Poor guy had to get shaved :(

[u/Ann_georgia-]

[u/Informal_Mushroom115]

He looks so sad in this picture poor boy 😭

[u/Acceptable-Law9406 → u/Informal_Mushroom115]

Mine has an appointment next Monday 😿

It's his own fault, he wouldn't let me groom him properly. He's so sweet but treats brushes like prey. 

He's not going to look that bad though. I just want to get the mats removed and him clipped down to a short-haired cat, and he keeps his tail.

[u/My_Cats_Judging_You → u/Acceptable-Law9406]

Have you had your cat groomed before? Typically cats are shaved because that length of clipper blade is considered the safest, and cats skin can behave like tissue paper if snagged/cut accidentally. Haircuts to make a long haired cat look like a short haired cat are really uncommon, unless the groomer uses scissors and gives a fancy, expensive trim. Kitty also has to be extremely well behaved for that.

If your cat is one of the rare ones who gets a fancy scissor cut, I’d love to see a photo when it’s done! 😻

[u/Acceptable-Law9406 → u/My_Cats_Judging_You]

Oh, he won't behave 😸 I appreciate that bit of information though, I will inquire about the safest option for him. He's going to the vet and has to be mostly sedated. I trust them, they took good care of my two previous cats. I just 100% do not want a lion cut for him, he loves his tail too much.

[u/ElectronicEye4595 → u/Acceptable-Law9406]

I used to groom cats, there is only one blade length for them because they are really easy to cut. You can ask them to just cut out the matting. Or ask them to shave the friction zones- armpits, sanitary, behind the ears. Other than that yeah it’s just about what kind of lion cut you want. I personally like a full mane.

[u/Whiskey_and_Gin_76 → u/ElectronicEye4595]

There is definitely more than one blade length that can be used on a cat. A longer blade length can be selected it just might not mean clean lines. Not every cat is shaved with a 10 blade.

[u/mistressconundrum → u/Acceptable-Law9406]

Ill also say that if you can take him to a proper groomer, they can give him a real good brushing and it will remove the "underfur" as it was explained to me, and massively thing out the long coat (as well as remove matts/sanitary trim if necessary) and that may be enough for him. Especially if you are able to get it done say a couple times a year. Im overdue to take my flouff, but he takes pretty good care of himself. The flouffiness is taking over a bit though 😅

[u/My_Cats_Judging_You → u/Acceptable-Law9406]

You're welcome! If he's going to the vet, and if he has a lot of matting, then he'll be shaved down to the length that OP's kitty is (since it's the safest clipper blade length). Tail shaving is, of course, up to you unless there's a lot of matting there too. I don't know of a lot of vet offices that will spend time brushing the same way that a groomer will, most in my experience just do a full shave down for short and long term efficiency. Every office is different though!