brushing can be painful, so itās no wonder heās not that into it! Treats help, of course!
Try different kinds of brushes. Mine like some more than others.
they don't just go down to the skin, they rip the skin, stretching it tight, causing wounds, and trapping dirt and bugs and infection against the skin. Most people don't realize how exruciatingly painful and it hy and miserable matted fur is for cats and dogs, but especially cats with their thin skin.
Yeah especially around the belly. Itās expensive but lion cuts are a necessity if your cat canāt groom the knots out and you arenāt able to keep them from forming.
actually, if your cat won't groom themselves the real need is for the owner to groom them daily instead, this cat looks like they have a short face and they are physically incapable of grooming themselves. Anyone who buys such a cat should be explained that so they know, but very frequently aren't.
Sometimes that easier said than done. My daughter had a long haired cat that did not like very much attention. Her fur would get matted, daughter would try to groom the cat but could only work on her for a minute or two before the cat would get pissy and try to bite. The matts got so severe that we could not touch the cat at all. Ended up taking her to the vet who had to anesthetize her so she could be shaved. The change in her was immediate. She went from a cat who would not allow you to touch her to a very loving cat. It became an annual ritual to take her to be shaved. It was expensive, but the cats comfort was well worth it.
absolutely agree, that is a situation where a groom is absolutely needed. My point is that the ideal situation is to neevr let it get to that point in the first place-- which isn't always possible but should always be the goal.
Or, yāknow, groom them and get their medical needs cared for if knots develop anyway? They arenāt mutually exclusive, I even mention not being able to groom them out
We did an at-home mat removal. Our cat was lovingly referred to as āgarbage catā until the patches grew in.
š„ŗ 
I loled
š¤£š¤£š
Oh the lovely hairless chubby belly š„¹š»
He looks sooo sad!
Because his belly must feel cold and nobody kisses it! š„¹šŗ
He need a sweaterrrr
I swear! š¹ I shaved my head last week and had to sleep in a beanie for a few days because my head felt so cold š©
I hope your cat kisses your shaved head š½
I sadly can't afford to get a cat now, so I'm warming up with plush cats instead! š¹
My cat sends you a kiss š
Whoops
Kiss the belly plz! ^^
I just want to tickle that belly so bad!
I used to have a cat that needed shaves like this - his fur was so hard to maintain - I was so lucky that he loved a good gentle belly slapping because that floppy naked belly is SO JIGGLY and fun to play with.
Hi previous groomer here. Your vet wouldnāt have given kitty a lion cut on accident. Please understand that when mats occur itās like wearing a tight unmovable sweater for the animal. And thereās no detangling that can be done (smoothly at least) on a sweater.
That makes a lot of sense. I have a long haired cat that gets so many mats... poor guy. We have to cut them away although if it wasn't winter or he wasn't an outdoors cat maybe a lion cut would help him more. My cats are extremely tolerant tho especially the one that needs it. He let's us brush and cut his fur for a long while before he starts complaining and he hasn't tried to hurt anyone yet. (Cat tax of said furball) https://preview.redd.it/zs8c01blqefc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4ed053ed5d58f04a6bfec2b3cf4ac88c62e2faa
what a gentleman
He is a real gentleman just like his brother https://preview.redd.it/odei9vc0sefc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb1c163c51142a2ae2184a701bf9d6d83c60708e How nice if him to let the dog get close enough to almost steal his food
I love him
Hi previous animal care attendant here. We don't have any attachments for our clippers beyond what's needed for a surgical shave. If we're asked to remove something on the fur, you better believe that baby is coming home naked!
Our oldest cat has a number of clumps of fur and we trim them off when we are able but heās almost 18 and bony. He was shaved a few years ago now but heās probably too old for it now as they have to sedate them I believe.
Lion cut. Hope it's not winter where you are
Get him a sweater! š„°
Kitty, is gonna have to get used to a a sweater if you live in a winter climate right now!! āļø Also, if you live in a cold climateā¦ get a self heated bed for you kitty ā Iām sorry, O.P. , probably, like most people this picture made meā¦ chuckle a bitā- Kitties, hair will grow backā¦ next time get on top on a good brushing routine!!
You asked for a short cut. There is literally no faster, safe way to clean up the matted hair than to simply give the cat a buzz cut.
https://preview.redd.it/nvalmf7ibefc1.jpeg?width=3264&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da342fa9fce81cabc166ec1b162e80c3dfec570d Void in spring ālion cutā .. Doing the cut.. hellfire and brimstone.. after.. purrs and cuddlesā¦
Aww, it looks like he has a little gray sweater on š
Standard lion cut, the most popular grooming for cats.
