Pet Grooming Options for Cats
When considering pet grooming options, one must decide which pet groomer will be best. There are many dog groomers out there, but very few cat groomers. If you have a cat you should look carefully at what specific facilities offer cat grooming expertise. Cats are finicky animals and they can be very hard to groom, putting the groomer at risk for bites or scratches. Choosing a professional cat groomer is a important decision the pet owner must make to ensure the health and happiness of their cat. As with all animals a bad pet groomer can make mistakes and unintentionally hurt the animal destroying confidence in making the cat emotionally distraught.
Cat pet grooming is a difficult job and not many people are up to the task. Some of the best dog groomers refuse to groom cats due to the fact of the danger to both themselves and the animal. Most cats do not like water and bathing them can be a adventure as both cat and human fight for dominance. Most cats become emotionally distraught when immersed in water, and it takes a experience pet groomer to calm the cat and at the same time protect both parties involved.
Pet grooming techniques have been designed to keep the animal safe and give the animal confidence in the person doing the bathing. A good cat groomer will use the necessary gloves and other equipment to make bathing a more pleasant experience for the feline.
The most difficult job for the cat pet grooming expert is to cut mats off long-haired cats. Breeds such as Persians, and Blue Hairs are notorious for having big mats several inches in diameter which are tightly packed against the skin. Pet grooming with these types of animals needs to be particularly diligent in finding these mats and cut them short enough to brush out without actually shaving the hair off the skin. For long-haired cats to have no hair on their body opens them up for infection and disease. Serious skin infections can result which is constantly in both time and money. As with other animals having the hair shaved completely off and living in an outside environment can lead to skin cancer and other deadly skin diseases.
The choice of a cat pet groomer is a serious one for the pet owner. Sometimes in rural areas a pet grooming expert may be some distance away. The owner must be prepared to drive a cat to the groomer, leave them overnight, and pick them up the next day. Before leaving the groomer, inspect your animal and make sure there are no serious cuts or abrasions. Also run your fingers through the animal’s coat to make sure that all mats are taken off properly.
If you’re happy with the services of the pet grooming experience, it is customary to tip the professional at least 15% of the total charges. To ensure less frequent trips to the grooming expert, it is advisable to brush your cat out daily and avoid the unsightly mats as they appear.