| After owning Persian
cats since 1990, I have gained a great respect and understanding
of cats in general. Although dog owners probably wouldn’t
believe me, cats are just as individual with their own
personalities, likes and dislikes as much as any dog.
 Although
many cats are loving, affectionate and gentle, the
odd one may give the impression of being aloof and
very independent, but deep down all they really want
is few cuddles and lots of love.
In general, there are not many groomers
who will do cats, this is for a number of reasons.
Cats, compared to dogs are a lot more unpredictable.
If a dog is unhappy, there are signs to tell you that
he/she is fed up, giving you a warning before they
want to bite you. This is not the case with cats,
they are quite different, they will instantly react
by either scratching or worse case, biting. They will
generally do this if they feel threatened, nervous
or generally just grumpy, hence the lack of brave
groomers.
Think about it! Usually a cat is
placed in its carrier for a visit to the vets, where
the experience is often quite unpleasant for the animal
(i.e. An operation, needle or something stuck up its
bum!), hence the association with the carrier is a
negative one. So when the cat visits The Grooming
Room, it is critical to help it relax and enjoy the
grooming process as much as possible. Whilst I have
explained how important it is for the cat to be comfortable,
occasionally I may have to request that the cat comes
back for second visit. This will be because the cat
has got stressed whilst being groomed due to the amount
of knots and the seriousness of matting in the fur.
It is my policy, for cats and dogs, that I will not
inflict unnecessary trauma or stress, I would rather
stop before it gets to that point. Not only is it
kinder to stop, hopefully it means the animal does
not associate me with having a bad time.
 Remember
the cat is not at the vets and is not under anaesthetic,
so the time taken is varied, dependent on the cats’
coat (mats & knots) and temperament. If the cat
is extremely matted, beyond what I can do whilst the
cat is awake, I may have to suggest that a vet’s
help is needed.
Cats with short or long coats
need regular grooming. If this is not maintained,
a visit to the groomers or vets may be the only course
of action. Many of the cats that visit The Grooming
Room are well looked after and just need to be pampered
and feel special. Please take a little time to help
keep your cat happy!
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