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Article by Adrienne Kawamura
published in Groomer to Groomer on-line magazine, July/Aug 2010

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Cat grooming is not as difficult as one might think. Whenever I tell someone that I groom cats for a living, I inevitably get “the look”. First a slight look of disbelief, then their eyes go to my arms, I suppose looking for scars, bite marks, and scratches. To their disappointment, I’m looking good. Now that they think I am some sort of cat whisperer, I have them! What I am here to tell you is that anyone who loves cats and has the right mindset and environment can groom cats. If you want to do it you can.

My first advice is to understand the mind of a cat. Let’s face it, dogs have masters, cats have staff. A dog will work hard in most cases to please you. A cat will work hard to get you to do what they want you to do, and this does not always include grooming. This is especially true if this cat has never been groomed before.

So how do we convince the king of the jungle to do what we want? Because cats are extremely sensitive creatures and don’t adjust to change well, that is anything out of their ordinary routine, we need to create an inviting environment for them. In our salon it is very quiet.

If you are trying to groom cats and dogs together I give you credit, but it is not the equation for success. Pick an off day or special hours to set aside for your feline clients. Keep the room very quiet, perhaps playing relaxing music, burning aromatherapy candles and keeping voices at a low level. Dogs love the party atmosphere and all the excitement. Most cats do not.

When a cat first comes in don’t rush to get the cat out. Let kitty sit for awhile; adjust to the new surroundings, smells and sounds. You would be amazed after 10 minutes how a cat’s energy settles down. If this is a cat you do not know, check this cat’s body language. Is it scared under a blanket? Is it complacent and curious about you? Is it aggressive, hissing when approached, and not intimidated by the situation? This is valuable information you need to know before handling this cat.

Take the cat out gently. If I am unsure I never just stick my hand in and feed it to the cat. According to what I have learned in workshops with animal communicators it is best to approach a cat with a closed fist and not an open hand. An open hand is a threat to a cat. It appears as an attack and may act out in defense. If in doubt I will gently grab the scruff of the neck. Instead of trying to drag the cat out of its carrier, I will stand the carrier up on its rear like a trash can, and gently pull the cat out. This way gravity is in your favor, and it is harder for the cat to cling on with all four sets of nails.

I prefer to sit the cat on my lap to begin the grooming process, but this is personal preference. I feel cats are less threatened and perhaps a bit more secure on my lap. This way I can easily sum up this cat. If I feel a rigid cat, or see body language I don’t like, I now know what I am dealing with. Sometimes a cat will start out tense and then you can feel the body relax. At our salon we use cat muzzles quite often. Sometimes even when a cat is not a threat to us, they actually feel safer with the muzzle. This is done on horses at times when put in a trailer. It is not inhumane, and in fact more humane to do this to some cats. You will see them instantly get calm. Your objective is to do the best job you can do with the least stress to the cat and to you.

At our salon we produce a product called Calm Kitty, a combination of flower essences in drops or mist formula to help calm the cats down that are having a hard time. In my experience grooming cats, I have only seen a few cats lash out for no reason. If I ever get bit or scratched, which is rare, it is usually my fault. Most cats think you are trying to hurt them and they are acting out in defense.

Never underestimate the capacity of a cat to understand when talked to. We sometimes take the time to let them know we are trying to help them and are not here to hurt them. I will also encourage them, telling them what a good job they are doing. Trust me, it works. A cat has a memory like an elephant. They never forget anything. A dog is very forgiving. A cat can hold a memory, including a grudge for years. I have had cats come in to my shop that haven’t been there in a year, look around, look at me, take a deep sigh and they know where they are at. We try to create the best experience we can for them. On the other hand, I can tell when one of my not so loyal clients has gone to another groomer with their cat. The cat seems very stressed out, when the last time it wasn’t. And the owner has no idea that I know.

Although as groomers we have a physical job, there is a spiritual side to animals that can’t be ignored. Tuning in to the animal is sometimes half the battle. If I am stressed, I will take flower essences as well, take a minute, say a prayer, or whatever it takes to get me at my best for my clients. I look forward to talking to you again soon about the wonderful art of cat grooming!