CAT GROOMING FACTS

WHAT CAUSES MATTING?

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.  

DO CATS LIKE GETTING A BATH?

Contrary to popular belief, most cats do not mind being bathed. In fact being a retired dog groomer, I found that there are just as many dogs who liked and disliked their bath as there were cats. Many cats are very calm during the bathing process and seem to find it relaxing.  We  introduce cats to their first bathing process with a real bubble bath. Did you know bathing a cat actually releases endorphines in the brain? This could be the reason why many cats have a new found sense of pride afterwards.

HOW DO YOU DRY CATS?

We use the Catty Shack Vac patented drying system designed specifically for cats.  In fact, we are the only grooming salon on the Main Line that uses the Catty Shack Vac, which means we can offer the most efficient cat drying process and produce the highest quality results. We also provide a back up "baby" dryer that accomodates most all cats whose handicap is the drying/noise process.

WILL YOU SEDATE MY CAT?

We do not sedate cats and will REFUSE SERVICE if your cat arrives sedated. Most sedatives a vet prescribes for grooming are ineffective for the purposes of cat grooming and may actually make things worse for the cat. We do however recommend Fear Free cat grooming techniques & recomendations. Using a scale from 1 to 6 we will score your cat's stress levels. For cats who score 3-6 on the Stress Scale we recommend and in some cases require that they be treated with Gabapentin prior to any grooming appointment.This will block their Fight or Flight response. It is normally scripted by a vet for the treatment of chronic pain and other issues. Please ask your vet to consider or research this prescription if they are not familiar with it's anxiety reduction benefits. A threshhold of a 100mg capsule or 2.0ml (at a 50mg/1ml oral solution) is needed in order for your cat to benefit anxiety blocking. Administered 2 hours prior to the start of the grooming. For severe cases, give also the night before as recommended by 50% of veterinarian practioners who prescribe Gabapentin for anxiety.

FIGHT or FLIGHT" ~ Taking precautions as a groomer to prevent this trigger is essential. Stress factors for cats are already in play when an owner reaches for their cat carrier & walks out the front door with their cat. Gabapentin is a  groundbreaking anxiety treatment (NOT a sedative) that comes in pill, powder, capsule, tablet & liquid form and is a game changer to anyone offering professional pet services to cats.....now pre-prescribed by many veterinarians prior to coming in for a vet exam. Call your vet today if you feel your cat can benefit from this prescription. Must be administered by owner 2 hours prior to grooming appointment and in severe cases, treat the night before also.

WILL IT HURT MY CAT TO BE GROOMED?

It can hurt your cat 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 havoc on their health and your household.

A full coated cat that is groomed regularly (approximately every 8 -12 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. Maintaining your cat in a Lion Cut will significantly lower the maintenance of your cat and is used as a prescription by vets to eliminate dangerous inflamed hairballs in the gut.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY CAT TO BE GROOMED?

We typically allow 90 minutes hours appointment. The average wait time for a Lion Cut is 60 minutes (3o minutes if you are just getting a dry cut) If you bring in two cats or more, the time is on average about 1 hour per cat. If your cat is severely pelted or matted, the groom time may take longer. You will receive an automated text, if you are not already in our open viewing waiting area, when your cat is ready for pick up  We believe cats are better served by not being away from their normal home environment any longer than they have to. we strive to complete each groom in an efficient and timely manner.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY CAT BE GROOMED?

Most fully coated long haired cats can be maintained professionally with a grooming every 8 - 12 weeks. For Short Haired cats the times will vary (Keep in mind that we offer FREE maintenance services every Wed from 6pm to 7:30pm (as a walk-in to all existing clients to help inbetween your grooming appointments) For Lion Cuts your maintenance drops significantly. We recommend for The Lion Cut that you come in at the very minimum twice a year OR receive a Lion Cut in the Spring/Summer and come back for a full shampoo & blowout for the Fall/Winter. To keep your cat in The Lion Cut Pattern you would come in every 2 months.

CAN YOU GROOM MY CAT IF HE IS AGGRESSIVE?

10,000 cats groomed and 10 turned away in 12 years..... so the odds are yes we probably could.....but should we? Our grooming policy is based on Fear Free practices as recommended by Dr. Marty Becker, founder of Fear Free Pets. Your cat's initial appointment requires you to stay during the first initial 15 minute assessment. We will take notes, find what your cat's triggers are and assess their stress levels. We will assess your cat right in front of you so you can see for yourself just how your cat will react. Once the assessment is complete we will come up with a plan going forward to help maintain your cat's stress levels at a 1-2 out of 6. If your vet prescribes a sedative we will refuse service) Fear Free methods can also be as simple as introducing cat candy at the start of their grooming appointment (We carry a variety of complementary cat candy to choose from) Cats who score 4-6 for aggression would be required to be on Gabapentin for their next visit. A prescription you would ask your veterinarian for. Our goal for all our cat clients is to help them achieve or maintain a stress level of 1-2 out of 6. Keep in mind you may not find that perfect grooming visit or "SPA DAY"on your first try. It may take up to 3 groomings but hen you do however find that right set of steps needed for your cat, you will have found it for the life of your pet. 

CAN YOU GROOM MY CAT EVEN IF HE HAS BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM OTHER SALONS?

The answer to that is yes but it may require steps that you and your vet might need to take for future visits. "We are no longer comfortable with your cat being uncomfortable". A cats reactions can vary and will be unpredictable with each different surrounding. Please review our Fear Free Cat Guide . You can choose to take the recommended steps prior to your cats appointment or come in "Raw". If you do choose to come in raw (not doing any of the recommended steps), please be prepared to stay for your cat's grooming appointment. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO HAVING MY CAT PROFESSIONALLY GROOMED?

The main benefits are having a happier, healthier, cleaner cat that does not suffer from any of the problems already mentioned. In addition, your cat will benefit from regular groomings by reducing shedding, eliminating hairballs, prevent inflamed hairball emergency surgeries, reduce allergen issues and help promote a cleaner environment for you, your cat and for your family & home.