It’s the grooming method behind so many online meme’s, jokes, and funny pictures. I’m sure cats aren’t fans of it themselves either – I’m talking about the lion cut!
If you want to know more about the lion cut. Such as why it’s called a lion cut, why some cats have to have this cut, how much it typically costs, and more, you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of giving your cat a lion cut, I’ll answer some commonly asked questions, and of course look at some awesome pictures of lion cuts (I bet they make you smile).
How Much Does a Lion Cut Cost?
Obviously, the price is going to vary depending on where you live in the US, as well as how long your cat’s fur is and how big your cat is.
A lot of groomers will give you a quote based on looking at your cat or having you tell them what breed of cat you have and how big they are.
While some have fixed pricing. This may be split by the size or weight of your cat, as well as the length of their fur.
This all makes sense if you think about it. Tackling a British Shorthair cat is a completely different task than a Maine Coon.
It’s understandable that you can expect to pay a good deal more to give a Maine Coon a lion cut as it will take more than twice as long.
With that being said, you can expect to pay around:
- $60-80 to give a short fur cat a lion cut.
- $80-100 to give a long fur cat a lion cut.
Is It Cruel to Give Your Cat a Lion Cut?
Absolutely not.
If your cat has matted and knotted fur it’s cruel not to shave it all off. You should be brushing long-haired cats on a regular basis, but even then sometimes their fur will still knot and tangle.
Vets and groomers often recommend a lion cut. It can be stressful for a cat having their fur shaved. But it’s a better solution than having painful knots which will be irritating and can lead to skin conditions.
If you’re considering a lion cut just because you want to style your cats fur this way, that’s a different story.
I don’t think you should do it for style purposes. It is stressful on the cat, and some cats have to be sedated.
How Long Does It Take for a Cat Lion Cut to Grow Back?
This depends on how long your cat’s fur is. As a rule of thumb, it takes around 3 months for a short fur cat to grow their full coat back.
For long fur cats, it can take as long as 6 months to fully grow back. It’s also worth mentioning that some cat’s fur may grow back patchy.
Some groomers will recommend having another cut to even out the fur growing back, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.
As long as you don’t mind your cat looking a bit patchy, I’m sure they don’t either. It’s just the way some cats fur grows back.
Cat Behavior After a Lion Cut
All cats are different and will react in their own ways after they realize much of their fur has gone.
In my experience, most cats are fine with it. Of course, they will take some time to get used to their new look and how it feels. But that’s expected.
Some cats will immediately run off and hide after the cut is finished. Even with a quiet pet grooming clipper, most cats don’t like the noise and feel of the clippers.
It’s their natural reaction to flee and hide as soon as they are let go. Give them a little time and lure them out with treats and fussing and I’m sure they’ll still love you.
Overall you shouldn’t see any different behavior from your cat after a day or so to get used to how it feels.
If you do notice anything different about their behavior or anything else that’s concerning you take them to a vet to err on the side of caution.
It’s more than likely you just have a kitty feeling sorry for themselves. If only we could explain it’s for the greater good!
Which Breeds of Cat Need Lion Cuts?
Lion cuts aren’t limited to the breed of cat, but rather any cat that needs one for health reasons.
It’ll be no surprise that the breeds most commonly giving lion cuts are long-haired breeds as they are most likely to get knots and tangles impossible to brush out.
Here are some of the breeds most commonly given lion cuts:
- Persian
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Birman
- Siberian
- Somali
- Balinese
In Summary
The takeaways from this article are that you can expect to pay anywhere from $60-$100 depending on how much hair your cat has.
The main reasons for lion cuts are to remove tangled and knotted fur. Which may be necessary even if you brush your cat daily.
I’ve covered some of the pros and cons to a lion cut in more detail here if you want to read about this style in more detail.
