A cat’s fur is often what attracts us to them. A luxurious coat of fur certainly invites petting. But a cat’s most alluring feature can also be your biggest headache. While some cats seem to have nice, tangle-free fur, others need a lot of combing and brushing. It has been my experience that the cats who need it, hate to be groomed and those who don’t, love it. And, while it’s easy or at least possible to maintain some cats’ fur, others seem to get matted every time the cat rolls over or steps out into a breeze. An aging or obese cat will have trouble managing his own fur and may tend to mat or will have trouble cleaning up after a litter box visit.
What to do? You can use scissors and deal with the affected area one mat ball at a time. 
But you risk cutting the cat. As you may have noticed, their skin, especially on the tummy, is paper thin. Sometimes it’s necessary to shave your cat. That would be for medical reasons (to facilitate a medical procedure, for example), for sanitary purposes (the cat isn’t able to clean himself “back there”), or she is seriously matted (tight mats can be painful for a cat). But it is recommended that you do not shave your cat at home. Take her to a cat groomer or your veterinarian.
What about giving your cat a summer cut—would he or she be more comfortable with less fur? Our long-haired calico Daisy did not like to be combed, so it didn’t happen as regularly as was necessary. By the end of summer, her underside was terribly matted. And those were the days before easy-peasy (but expensive) flea remedies. Those were also the days when we allowed our cats outside. So once a year, I’d take Daisy to the groomer and have her flea-dipped and they’d give her a summer cut. In Daisy’s case, we’d just shave her tummy. No casual observer was the wiser when they’d look at Daisy as we just did a sort of comb-over. Well, when she was standing or walking, for example, the shave job was not noticeable, at all. Daisy looked as pretty as always.
My folks had a Maine coon cat—or at least part Maine coon. He had baby fine fur—oh, so difficult to deal with and it matted horribly. Even though he liked his brushings, they didn’t do the job. So every year, they’d take him in and get him a lion-cut. I swear he was embarrassed when he’d come home undressed.
If you’re looking for just the right cut for your cat, here’s a site you might want to visit. http://pets.thenest.com/different-haircuts-cats-11309.html
But beware: a cat’s coat is designed to insulate against the cold in winter and the heat in summer. It’s natural for him to wear a coat. If you decide to shave, protect him from sunburn. Yes, cats can get sunburned.
Have you given your cat a summer cut? We’d love to see the pictures.
