How often should you cat be groomed?
When it comes to keeping your cat clean, comfortable, and healthy, regular grooming is more important than most pet parents realize. While cats are known for their self-grooming habits, even the most fastidious feline needs a helping hand—especially when it comes to thorough brush-outs and professional baths.
So… how often should your cat be groomed?
The Ideal Grooming Schedule: Every 4–8 Weeks
A professional grooming session every 4–8 weeks is the sweet spot for most cats. This schedule helps maintain coat health, reduce shedding, minimize mats, and keep skin clean and irritation-free. It also keeps grooming a low-stress routine rather than an occasional, overwhelming event.
Cats who are nervous, prone to matting, overweight, senior, or have long, dense coats often benefit from staying closer to the 4-week mark. Short-haired or lower-maintenance cats may do well around 6–8 weeks.
Why Bath & Brush-Outs Matter More Than Haircuts
While full haircuts can be helpful for severe matting or medical needs, they aren’t usually necessary for the average cat. Instead, routine bath and brush-out sessions offer the greatest long-term benefits:
✔ Better Skin Health
Bathing removes built-up oils, dander, and debris that self-grooming can’t fully handle.
✔ A Cleaner, Softer Coat
Regular brush-outs get deep into the undercoat, preventing tangles and mats before they form.
✔ Reduced Shedding
Consistent deshedding keeps loose fur under control—great for your furniture and your allergies.
✔ Less Hair Ingestion (and fewer hairballs!)
When the excess hair is removed professionally, your cat swallows less during self-grooming.
✔ Stress Reduction
Frequent, gentle sessions help cats stay familiar with the grooming process, making each visit smoother for both the cat and the groomer.
Long-Haired Cats: Why 4–6 Weeks Is Ideal
Breeds like Persians, Ragdolls, Maine Coons, and Himalayan mixes are more prone to tangles and mats—especially around the armpits, belly, and behind the ears. For these cats:
The coat can mat quickly, even with regular at-home brushing
Seasonal shedding can cause compact undercoat buildup
Bathing helps loosen and remove dead fur that gets trapped in longer coats
Keeping long-haired cats on a 4–6 week schedule prevents painful mats and keeps their coats looking full, healthy, and silky.
Short-Haired Cats: Yes, They Need Grooming Too!
Short-haired cats often get overlooked when it comes to professional grooming, but they benefit just as much—just in different ways.
Short coats can trap:
Excess oils
Dander
Loose fur
Dust and environmental debris
A 6–8 week bath and brush-out helps remove this buildup, reduces shedding, and promotes overall coat shine. Even though their fur is shorter, short-haired cats often shed more than long-haired breeds, making regular grooming incredibly helpful.
When Should Haircuts Be Used?
Haircuts are best reserved for:
Severe matting that cannot be safely brushed out
Medical reasons (skin issues, allergies, hygiene)
Senior or overweight cats who have trouble cleaning themselves
However, routine full-body trims aren’t necessary for most cats—and can sometimes cause coat texture changes or increased maintenance.
Sticking with bath, blow-dry, and brush-out grooming keeps the coat naturally healthy while respecting the integrity of the feline coat.
The Bottom Line
For most cats, a professional bath and brush-out every 4–8 weeks is the ideal schedule. Long-haired cats thrive with more frequent grooming, while short-haired cats still benefit greatly from regular maintenance.
By keeping up with routine grooming, you’re not just enhancing your cat’s appearance—you’re supporting their overall health, comfort, and happiness