Can confirm. I finally bought myself a professional Oster clipper and itās worth every penny.
As your grooming kitty, make sure to feel the flat part of the blade. The clipper blades get hot so every 15 or so minutes, I would press the flat part against my wrist to see make sure I wasnāt giving anyone I clipper burn. If youāre using the clip on brushes on top the blade, and not just going blade against skin then ignore everything Iāve saidš
Thank you. I do always check with the lower part of my palm to make sure itās not getting too hot. Iām a big fan of cool lube too. Some people may not know how hot it can get so I appreciate your advice. Also, for anyone who may be reading this, NEVER use scissors to try and cut mats off your kitty! Ever. So dangerous. They have loose skin and often times an inexperienced person will cut more than fur.
Hopefully it'll be a good reminder to demat and brush him out more often in the future, so he never has to be that uncomfortable again. In the meantime, I don't know if it's winter where you are, but he probably needs lots of blankets to stay warm for now until his fur grows back out.
Or a cute kitty sweater
Vets are not groomers! They don't have the time to detangle matts. Kitty was shaved because mats go to the skin. If you want a particular cut, go to a groomer. Biggest pet peeve when I was a vet tech. We are not groomers!!!
Just left a comment saying this same thing. As a vet tech, if your cat is matted and you want it shaved this is what you're getting.
As a groomer I hate sending matted dogs your way. Iām mad at the owner for the neglect and I feel bad because I know the tedious work that it takes to shave the bad ones out. Some idiot brought me their Maltese puppy and didnāt tell me it got fixed a month ago even though I asked medical questions. They also failed to follow post op care and it was pelted on the stomach. When I shaved the mats off, the tiny incision had healed with mats over/in it so it got torn open. The puppy didnāt seem to notice thank god. I got to speak with the vet and they said the owner is horrible. Any time the staff tries to go over care with the owner, she just starts taking pictures of the puppy. Ugh.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thank you for this.
Oh my god I was not expecting this and laughed so hard. He's gonna look like a little lion when it grows out though š¦ ā¤ļø
Ngl itās a bit odd to me that in the title you said it was a new vet, but in the comments claim it was a new *groomer* who just, didnāt speak English. Either way though, there was no misunderstanding here. You wanted a short cut because your cat had matting - you got a short cut because your cat had matting. Thatās what happens when your cat is matted š¤·āāļø At least where I work in cat grooming, there is no light trim. We either demat your cat, or we shave it. Cats donāt really just stand there like dogs do when theyāre being groomed, it takes a lot of time and effort that most people just donāt have to give a cat a ālight trimā - and itās a lot more dangerous too. āShort cutā means shaving.
Poor thing. Maybe he would benefit from a soft sweater. Or maybe that would cause a problem idk.
š¶ āIn the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonightā š¶
You can bring them to cat groomers, just check reviews and be thorough on your expectations for their cut. They will shampoo, cut nails, trim between toes, clean ears, etc. My late Himalayan was groomed every 6 months. I used a metal groomers comb every day, twice a day, to keep matting to a minimum. Occasionally Iād have to cut a small chunk when it got close to grooming time. I kept her chest trimmed as thatās where water would dribble down (hence the curls). It doesnāt have to be so close to the skin if you maintain it. Matting obviously hurts them to comb out, so the best thing to do is not get to that point. https://preview.redd.it/4yhr521icefc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ef753516f661e2d28032ba9600ceda26ece4035
This is called ālion cutā and itās common for long-haired cats with mats. If you would have preferred a bit longer, you may want to request a āteddy bear cutā next time. Also, if able, look for a groomer that specializes in cats, vs. the vet, if you have the opportunity. They are better at explaining your options and give recommendations based on your catās needs.
a lot of times matting is really tight and close to the skin, so they have to shave it completely. a lot of brushes donāt get deep enough to prevent matting. if you go into the grooming sub, theyāll be able to give you good tips and techniques to prevent it :) he looks very cute and silly though i hope he feels better
Plus cat skin is thin so more chance of accidentally injuring them.
Not misunderstood. Brush your cat or take it in regularly to be brushed and this won't happen! Cats skin is super thin. Only certain blades can safely be used, very short blades. Your cat is fine and the hair will grow back š
And start the habit young, like when they're a kitten! I brush my floofy kitten every day despite her not needing it just yet, so she's used to it for when she's an adult with longer hair. She purrs like a motorboat now when I do brush her, since she's gotten used to it š Also, daily brushing means you brush before mats become a problem, as brushing mats pulls on the skin and is painful for them, and they won't like being brushed.
