My feral cat is matted. Can I safely shave it in 70-degree weather?

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.

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!

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 :-)

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lily. Poor girl! Yes I would get those matts shaved out, they will be painful to her. I'd also recommend having her seen by a vet. She's stopped grooming herself for a reason, and it could be it's painful for her to groom. Arthritis is common in senior cats. A chronic illness, such as diabetes and kidney disease, could sap a cat's energy and lead them to not grooming. Both of those are common in senior cats. I recommend having her seen by a vet this week, and getting her a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Little Bit. I recommend having her shaved down by a veterinarian or groomer. A veterinarian is a good choice in case in sedation is needed. I hope this information helps!

Yes, scruffing can be an effective and safe method of restraint in cats. Mother cats transport their kittens by scruffing them. However many cats resist restraint and it may be difficult to shave Vicky properly with one hand while scruffing with the other. If you are able to have someone help you scruff her while you shave her, that would be ideal. Other options include swaddling her with a blanket or a towel for restraint, or purchasing a 'cat restraint bag' which has an opening for the head and usually a zipper down the back that can be adjusted to expose various parts of the body. If Vicky is a gentle cat and allows you to scruff and shave her without any resistance, that is wonderful and you are a lucky owner!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tulip! The mats are painful, cause itching and could cause skin issues. If she will allow you to shave them (do not use scissors) then great. Other options are traveling groomers that come to your house or scheduling a sedated shave down with your vet. Maybe they can provide an oral sedative before hand so you can catch her and make the car ride less awful. I hope this helps and happy holidays.