It was Maine Coon week this week - and my back felt it!
Thankfully they were all well behaved, just big!
This girl was pretty jumpy before I groomed her. Mum knew and said she would like a comb cut, but a lion clip was ok as it is to help check for ticks. She had been to the vets back in September for a lion clip and reacted very badly to the sedation 😥
I turned the clippers and vac on for the comb cut and she nearly jumped to the roof - even when I had a happy hoodie on her...😬
Lion clip it was.
She was a nervous girl, so I worked slowly and calmly with her and each step of the way she got a little nore comfortable. Not a big fan of the dryer to start, but by the end she knew I wasn't trying to hurt her and she relaxed well.
If you know cats, you know they only go into the loaf position if they are nice and relaxed. I think I won her over in the end!
The first time this boy came in for a groom he FLIPPED OUT in the bath and I was a little scared of him 😬. Have you seen how big Maine Coons teeth are?? Plus he got my hose in his mouth and it didn't come out well 😳.
He was fine for everything else in the groom, literally a cuddly baby so I said that I would work with him.
He has been in regulalry for a while now and last time he was better in the bath. Today he was like a totally different cat. (He wears the e collar as protection for me 😬, just in case). He has never been this calm. I have never been able to take my hands off him while in the bath! He normally can't handle the sound of the water - today he was aware but very accepting of it.
My back is very grateful that he is improving so much!
Most cats do not need sedation for grooming as long as they have a calm, confident and cat specifically trained groomer handling them.
With regular grooms and building trust, most cats actually end up loving their grooming sessions.
No sedation grooming is less expensive and has less risks and causes less trauma to the cats. Just ask my clients who tell me their cats are normally more calm and relaxed after their groom!
This is Leila having her 1cm comb cut. It's tricky to do one handed 🤣
The first time Holly came in for a groom, the vets had advised to sedate her, without my knowledge. She didn't need it and I do not groom sedated cats - I can't read their body language and it is dangerous for me and the cat.
Now this old girl comes in every 8 weeks and spends most of her groom like this, I just have to comb her out quickly at the end cause she can get a little feisty. But my ninja skills can handle it.
Akira during her grooming session - do you think she likes it?
Luna, with her beautifully clean and flowing coat. Such a gorgeous girl with the cutest meow 😍
Sometimes the cats think I need their help 🤣🙄
I don't...😆
Why do I like to do I dry cats on my lap?
So that I can feel how they are responding to what is happening.
This girl was not a big fan of me from the start of her groom today, so I used the E collar as some insurance for me.
After a while with the blow dryer, I was able to remove the E collar and she was doing ok.
I was able to adjust what I was doing as I felt her movements on my lap, and she calmed down significantly.
I ended up putting the collar back on after I finished blow drying her to finish the groom as she was winding up again with me combing her.
What makes a good cat groomer?
In my opinion the following are what are needed for someone to be a good cat groomer:
A love of cats - As much as I love dogs, I actually prefer grooming cats. They have always been my favourite animals.
Quick reflexes - this is a MUST!
The ability to read a cat's body language and anticipate what they may do next - changing something up before they get a chance to freak out keeps things calm and leads to a positive experience.
Being able to adapt - Most cats respond really well to the grooming process, however some need things done differently.
Patience and care for the cat being groomed.
Catgrooming specific training - I always said I would never groom cats, because I believed they would eat me 🤣. Investing in intensive training in 20111 and gaining experience totally transformed this wrong thinking.
Educating owners - many owners have no odea about cat grooming or the need for regular grooming to prevent all kinds of problems - hairballs, shedding, knots and mats etc. A good groomer will work with owners for the best outcome for the cat.
Relaxed, well groomed cats - this is the final piece of evidence of a good groomer!
My last groom of the year has proven once again how wrong the perception is that cat's don't like being bathed or groomed...
#mythbusted
Apparently cats hate being bathed...
