Should I groom or shave my long-haired cat to keep her cool?

There is research from Australia that determined that most cats are constantly cold and only start feeling very comfy when the temperature is around 30-38C. Your cat probably does not need a shave at all. It may be a good idea to comb her every day to get rid of all the loose hair. Your cat is hot if she starts to pant and deliberately looks for cool places to lie and spend her time. If that is the case, you can shave the hair off her belly, which will cool her down significantly. Your kitty is beautiful!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoachs! It’s fine to not cut her hair with a few key points: 1) keep her cool 2) brush her to prevent matting especially around her butt and vulva. Stool or urine caught in the hair or mats there will attract flies which can lead to maggots. Good luck!

A dog's coats is designed to capture air and use it as an insulator. In the winter, this keeps the cold out and holds the heat in. During the summer, this system holds the heat at bay and helps your dog regulate his body temperature. Without this insulating layer of hair, he is susceptible to heat stroke. So, shaving is not a good idea.

We do routinely shave cats that have matted or soiled fur. How easy this will be will depend on your cat's personality, so you may need to enlist the help of a professional groomer! They have special groomer clippers to shave the fur to different lengths so hopefully they can keep some of her hair, or they may be able to remove the burrs. It also might be helpful getting a detangler or creme rinse made for pets and spraying it on the areas and then trying to comb over the areas with a fine comb, as it may loosen the burrs from the fur and help you avoid having to shave her! I wouldn't recommend using scissors to trim her down as it is very easy to accidentally cut a cat's thin skin. You will also want to keep her indoors if it is cold in your area and her coat is still short.

Yes, it's fine to keep Bella in an air-conditioned room. You may want to leave out a blanket she can curl up in just in case she gets cold. You can also considered getting her a cat sweater to wear to keep her warm. I have a Persian cat as well, and I have to shave him because of his mats. I have a sweater for him to wear after that for a few weeks until his fur is a bit longer so that he doesn't get cold. Check a local pet store or the internet for sweaters for cats. I actually use a toy breed sized dog sweater, which fits my cat perfectly. I hope this helps :-)

I think the only negative thing about shaving this cat may be, that the colony may not recognize her and therefore chase her away. However if you could find a home for her after having her shaved, that would be perfect, especially since she is so sweet. Shaving in general is not a problem,, especially not if the fur is as badly caked as you describe. Temperatures in the 70ies are ok for that.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jazmine. It should be fine to have her trimmed this time of year. Provide her with some blankets to sleep or burrow underneath in case she gets chilly. I do not suspect it will be a problem though.