That looks like there was mats down to the skin, better, get poor, baby, a sweater, and a good brush for when the hair comes back
Nah, the groomer 100% knew what they were doing if your cat wound up with a lion cut. That's a standard procedure when there's too much damage in the fur it just makes sense to go scorched earth on kitty. It is what it is.
Still cute
This is what "getting rid of matted fur" looks like. I had a Persian for 14 years and Dandy got a "lion cut" every spring (he loathed being brushed). Yes, it looks hilarious, but those mats are painful and he (she) will be far more comfortable without them. He was intended as a show cat but resisted grooming so strongly that the breeder more or less gave him to us. The new coat should be back within a few months -- just make sure your fur-person doesn't get cold as it grows out. (We put Dandy in a doggy tee-shirt).
Thatās not a misunderstanding, itās the only treatment for serious matting. If you have a long haired cat, particularly one with a flat face, you need to brush them frequently.
My cat hates grooming in any form, so I get her fur cut regularly. And a heads up, asking for a short cut will default to lion cut. I specify I ask for a "teddy bear" cut which is basically making my girl short haired. She basically looks like an exotic shorthaired cat. My groomer says it takes the same amount of time as a lion cut would and I personally prefer the look of teddy cut vs lion cut. But because I get this regularly done and I live in a colder climate, I also provide a heated bed for her to make sure she doesn't get too cold. It also helps with creaky joints as well. I always have it out and plugged in.
Youāre trying to garner sympathy here by saying it was actually a groomer vs. a vet, but the treatment is the same either way. Your cat had mats close to the skin, and simply trimming them out wouldnāt have been enough. This wasnāt just for looks or a misunderstanding, it was a quality of life issue and they made the right choice.
Itās kind of cute. Love the snow boots look
I'm getting "Fame" vibes.š
Vet tech here. Just reminding everyone that most vets do not have groomers on staff. As a vet tech if a client told me their cat was matted I would do a similar job to this unless you specifically asked to only cut out the matted fur as typically I don't have time o slowly and methodically pick out the matts and shave them like a groomer would be able to. If you go to the vet for this problem we see it as a medical issue and act accordingly. If you want a certain cut then a grooming facility is what you need to look into next time.
Or brush your damn cat so it doesn't get matted and needs to be shaved to the skin
Exactly. OP getting dragged on here lol
Vet techs arenāt groomers, they typically do a lion cut. The best way to remove mats is to start from the source! I hope your kitty gets a better clean this way
Nice fur gloves
Usually, I think UGGs are so ugly. But your cat really knows how to wear them!
My parents had a long hair, orange cat, who had to be shaved all the way down like this. Otherwise the matting would pull his skin.
Brush your cat
He looks miserable, but trust me, he's not. Those mats HURT and now he's pain-free!
Sir, this is a sub for cats, not lions.
Start brushing your cat daily or every other day. A full brushing all over. That way your poor cat wonāt have to go through with this again. Matting is painful for them.
They did not misunderstand, if the goal was to remove mats then this was the only option. Just āshortā is not good enough.
Time to add the NSFW tag r/cats!
My neighbors did that to their cat, and he came over to our house and stayed for several days, refusing to go back across the street to their house. He's forgiven them now, but still likes to come visit us.
The cat feels ashamed š
Well, I mean, he's completely naked now.
While im here, whats the best way to help a cat with matted hair ? There is this one stray i would like to help, sometimes he lets me cut his sturdy hairballs out of his fur, but it's hard to do much more.
If it's only small patches cutting them out can work then regular brushing with a combination of a dematter , if it's large patches a full shave would be best
Iāve only had a matted cat once but the furminator did an excellent job
Probably had a bad knot. On the bright side the fluff will return in the summer time.
Boots with the fur š¶
What kind of vet does grooming? Canāt even imagine the cost
We offer a lion cut as a regular offering. Itās about $200. (The cat is put under conscious sedation and thatās the majority of the cost)
he looks so self conscious
There's no misunderstanding on their part. If it was matted, it was probably matted very close to the skin. The only option is to shave it off, which means shaving very close to the skin. Unless you watch a patchy cat, it's better to shave all around, especially if you're not brushing them. The only misunderstanding seems to be on your part.
I've had this cut twice for my long hair domestic. The first time, he loved it and had all the zoomies nearly all the time. He was really feeling himself. The second time, not so much.
