Just as in life, there are variables in the care of animals, and we all have our own opinion as to the level of care that should be provided for our cats. I see everything in my salon, from one end to the other. I see people who are emotionally dependent on their animals and live vicariously through them. I see other people who barely notice their cat until it “interferes” with their life, meaning the cat is leaving hair all over the house, it smells, etc. Of course I have my views on what proper care of any animal should be, but that is my opinion. I am not here to be a moral compass for anyone. That being said, my biggest challenge in 12 years of owning my salon, is trying to get people to understand that their cats have needs, just like we have needs. Because cats can sometimes be independent in nature, and because they don’t complain, it is easy to ignore that they do indeed have needs. Whether it be grooming, good quality food, or time spent with them, they still have needs. Denial does not change that. It’s easy to get away with doing what we want when we are not called on it. If they could, they would. But they don’t have voice. Their only way of letting you know something is wrong is by behaving in a way that is socially unacceptable to us in our environment.
Put yourself in their paws for a second. They are dependent on us. They can only get as good of care as we decide to provide. It some instances, this saddens me greatly. When I see a cat come in year after year matted, and I have tried to educate the owner, it affects me greatly.
Cats are very sensitive creatures, and provide us with an incredible gift if we are there to recieve it. Don’t miss out on what your cat’s needs are, and what they are able to give back to you in return.
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For some reason we all have this idea that dogs need a bath and cats groom themselves. I don’t know who came up with this idea, but I always laugh when I hear it. Not because I am a cat groomer and this is what I do for a living, but because of what I know. Because cats have a more independent nature than dogs, it does not mean they do not have needs, grooming being one of them. Cats are living, breathing creatures that get just as oily and dirty as dogs. The skin is the largest gland in the body which is used to excrete toxins. Because cats will lick themselves to try and clean themselves, they are now ingesting those toxins. So they are healthier when kept clean. This is especially true if they are challenged with any medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease. Cats have huge egos and love to be clean. Their morale actually goes up after a grooming, and I hear this from clients all the time. Cats are the new dogs. There are more cats in households now than dogs, so the need for more services and products is rising. Being a cat groomer is still a rare profession, but there are more and more every year. Cats are first and foremost obligate carnivors, the consumate meat eater in the animal world. All you have to do is look in their mouth and you can see those are tearing and shredding teeth, not kibble chewing teeth. Carnivors do not possess the enzyme in their body to break down and utilize grains, so feeding them a more species appropriate diet will produce a cat with better health and longevity. Dry food causes a lot of problems in cats including obesity, dandruff, kidney disease, UTI, IBS and more. Because your cat’s body was designed to get their mositure from what they eat, they naturally are not drawn to drinking enough water to replace the dehydration that dry food causes. People think it’s a good sign to see them drink a lot of water. It is the opposite. I have a cat who has been on the raw food diet for over 10 years. He is 16 years old. I can honestly say I have never seen him drink water. Since kidney disease is the leading cause of death in felines it makes sense to not wear out their plumbing system by dehydrating them. There is no difference between “Muffin” and the big cats of Africa except size. Anatomically they are exactly the same. And you don’t see Lions eating kibble. Remember, it is not what is easy or convienant, but what is best for the cat. There are several raw cat food companies out there. I like Rad Cat, but there is Darwins home delivery as well as a couple more.
With the re-model almost complete I can’t help but think back to 11 years ago when I first started with very humble beginnings. Earl helped me re-model the space and took great pride in the salon and loved working with all the great cats and their owners. He had a special connection that came so naturally. As I am working hard every day getting the new space ready I know how proud he would be to see this expansion and the work we have done to make this a beautiful space. He was a craftsman that could do almost anything with his hands. We have all said we can feel him among us during this time. And I don’t know if it was our imagination or not, but we have heard someone hammering in there while we were working, when no one was there. I think he is watching over all of us, helping us move forward. I know he would have wanted this for me and for City Kitty. One of the most fascinating topics today in the pet industry is the topic of the raw food diet. For many years I showed Persians with CFA and fed a commercial dry food. Then one day 10 years ago a client walked in with two of her cats who looked and felt so different I had to ask her about them. She told me they were on a raw food diet. Well, I pictured cats sitting around eating carrots or something. I had no idea what she was talking about. So after talking to her and feeling how muscular and fit her cats were I decided to give it a try. So all 9 of my little show Persians started on the raw food diet. It took me almost a year to fully transition one of them as he was such a “kibble addict”. Then he wouldn’t eat anything but the raw food diet. What a difference. Their coats, eyes, demeanor, everything changed, including very little urine and non-smelly feces in the littler box. They were well hydrated and even their teeth improved. I have gone through different formulas over the years, including grinding my own meat with a meat grinder, and now use the formula devised by Kymythy Schultz, author and leading pet nutritionist. Since cats are the consumate meat eaters it makes sense to feed them a species appropriate diet. Please come see us at City Kitty for more information on this fascinating subject. Regular grooming promotes a healthy and happy cat. A regular bath removes all the oils and dirt from the skin that are going into your cat’s coat that causes matting. Mats can cause a lot of discomfort for cats as they pull on their skin and irritate the delicate skin tissue. They can also cause hot spots. Since the skin is constantly producing moisture, mats do not allow the skin to breathe. A hot spot is a sore that errupts from this process. Cats are also narcissitic creatures that love to look and feel good. The benefits of a clean cat also promote good health, not to mention how nice it is to pick up your cat and it smells fresh and clean without all the loose hair on you and in your house. A clean kitty is a healthy kitty!  Love My Bath! |
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