The Reality Of Cat Grooming.

Norman enjoying his brushing

"Why would you need grooming for your cat? Do Cats really need professional grooming? Just use waterless bath, leave-in shampoo, and cat nail clippers. You can do it yourself... Cats don't need a bath!"

I see these comments and questions frequently on social media like Facebook and Nextdoor. I'm going to address the "elephant in the room" one comment at a time. Hold tight, this'll be a long one. There are several reasons why cats do need professional grooming.

1) How they were raised by their biological mom and living style. Kittens born into an abusive home may not receive the teachings on how to groom themselves. These cats need routine bathing and nail clipping. It's 100% O-K to request professional help!

2) Life just happens. Sometimes owners are unable to keep up with brushing during shedding season. This undercoat can tangle together, and if left unchecked will eventually lead to matting. It's 100% safer to call a professional who will visit and help de-shed your cat, or (if things get tangled) shave the mats off. Leaving mats on a cat will lead to them pulling on the skin and cause skin issues like sores and rashes. Matting doesn't just disappear: it gets worse.

3) Depends on quality of their food. Food quality can play a major part in maintaining their coat by producing excess oil for the fur and skin, which leaves their coat feeling oily. When this happens, it's necessary to give your cat a traditional bath with water and cat-safe shampoo to help relieve the skin and coat of the excess oil. If not, the oils will accumulate and cause cat acne, dandruff, or other skin related issues, leaving your cat itchy and uncomfortable.

"Oh you can just do it yourself, you don't need a professional!" This is a harmful statement. We all know the anecdote regarding assuming. Stating everyone has the knowledge or ability to do it themselves isn't always the case and can lead to unexpected or unintended results. Researching proper grooming techniques online can feel overwhelming, I have personal experience with this by doing my own research on how to own and grow a small business and the steps needed to help my dream of owning a mobile van come to fruition. Above I mentioned three major reasons why a professional is needed. This is not an exhaustive list, and numerous other reasons exist (such as mobility issues, age, lack of ability to lean over their tub/sink, or small sink which does not accommodate the size of some cats). If you are confident enough to groom your own cat, I applaud you. Not every owner has the same confidence.

Rather than spreading ignorance and disinformation, being supportive and offering suggestions for cat groomers offers a less harmful outcome. Asking rhetorical questions such as why they're asking for a cat groomer is not needed or required. Me? I never ask why since I am well-educated on most reasons. When I answer the phone and speaking to pet parents, I listen to their needs and offer support and recommendations on services they may need. Remaining compassionate and understanding makes a significantly positive contribution to the situation, even if they decide to wait when booking an appointment with me.