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On recent trips through mid to large grooming businesses, we were continually amazed at how many cats are being not just bathed, but provided finish styling. In one large business they had five cats in one day having their overall hair coat reduced to about one inch all over (Persians and Himalayans). I inquired how they came about such a demand. I was advised that the demand for shortening long hair cats is strongest with each year's first onset of warm spring and summer heat. One cat owner client tells another before you know it there is regular demand. Once the summer heat ends, most of these continue to have their cats bathed only.

Most cats are given a "bath-only" service (no finish trimming or styling), but there may be a large number of cat owners in your area that would like the additional service. We now know of businesses with as many as 500 regular complete trim and bath cat owners coming in year round. These owners average 3 visits a year, and annualizing that demand, well you have 1,500 appointments at $35 (average) and your annual gross income is $52,500.

Remember, you should market your cat grooming services as 1) bath-only (no styling) and 2) complete trim and bath styling. It's a good idea to take a photograph of Persian or Himalayan cat whose hair coat has been shortened and show it to cat owners with an interest in these services. The cat certainly looks different! It's not show grooming! However in warm climates, there are growing numbers of cat owners that don't care about style and prefer their cat be comfortable. We encourage you not to "strip" the coat too short though, hair coats do provide protection from the sun and other benefits. We prefer to leave the coat a minimum of about one inch long, or slightly shorter only.

What's other advantages does your offering cat grooming to cat owners promise? Most of them are extremely reluctant to bathe and/or trim their cats. Cat grooming is an art often in the extreme; you've likely heard the saying, "Cat grooming is a martial art." That may be true if you don't have the knowledge and experience of a professionally trained cat groomer. You're doing cat owners in your market area and community a great service by offering cat grooming. Clean pets really are happier and healthier, and that means cats as well as dogs. In nearly 40 years of offering grooming we have found that groomers alone make the most complete of pets on a regular basis. Groomers smell, see and feel their way from one end of the pet to the other, and each year tens of thousands of pets are sent to veterinarians for needed care because groomer observations. As a groomer, you really are an important part supporting the health of your clients' pets.

Misconceptions

Cats don't need grooming, they groom themselves.

Cat owners know that hairballs are problem, and almost certainly they have cleaned up purged hairball messes around their houses. Professional grooming can significantly reduce the amount of hair licked by cats, and thereby reduce the hairball syndrome. Yes, cats were equipped with an abrasive tongue to perform some grooming, but it is not the same as an overall beneficial grooming, let alone styling. Obviously cats can get in a lot amazing positions, but they cannot lick clean all of their body. It's surprising how many cat owners don't find ticks on their cats either. A cat groomer is almost certain to locate tick problems (and cats don't do well taking off or deterring ticks by themselves though they "groom themselves."

Cat dirt and dander can be a real problem even for enthusiasts, and the dread of visiting friends. Anyone with allergies to cat hair and dander is likely to notice a significant reduction in reactions when cats are regularly groomed. Many cat owners have shared with us since they started having their cats groomed regularly there is much less hair shed to clean from their furniture and carpeting.

Temporary Housing for Cats Being Groomed

We strongly recommend that cats be accommodated in area separate of dogs. Separation from canines eases anxiousness. In fact, a small room of even 6 feet by 6 feet can hold some cat lodgings, a small utility tub and a work counter so cats are never around dogs their entire visit except check-in and check-out at the front reception counter. Remember, such special accommodation deserves notice and you should market this advantage to cat owners. They will appreciate the extra level of accommodation and of course are more likely to send you referrals.

We strongly recommend that you ask cat owners to deliver their cats already housed in a portable carrier. It will save everyone and the owner from the cat going ballistic saying, "You're not really going to leave me here!?" You may want to use the carrier to accommodate the cat during its visit, but if you keep the cat more than 2-3 hours you will want to provide it with some stretch time, and again having a separate cat grooming area makes this successful.

Training

We are pleased to note that there are more educational opportunities today in cat grooming. However, we could use more. Handling cats being groomed involves professional training. You will likely agree that you are more likely to be swat or bit by the average cat being groomed compared to the average dog. There are also various "slings and bags" to secure cats being bathed available from pet supply distributors. Some like this one, and others that one. Certainly we always preferred 2 groomers for cat bathing, not styling. One gently but firmly held the cat, while the other shampooed, conditioned and rinse the cat. In fact, we never had a single bite with the 2 groomer system.

Many in the industry believe that a cat bite is more likely to become infected than a dog bite. That may be true, but regardless of cat or dog, get medical treatment for either as soon as possible.

On the next page we will inform you of some of the few educational materials available.