Lion Cut — Cat Grooming Greenvale
Melbourne's most popular cat grooming style — coat clipped short on the body with a fluffy mane, leg pom-poms and tail tip kept long. Suitable for all cats including matted coats.
Who is the Lion Cut for?
Any cat — particularly long-haired breeds in summer, cats prone to matting, and cats whose owners want lowest-maintenance grooming.
About the Lion Cut
The Lion Cut is the most universally suitable grooming style we offer. The body coat is clipped down to roughly 5-10 mm, the mane around the head and shoulders is kept full, the legs are left with pom-poms at the paws, and the tail keeps a fluffy tip — the unmistakable lion silhouette.
It is the right choice for cats that mat easily, cats whose owners struggle to brush at home, cats who suffer in Melbourne summer heat, and senior cats whose grooming-self-care has slowed down. Unlike the teddy bear cut, the lion cut works fine on coats with light to moderate matting because the clippers go beneath the mat layer. Severely pelted coats may need the Lion Cut for Matted Coats variant (longer time, $170).
Many of our regulars in Greenvale, Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn rebook the lion cut every 8-12 weeks year-round. Owners notice a major drop in hair around the home, fewer hairballs, fresher-smelling cats, and easier daily brushing. The mane and pom-poms keep the look playful — your cat does not look 'shaved', they look stylish.
What happens during the appointment
- Pre-groom assessment — coat check, behaviour read, identification of any matting
- Bath with feline-safe shampoo (or pre-clip if heavy matting)
- Body clip-down with feline-grade clippers, leaving legs, mane and tail tip long
- Bath if not done first, plus conditioning treatment
- Forced-air dry to skin
- Scissor finish on mane, paw pom-poms, tail
- Nail trim, ear clean, sanitary tidy
- Cologne, bandana, photo if you would like one for socials
What's included in the price
- ✓ Premium shampoo and conditioning
- ✓ Body clip with mane, pom-poms and tail tip preserved
- ✓ Forced-air blow dry
- ✓ Sanitary trim, paw pad trim
- ✓ Nail clipping and filing
- ✓ Ear cleaning
- ✓ Light health observation
- ✓ Cologne and bandana
Aftercare
Cats with a fresh lion cut may want extra warm spots for the first few days — provide a fleece blanket near a sunny window or radiator. The exposed body skin is sensitive; avoid direct sun for the first week and do not bathe at home for 7-10 days. Brushing the mane every couple of days keeps it tangle-free.
Lion Cut — Frequently Asked Questions
Will my cat be embarrassed by the lion cut?
Cats do not have human concepts of appearance. What they will notice is feeling cooler, lighter and itch-free — most cats become more playful and affectionate within hours.
How short is the body clip?
About 5-10 mm — short enough that you can see the cat's natural body shape, but not bare skin. The fur grows back fully in 8-12 weeks.
Does the lion cut work on short-haired cats?
It can be done on short-haired cats but the visual effect is minimal — they already shed less. We usually recommend de-shedding spa treatment instead.
My cat has a lot of mats — can you still do a lion cut?
Light to moderate matting can be handled by the standard Lion Cut. For coats that are heavily matted or pelted, please book the Lion Cut for Matted Coats ($170) which allows extra time and skin-safety care.
How long does the appointment take?
Around 60-90 minutes for a smooth-coated cat, longer for matted or anxious cats. We never rush.
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Open 7 days, 9 AM – 7 PM. Greenvale studio, all Melbourne suburbs welcome.