Why groom your cat?

All cat lovers are familiar with hairballs, and have cleaned up lots of them around the house. Professional grooming can considerably cut down the amount of hair and bacteria ingested by cats, and this will reduce hairballs. When cats groom themselves by licking their coat with their tongue, they swallow hair and dirt. Sometimes your cat will try to get the hair and dirt off without swallowing any of this stuff. If they have long hair, that makes a big mess. When the hair balls up in their stomach, they will vomit it up eventually. Sometimes, if the cat is dehydrated or not feeling well, the hair in the stomach can cause a blockage, ultimately needing veterinary care. Grooming your cat on a regular basis helps avoid such problems.

Regular grooming and bathing can help cut down on allergy problems. Anyone with allergies to cat hair (actually it's not to the hair itself, but a special protein in their saliva) and dander is likely to notice a welcome reduction in reactions when cats are regularly groomed.

Regular grooming can also help cut down on shedding and loose hair around the house, on the furniture and even on your clothing.

When your cat gets older, he may not be as limber as he was when he was younger. This makes it difficult, sometimes impossible, to reach certain areas on he body while he tries to groom himself. This is a time when your cat will need some help with grooming.

Long-haired cats who aren't combed frequently can develop matted hair. This can be very painful. Mats often pull on the skin of the cat... becoming a constant source of discomfort and stress. Matted hair can even restrict movement, when the hair near the legs or neck becomes tight. Plus, no air can get underneath matted hair... which can cause severe irritation, and possibly infection. If your cat becomes matted, arrange to have your cat groomed as soon as possible, and try not to touch the matted areas, as some mats can get tight enough to tear skin. In extreme cases, a veterinarian must be present when mats are removed, as it might be unavoidable that the skin tears. This is extreme, but it can happen. The best way to avoid the whole problem of matting is to keep your cat well-groomed.

What can a cat grooming session include?

• Nail trim
• Ear cleaning
• Gentle comb-out
• Teeth brushing
• Shampoo (and creme rinse, if needed)
• Manual fluff dry
• Comb/brush finish
• Kitty treat (naturally!)


• Optional or Extra Services:
  
• Nail trim only
• Comb-out, no bath
• Waterless shampoo
• Moisturizing shampoo
• Medicated shampoo
• Rear trim
• Tummy shave
• Lion Clip
• Dematting
• Hair trim/styling
• Application of Soft Claws