Frequently Asked Questions

Generally cats behave better without their owners present, they often try to go to their owners which can be challenging when keeping them calm and settled during their groom, the groom can sometimes take a long time, with some cats needing breaks in between. The salon also doesn't have a waiting area so its best for health and safety reasons that your pet is left with us to carry out the groom. I give you an estimate of time but for the reasons mentioned, i always call once they are ready and advise a collection time. 

Under certain circumstances you will be asked to remain. 

Once I receive your booking I will contact you for further details about your pet and will give you payment details via bank transfer or paypal.

I only provide a lion trim for pelted cats, where the fur has become so matted across the entire body and its removal is essential. A lion trim is often seen as a remedy to excess shedding or keeping cats cool during summer months, however this isn't the case! By trimming the coat, it doesn't prevent shedding it just makes the hairs shorter, the best way to combat excess shedding is by regular de-shedding appointments  including a bath if your cat is suitable. This helps to promote healthy sebum production and washes and blows away excess fur, preventing your cat from ingesting it and decorating your home! Cats need their fur to help them regulate their body temperature so its a common misconception that lion trims keep them cool, they need airflow through their fur to help them maintain their correct body temperature.
The best way to keep your cat cool is to remove excess dead fur by regular grooming to allow the air to flow through.
It can have a negative effect on the coat after trimming, the coat  may not grow back properly leaving bold areas or it can grow back excessively making it a lot more difficult to manage! Some cats may find that the coat feels different and will begin to over groom causing sore areas which can lead to infections. Some cats even display negative behavioural changes because they feel exposed. As you can see there is a lot to consider here which is why it is in the best interests of the cat that a lion trim is only performed if it's essential.

I can't stress how much cats can benefit from baths! its the most effective way of removing dead fur and promoting healthy sebum production which keeps your cats coat looking healthy and shiny! People often believe baths strip their natural oils, but what it actually does is remove old dried up oil (seen as dandruff) dead fur and promotes a healthy coat. If this isn't removed, its being ingested by your cat which can cause intestinal blockages, fur balls and will most likely be all over your home!

We use cat specific shampoos which have been developed to the correct PH level for cats, using products not intended for cats such as dish soap or baby shampoo can negatively impact their coat which may be where this myth comes from. The cat grooming industry has developed massively in recent years and there are a lot more cat specific products available.

There are some cases where a bath isn't suitable such as poor health or geriatric cats, in this case i will use other grooming products.

Contrary to popular belief cats don't hate water (especially maine coons!), particularly when introduced to it properly. I've had cat's fall asleep during their bath and what follows is kitty heaven-a lovely warm blow dry! This is often their favourite part of the groom, they get pampered with lovely warm air, for this part of the groom i use a happy hoodie which wraps around their ears to muffle the noise.

Cats lick themselves, they can use their saliva to remove debris and the papillae on their tongue to pull at the fur, but does that mean they are clean? or does that mean they have saliva covered fur? just think, any dirt, debris and loose fur is being ingested by your cat, not only can this cause intestinal blockages and fur balls but if there is something dangerous they have come into contact with they are ingesting that too! Can they break up matts with their tongue? nope! and this isn't limited to long haired breeds, i've removed pelts from short haired cats too. Its a particular problem in elderly cats or poorly cats as well as the obvious long haired breeds, remember that pedigree breeds have been developed by humans and bred to have beautiful long coats but its impossible for them to remain healthy and matt free without human intervention.

The answer to this is tricky as every cat is different and it can depend on what triggers their aggression.
I have groomed many aggressive cats successfully, I work holistically which means I learn the cats behaviour and adapt my style of grooming to suit them. Sometimes it's necessary to work across several sessions in order to build a bond and gain their trust, others I can work with in one session, it's very dependant on how the cat responds. I never restrain cats, I use safe handling techniques in order to groom safely but extreme aggression can sometimes mean that they just aren't suitable for grooming, not every cat can be groomed-in this case a vet referral may be necessary.
It may be beneficial to administer a mild sedative (gabapentin prescribed by your vet) which can reduce a cats aggression, I would always prefer to see the cat first to assess temperament before speaking to your vet.

Again this depends on each individual cat but as I work holistically, I work with the cat to make them feel safe and secure. I only proceed  with the groom if the cat is happy to do so. If a cat is showing signs of extreme stress such as panting I do not continue with the groom, unlike dogs cats don't pant to cool down it is a sign of extreme stress and it is in their best interests to stop the groom and call their owner for collection.

This varies depending on the type of groom they have but you will be given an estimate of time.
As I work 1-1 it's important that your cat is collected promptly once the groom is complete.
It's also important that you remain available for collection at any time during their time at the salon incase of emergency or that the groom needs to be stopped.

Add an answer to this item.