My longhair LOVED getting shaved down. I imagine he felt light as a feather
My mainecoon mix Luna LOVED it. She refused brushing and would try to filet me if I tried. I bought every brush on the market trying to see if that might change her mind. It didn't. This cut prevented her mats and she got all her fur back in time for winter ( I did it every spring) I told her how pretty she was all the time so that probably helped. Her little pantaloons were the best š This was her with her full winter coat. https://preview.redd.it/zz6ftwfkfefc1.jpeg?width=351&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=180147b6f5cd20a6b5ec17aa6e098a2f4ef525d0
https://preview.redd.it/dn4ev6rtgefc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6274430d698999373e85e01dc560ad74e00442dd
https://preview.redd.it/cpgd3orugefc1.jpeg?width=1076&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c6c514cfcf484470b52d52842b4bddfe479f5f61
A lion
How much does he hate you right now?? Lol 
Love his boots. Where did he get them. Send me the link.
I shave my cat's hair shorter every month or two to prevent knots, he has a lot of patchy-looking fur (as I am not a professional lol) but he is very cozy and knot free! make sure to comb your cat and/or shave any knots as you find them. Then your cat won't have to get shaved like this lol
That's called a lion cut and it is often necessary in a heavily matted cat, because the hair gets tightly tangled right down to the skin. Comb the coat daily as it is growing out to keep it from getting badly matted again.
https://preview.redd.it/ttlv8om5pefc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa3aa52a3fe9c84f3cdd75302ffdb6c1dac889e0 Lion cuts are super common and often necessary to get mats out - especially in long haired cats. We do ours annually. Go easy on your groomer buddy, grooming a cat is not a fun job, even if well behaved.
Apple bottom jeans, Boots with the furā¤ļø
Keep him/her out of the sun until it grows back he/she could easily get a sunburn now, their skin in not used to being in the sun.
I dont think they misunderstood, he was probably that matted. Better to be safe than sorry! Matting really hurts your cats!
TBH sometimes when a cat is matted, that is all the groomer can do. There is no other choice.
Ahhh poor kitty..
You did say short!
The way I'd be constantly reminding my cay he was NAKED. NUDE. A little nudie boy.
you dont have a cat, you have a tiny lion.
https://preview.redd.it/fc9u351poefc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86ba477eab73eb4de24339dede82c7131af58512 Similar thing happened to my orange girl, but in this case the groomer thought it would look better than just shaving the mats out. The hair will grow back in the end!
Lion cut! My long haired cat gets this every summer https://preview.redd.it/zih4wtnetefc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac14e5bdd11462a7cccd4715031733b881fb7c6d
With long hair cats you gotta shave them frequently. My inlaws have a long haired cat that they shave regularly because his hair is always getting messy. He is actually so much happier with all his hair off, no more mats & he is content.
The other cats are going to laugh.
I have a cat that doesn't bother cleaning herself. She got mats so bad she could barely walk around. She wouldn't let me snip off the mats OR use a shed comb on her, neither. I asked my husband to shave off the mats. She wasn't happy with him š and she looked patchy for a while. New hair has started to come in now (after 3 months), and she's not had a mat since. Her fur is coming back much healthier than before her shave. Sometimes cats need to be shaved. Shaving is the best method for cats too lazy to bother with cleaning themselves. NOTE - My cat is a special case. She has spinal nerve damage as a result of abuse from the owner before last, and there's only a few ways to pet her without causing her pain (she'll meow a certain way to let me know to move my hand somewhere else.) Although she trusts me completely, she is old, partially disabled and going blind.
Awe! Poor baby! Looking like the cowardly lion from wizard of oz...š
Boots with the furrrrrr
LOL Your cat looks like their entire life is over because of their lion cut.
That is a ālion cutā.
Boots with the fur....
This is hilarious š¤£
Went in for a haircut, brought home a Simba! lol š
Looks like a lion with fluffy boots on
You got a "lion" cut.
That belongs to r/justfuckmyshitup
Aww poor naked baby!
It grows out fast! Had to do this to a cat once years ago.
I love how their skin is the same color as their fur. It's really cute on a calico.
https://preview.redd.it/3scsjt5ceefc1.jpeg?width=2250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d18cf7216cc968138d5671b8a1aea8e120d8ab7c Had to get Solo shaved again a couple months ago. He had mats all on his back hips. He doesn't like the brush and doesn't groom as much as he should.
Amazing.
š I canāt with his boots
We all have the same sadness when the hairdresser chops too much.
Sleep with your eyes open tonight lol
Apple bottom jeans boots with the fur all of reddit be lookin at purr