Should You Shave Your Persian?

Most people don't consider shaving their cats, but in the case of Persians, many owners do in fact shave their cats. They even have named styles for these shaves, such as the Lion Cut, where the cat’s fur is shaved to make him look like a lion.

Is there anything wrong with shaving your Persian? Well, opinions do of course vary, but in the grand scheme of things, many people shave their Persians for one of three reasons.

The first reason for shaving your Persian is to help get rid of parasites, such as fleas and ticks. It’s hard to work flea and tick shampoo down to the skin when the cat has as much hair as a Persian, and shaving in this instance is recommended, as long as you understand that more treatment is needed beyond the shave. Shaving itself won't rid the animal of fleas or ticks.

The second reason to shave a Persian is if there is a skin problem or ringworm. In this instance, you could opt to just shave the affected area, but since this makes the cat look funny – and possibly mangy – many will opt to go with a shave style, such as the Lion Cut. Just as shaving does not get rid of fleas and ticks, it does not get rid of skin problems and ringworm. Additional treatment is required.

The third reason why one might shave their Persian is easier maintenance. Keeping a Persian mat and tangle free can be a full time job, and many owners find that it is just easier to have the fur shaved off and cut into a style. The fur does grow back, and those that prefer shaved Persians will usually have the fur shaved twice a year.

If you decide to shave your Persian, first find a good groomer that knows how to shave Persians. Next, make sure that the whiskers are not shaved off, as these can take up to seven years to grow back, if they grow back at all – and whiskers are very important to cats. Finally, make sure that you don't shave the cat all the way to the skin if it can be avoided. Leave an inch or two or hair on the cat.

Really think about your reason for shaving the cat. If you want to shave the cat for his comfort, forget it. The cat is perfectly comfortable, even on the hottest of days as they have their own way of cooling their bodies and regulating their temperature. Your cats fur is his pride and joy, which should be evident by the amount of time that he spends cleaning it and grooming.