Cat
Grooming FAQ
Q.
What causes matting?
A.
Greasy skin and coat combined with natural shedding causes matting. Once a
small tangle or mat forms, it grows very quickly. The only real defense against
tangles and mats is regular bathing and drying done by a professional cat
groomer who truly knows what they are doing. Some groomers are not cat groomers
and will groom a cat using products and techniques that can cause more problems.
Q.
Do cats like getting a bath?
A.
Contrary to popular belief, most cats do not mind being bathed. In fact, many
are very calm during the bathing process and seem to find it relaxing. We use
special techniques to introduce a cat to the bathing process each time, until
we can see that they are used to it. We know from experience that cat owners
report they have a very happy cat after it returns home from a day at the spa.
Q.
How
do you dry the cats?
A.
We
use a high velocity dryer without the concentrator nozzle. Cats seem to tolerate this method very well. The dryer gets the cat completely dry so
there is no need for the cat to sit in a kennel to be dried.
Q.
Will
you sedate my cat?
A.
We do not sedate cats. In reality, very few cats truly do need any sort of
sedative in order to be groomed. We handle each cat in such a way that the need
for drugs of any kind rarely happens. If we do think your cat would best be
served by receiving medication, we will refer you to your veterinarian for a
mild sedative that can be administered prior to the grooming appointment.
Q.
Will
it hurt my cat to be groomed?
A.
It
can hurt your cat to NOT be groomed. Cats that are not groomed are prone to
serious matting problems, skin conditions, painful ingrown nails, and a variety
of other problems that, if left unattended, can cause irreversible damage or
even death.
A cat that is groomed regularly (approximately every
6 weeks) will not suffer from such problems. Because the groomer is handling
the cat on a regular basis and looking over every inch of its body during each
visit, health issues that may arise can be found early on, and the likelihood
of effective intervention is increased.
Q.
How
long will it take for you to groom my cat?
A.
We
typically allow 2 hours for your appointment if you have only one cat. If you
bring in two or more, or the cat is severely pelted or matted, the groom time
may take longer. Once we see your cat/cats in person, we will be able to give
you a time for pick-up. We believe cats are better served by not being away
from their normal home environment any longer than possible, and therefore strive
to complete each groom in an efficient and timely manner.
Q.
How
often should my cat be groomed?
A.
Most
cats need to be professionally groomed every 6 weeks or less.
Q.
Can
you groom my cat if he is aggressive?
A.
Most of the time we can. We can usually tell when we initially see your cat in
person whether or not it can be safely handled.
Q.
Can
you groom my cat if I have tried other salons and they have turned him away?
A.
Yes,
that is our specialty.
Q.
What
are the benefits to having my cat professionally groomed?
A.
The
main benefit is having a happier, healthier cat that does not suffer from any
of the painful and potentially life-threatening problems already mentioned. In
addition, you will benefit as regular grooming cuts down on shedding,
eliminates hairballs, reduces allergy problems, and helps promote a cleaner
environment as well as a cleaner cat. And the best part is, you don’t have to
do any of the grooming yourself! Leave that up to us!