How Long Does It Take for Cat Hair to Grow Back? Vet-Reviewed Facts
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Whether your cat recently had a haircut with a groomer or needed a close shave for a surgical procedure, you might not be a fan of seeing your naked cat roaming around the house. After all, most cats don’t require haircuts regularly, so it can be humorous to see them with a ridiculous haircut—at least for the first few days. Haircuts are a requirement for some cats, whether for safety, hygiene, or surgical prep, so you may have found yourself wondering just how long it will take for your cat’s luxurious coat to return.
Short-haired cats will be back to full coat length in 2 months, while long-haired cats may take up to 6 months.
How Long Does It Take for Cat Hair to Grow Back?
There isn’t an exact timeline as to how quickly your cat’s hair will grow back fully, and it largely depends on the reason your cat lost its hair, how short the haircut was, and how long your cat’s coat naturally is. If your cat lost hair due to a medical reason, like ringworm or alopecia, then how quickly the coat grows back is largely dependent on treating the underlying cause of the hair loss. Once the cause is remedied, your cat’s coat should start growing back immediately.
If your cat’s hair was shaved or cut, then the length of time is primarily dependent on the coat your cat naturally has. Short-haired cats often have their full coat length back within 2 months. For long-haired cats, you can expect it to take up to 6 months for their coat to grow back in. Either way, you’re likely to notice small amounts of growth in the coat within days or weeks of the initial haircut.
A general rule of thumb is that the hair will start to grow back straight away and be back to full length in 8 weeks for short haired cats. If there is no sign of hair growth after this time you should contact your veterinarian.
Will the Coat Grow Back the Same as Before?
Your cat’s coat is likely to return to its former glory, although it will take some time. If your cat lost their coat to a medical cause, then the regrowth of the coat is highly variable. It’s possible that your cat’s coat will never return to its former glory if they have a chronic health condition that impacts the body’s ability to regrow the coat or absorb nutrients.
If your cat’s coat was cut because they were matted, then it will likely take some time for the coat to regrow that length and thickness. Keep in mind that your cat likely had some level of an undercoat when their haircut occurred. This can mean that your cat will likely grow the outer coat first and it may take a couple of seasons for a full undercoat to grow back in.
In Conclusion
If your cat has had a haircut, then it could take anywhere from 2–6 months for your cat’s coat to grow back fully. It may even take a little bit longer than this for the full undercoat to grow in as well. How quickly your cat’s coat grows back in will depend on your cat’s natural coat and their current health conditions. Unhealthy cats will have a harder time growing their coat back.
Featured Image Credit: Studio Peace, Shutterstock
