I've shared my home with many pets over my life. Cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, fish, birds, and even a chinchilla.
It's pretty safe to say that of them all, the cats had the least upkeep. For the most part, it's just feeding them and dealing with the litter box. They're pretty self-sufficient.
In particular, because of their breeds, my boys need to visit a professional groomer every six weeks, otherwise they start to look like Muppets.
It's an extra expense and they aren't the best behaved when there.
And for most cats, you don't have to, but for some reason, it's become trendy to have cats groomed to look like dinosaurs.
I suppose if your cat likes to be pampered, then the actual grooming and cut won't be too stressful for them, but I can see a lot of cats not wanting anything to do with it.
Cats have fur for a reason. It helps regulate their temperature against both heat and cold, provides sensory information, is part of how they communicate, and protects their fragile skin.
This could be due to surgery, correcting a badly matted coat, or because the cat can no longer groom itself properly.
Depending on your pet's breed or underlying health issues, the vet may recommend against it.
But no matter what, don't shave their fur completely away.
Leave at least an inch of fur to protect their skin from injuries or painful ingrown hairs. It will also help prevent sunburn, which can lead to cancer.
It's important to consider your cat's health and comfort first, and if you do go forward with it, do so in a way that will still protect them.
h/t: Healthy Pets
