I mean, it's a dick move, but doesn't qualify as abuse imo. No harm would come from it by itself, and if the cat didn't object at all, it's not worth arguing about.

But my grandparents had to shave their cat's tail for a few years. He would suck on it, and in the process pull out hairs, which would end up with sores where they had been pulled. So the vet said to keep it shaved down, if the cat would tolerate it. The cat did, and no more issues.