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THE IMPORTANCE OF CAT GROOMING
Anita Richardson, a Master Cat Groomer talks to us about the
importance of cat grooming to improve your feline’s health and wellbeing.
Why did you open a cat grooming business?
Love Cats Groomer was opened after my Father’s own
rescued, longhaired cat, Olly, became badly matted under his
belly, armpits and down his hind legs. It was clear to see how
uncomfortable these made him feel and the pain he was in
when attempting to jump. At the time, I began to search locally
for anyone that could help – but to no avail. When asking at the
local vets, they mentioned that because Olly was a rescue and
we therefore were unaware of his temperament, they would put
him under medicinal sedation and then clip him.
Would this mean that every time the cat needed grooming he
would have to be sedated?
Yes, not only would this prove expensive, but traumatic for
the cat and owner alike. The mere thought of the sedation
endangering Olly’s life was the turning point for me. With
that thought stuck profusely in my head, I decided to turn my
lifelong love of cats into a profession and immediately set about
locating somewhere to train to become a fully qualified cat
groomer.
Where did you do your training?
After some extensive research, I selected the Cat Grooming
School which is run by Svetlana Broussnova. Her busy salon is
regarded as the number one salon in London. Her vision is to
take students on a rigorous and comprehensive journey from
first principals through to final outcomes enabling students to
reach the highest professional standard.
What did the training consist of?
I was immediately thrown in at the deep end - handling clients
cats that were known to be well behaved. I was shown how
to trim the claws, use the grooming tools in order to brush
the various different coats through, scissor work, clipper
work, bathing and blow drying, and most of all the handling
techniques for each cat. Every cat is an individual and therefore
what handling techniques work for one does not necessarily
work on the next. It was a very intense course and as the weeks
passed by, the more temperamental cats were passed to me to
groom. Some days the training was quite frightening – being
on the receiving end of something that was going to have me
for lunch no matter what I tried! However, it was these cats
that pulled at my heart strings. They were obviously not used
to being handled by their owners and this reflected not only in
their behaviour towards me, but in the state of their coats too.
Is there a need to groom cats professionally?
Yes, Yes, Yes. The majority of people do not understand why
cats need grooming regularly. They think that cats can look after
themselves. This is kind of true. Our shorthaired breeds do not
face the same difficulties as our longhaired breeds. However,
some of our shorthaired and the majority of our longhaired
breeds have very dense coats and so a regular grooming session
helps rid them of any excess coat which may otherwise be
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swallowed and eventually returned as fur balls. It also prevents
lots of shedding around the home too. Also, as our cats get
elderly or pick up health problems, they tend to groom less.
Regular grooming pulls the cats own natural oils through their
coat keeping them looking in tip top condition. These oils also
help with weatherproofing our outdoor cats from the rain.
Grooming also stimulates blood circulation around the body
– pretty much like a massage does to us! The cats can find it
very relaxing. Clipping the claws also prevents problems with
claws overgrowing and piercing the paw pads. All cats shed
their claws – outdoor cats find it easier as they have various
trees, fence posts etc where they do this. However, our indoor
cats tend to use our furniture! This is because they do not have
a scratching post tall enough for them to fully stretch out and
hang from. This is a common problem in our households. Most
homeowners buy tiny scratching posts where the cat cannot
stretch up on his hind legs to stretch and shed those claws
naturally.
Why are we not aware that cat groomers exist?
There are very few professional cat groomers in Britain. In fact,
I am one of only eight qualified Master Cat Groomers in the
UK. Five of those being based in and around London.
What are the skills required to a become a cat groomer?
The skills required are wide and varied. Not only having the
right equipment for the job but understanding the behavioural
traits of each individual cat being groomed is a must in order
to help them relax. Also, inspiring confidence in the owner that
their cat is not being mistreated. Some cats can talk throughout
the whole grooming experience, but this doesn’t mean they are
being handled incorrectly. It is just a new experience for them.
Upon a second or third visit, most cats do actually lie across the
table and fully relax throughout the grooming session.
What is your vision for the future?
I hope to expand my grooming business further with a view
to opening my own cat grooming school eventually. My aim is
to bring awareness to the public on the importance of looking
after our cats through regular grooming. Due to demand from
some of my regular clients whom I have built a rapport with, I
have just opened Love Cats Sitter which is designed for looking
after your cats while you are away on business or holidays in
the comfort of their own homes. I will visit your home once or
twice a day in order to feed your cat and do any household tasks
like turning lights on, drawing curtains, putting waste bins out
etc. By leaving your cat at home, they are far less stressed than
when being placed in an unfamiliar environment surrounded
by strange noises and smells in a cattery. As you can see, I am
mad about cats. I am the crazy cat lady – and I’ll be the first to
admit it!
For more information, contact Anita Richardson on
07870 751581.