What to expect at your appointment

I often get asked "How do you groom a cat?" and every groomer will give you a different answer. Here is a brief description of my average grooming session.

It's better for your cat if they can follow their normal routine on the day of their groom, it reduces stress and gives me a calmer cat to work with. The only thing I ask is that your cat is kept in on the day, unless you can be sure it will be back home by the time of it's groom.

I like to groom in a small area with good lighting and not too many places for the cat run away and hide in. I work on the floor, so that your cat can keep it's feet on the floor while I work. This allows your cat to feel in control and reduces stress, making your cat a lot more tolerant.

I start with general fussing and stroking so that your cat can come and investigate me and my equipment and build a level of trust that will enable me to handle it.

I do not use cat muzzles, wrapping in towels or any other type of forceful restraint. I allow your cat to come to me and engage in a little bit of grooming and then walk away and take a break. Most cats will tolerate about 25 minutes of grooming if done without any restraint.

At some point during the groom I will need to hold your cat to access its belly or bottom and this is done gently and for short periods on my lap. This tends to be the part of groom most cats dislike as I am working on sensitive areas and I am also restricting their movement and limiting their control over the situation.

As soon as they tell me they need a rest, I let them go to calm down and de-stress. I then tempt them back with treats or toys and then do some more grooming.

Most grooms last about 40 minutes to an hour and if I haven't completed the groom in that time I will book another session to finish it.