Mary Allen
At first, it seems contradictory, but: don’t shave your dog or cat even in summer – shorter fur does not help your pet to cool down. On the contrary: our beloved four-legged friends then overheat more easily.
Temperatures rise and you need to wear as few layers of clothing as possible to stay cool. Do you sometimes wonder if your cat or dog might be better off with less dense fur? The answer is crystal clear: no!
Why You Shouldn’t Shave Your Pet
Many breeders, organizations, and even veterinarians agree that you shouldn’t shave your pet – it will do him more harm than good. Just as fur keeps dogs and cats warm in winter, it also provides insulation in summer. The only difference is that the fur protects not from the cold, but from the heat. In fact, this is logical: in the wild, animals would not have the opportunity to shave off their fur in summer.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) explains, for example: “Our pets’ fur has multiple layers that are essential for their well-being in hot weather. Moving your dog or cat away from natural cooling can lead to malaise, overheating, and other serious hazards such as sunburn or skin cancer. ”
Why You Can’t Shave Cats
A cat needs fur – whether it lives mostly indoors or outdoors. Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker explains on her Healthy Pets blog that there are exceptions. For example, for medical reasons or in very rare cases when the coat is hopelessly tangled. In all other cases, it is best not to shave the cat.
But this does not mean that you can completely neglect their departure. To keep the coat clean, undamaged, and free of insects, you must brush your cat regularly. Luckily, many cats like this, especially kittens. Thus, grooming can be an enjoyable moment for both of you, which will strengthen your bond. Some cats also need to take a bath in between. It helps if you train your cat to do this at a young age so that bathing doesn’t turn into a subsequent challenge.
Why You Can’t Shave Your Dogs
Dogs also get along best with their natural fur. The only exceptions are dogs with skin problems, which are easier to treat with shorter coats. For hygiene reasons, it can also be helpful to trim the hair on your dog’s genital area.
However, the veterinarian also believes that clearcutting is unnecessary for dogs: “Air is natural isolation, and air trapped between the fur on your pet’s body reliably maintains body temperature in equilibrium.”