Catwalk ready: Exploring 10 different cat grooming styles

Most people with cats at home know that regular grooming comes with pet ownership. This is because being your furry friends’ keeper means ensuring they have good health and well-being.

However, grooming can seem daunting if it’s a subject you’re not familiar with. In this regard, this article on long- and short-hair cat grooming styles sheds light on which cat styling options will fit your feline.

What are the essential benefits of grooming for cats?

Grooming and trimming a cat’s fur translates to:

• Giving your pet a more pleasant appearance and scent

• Lowering the chance of fur matting

• Reducing the amount of shedding

• Being able to detect fleas, ticks, and certain health concerns easily

Overall, different cat haircuts can lead to better health and a more comfortable life for your feline.

What are some basic cat grooming tools and safety measures?

A cat getting its nails trimmed (Source: iStock)

The standard grooming process for most cat hairstyles can involve the use of the following:

• Gloves or mitts

• Shedding comb or brush

• Grooming rake

• Clipper (with or without guard)

• Shears

• Matt splitter

• Leash

If you have no or minimal experience handling these tools, it’s best to practice getting used to them and avoiding delicate areas to prevent accidents. You can also give your cat treats or a sedative to keep its anxiety at bay during the procedure.

What cat grooming styles can you choose from?

Enumerated below are 10 popular cat grooming styles compatible with different cat breeds:

The comb cut

A cat with a new comb cut (Source: iStock)

The comb cut, one of several long-hair cat grooming styles, involves trimming up to 3/8 to 1 inch of fur on a cat’s body while keeping its boots, tail, and head in their natural state.

The lion cut

An orange cat sporting a new lion cut (Source: iStock)

The lion cut is almost the same as the comb cut, where the paws, head, and tail are spared from the trimmer. However, shaving the rest of the hair is done closer to the cat’s skin, and a semblance of a lion’s mane becomes the final outcome.

The belly shave

A cat having its belly brushed (Source: iStock)

The belly shave, like many cat shave styles, is a practical cut for long-haired felines to prevent matting and make self-grooming easier. This involves shaving from between the hind legs and the belly up to the front legs’ armpits. The sections under the cat’s tail and around the butt are also shaved.

The hygiene cut

A cat patiently enduring a hygiene cut (Source: iStock)

The hygiene cut for cats is a sanitary cut that involves trimming the hair around the rectum, genitals, and rear legs—areas where bodily waste can get stuck—to keep them neat and tidy.

The panther cut

A cat with a new panther cut (Source: iStock)

The panther cut, similar to other haircuts for long-haired cats, can prevent matting and tangling. This closely resembles the lion cut, but the difference lies in how much more hair is shaved off with the panther cut.

The kitten cut

A cat with a simple kitten cut (Source: iStock)

The kitten cut is a simple trim that can give your pet a youthful appearance. It involves clipping a cat’s coat evenly to make it look well-groomed and fresh.

The pyjama trim

A curious cat with a pyjama trim (Source: iStock)

Giving your cat the pyjama or teddy bear trim means slightly and evenly shortening the hair all over its face and body, which means it still gets protection from the cold while not being as prone to tangles. 

The fluff cut

A cat with a very fluffy coat (Source: iStock)

The fluff cut is a grooming style for furry felines that emphasizes their coat’s softness and volume and refreshes their overall appearance.

The mohawk or ridge trim

A cat with a subtle mowhawk (Source: iStock)

If you want to add flair to your pet’s appearance, the mohawk trim is a fun style that may interest you. Sometimes combined with the lion cut, it involves leaving a band of hair down a cat’s back and tail.

The full shave (Sphinx style)

A cat going through a full shave (Source: iStock)

Some may not count the full shave among the cute cat haircuts they can choose from. However, this functional grooming style is medically necessary in certain instances, like in the case of extreme matting or a skin infection. Shedding and allergy-related factors may also be reasons to fully shave a cat’s hair.

How can you pick and maintain your cat’s grooming style?

A cat sitting beside a clump of its shed fur (Source: iStock)

Some of the factors to consider when choosing among different grooming styles for cats are fur length, tendency to experience matting, undercoat thickness, and amount of shedding.

To maintain the haircut in between regular grooming sessions, you can train your cat to be calm in a stress-free environment when you brush its coat or bathe it. Additionally, if your pet is staying with a cat sitter or a boarding facility for a short while, you may also be able to request grooming as an additional service to keep its routine maintenance going.

Keep your cat looking its best with Airtasker

Need a professional groomer to have your cat styled but have no idea where to start looking? Airtasker—a platform where you can find experts in cat care services—has you covered.

Hiring a person specializing in different cat haircut styles only takes a few simple steps:

1. Create an account on the Airtasker website.

2. Click the ‘Post a task’ button and fill out the text fields with what you need done, your budget, and your location.

3. Wait for experts to reply to your post and choose the one most fit for the job.