Feline FAQ
How often should my cat be groomed?
Well, that depends on your cat’s breed, coat type, the length of the last clip, time of year and how quickly they get dirty.
A general rule is every 4-12 weeks. Cats that are kept in a longer style, have a coat that mats easily or are unable to adequately groom themselves should be groomed more regularly than cats with shorter or more easily maintained coats.
Do I have to brush my cat between grooms?
That depends on your cat’s coat & ability to groom themselves. Cats with longer coats absolutely need regular brushing (every 2-7 days) to keep it mat free. Cats with shorter styles may be able to handle grooming themselves. Ask the groomer about your cat’s at home grooming needs at your next appointment.
I brush my cat but they still get matted, what can I do?
There are a few common reasons cats get matted;
Frequency – They are not being brushed regularly enough. A good rule is every 2-3 days. Giving them a quick going over the day before the groomer arrives just isn’t enough, I’m afraid (and yes, we always know).
Coverage – Many owners make the mistake of only brushing along the torso and neglect the rest of the body.
The main areas matting occurs are: armpits, hind legs (inner and outer), neck, where the collar or harness sits, behind the ears, sanitary areas and tail.
Brushing out fur is like brushing your teeth – you’ve got to brush everything you want to keep
Tools – A lot of owners are using the wrong tool to brush their cat and so are not doing a thorough job. For cats I recommended a metal grooming comb, part the coat and brush from the base of the hair. A slicker brush can also be used during periods of heavy shedding to get the bulk of the hair out
If you are unsure about your cat’s specific needs ask your groomer at the next appointment.
Is matting really that bad?
Yes! For several reasons.
1. Matting pulls on the skin every time your cat moves. Imagine wearing a lovely woollen jumper, that’s what a healthy coat feels like. Now imagine that jumper has been sewn to your skin at a hundred different places. Every time you move, your skin stretches and pulls at the stitches causing you pain. That’s what a matted coat feels like.
2. Matted coats do not dry like healthy coats. They stay wet for much longer, trapping moisture against the skin for long periods of time. This creates the perfect breeding ground for bacterial and fungal infections to grow on the skin, often going unnoticed because the matting hides the sight and smell.
3. Matted coats can conceal injuries to the skin and make it harder to find imbedded grass seeds or ticks in the warmer weather. Matting also restricts blood flow and air flow to the skin making any minor injuries heal a lot slower if at all.
My cat is matted but I don’t want them shaved, is there another option?
No. Dressed to the Canines goes by the motto Humanity over Vanity.
De-matting is a long, painful process and in a lot of cases is frankly inhumane. Dressed to the Canines will always go for the kinder option of shaving than causing your pet pain.
I don’t want my cat to get cold in winter – do they still need to be groomed?
Yes. Grooming in the colder months is just as important as in Summer. Unkempt, matted or dirty coats trap water and do not keep a cat warm.
Provided the coat is healthy and not matted it can be kept longer to keep them warm.
I don’t want my cat shaved, can the groomer keep the coat long?
Yes, healthy, regularly maintained coats free from matting can be clipped at a longer length
My cat is anxious about grooming, how can I help them calm down?
The biggest way to get an anxious cat used to grooming is to keep sessions regular and to stick with the same groomer.
We use a mixture of techniques to keep cats calm during grooming including keeping grooming sessions as short as possible.
My cat is aggressive/does not like grooming, can you still groom them?
If your pet is aggressive or reactive due to fear/pain/anxiety/etc. during grooming it must be made known to the groomer PRIOR to the commencement of grooming. Failure to do so may result in the termination of service at any point and full-service fees charged.
Fear and aggression are assessed on a case by case basis at the time of the appointment. No guarantees are made and a modified or partial clip may be the only possible outcome.
It is possible to still work with aggressive and fearful cats however the safety of your pet and the groomer are paramount and service will be cancelled if safety is compromised.
Will my cat be muzzled during grooming?
If your cat is aggressive or reactive in any way, we reserve the right to muzzle them at the groomer’s discretion. Safety of the groomer and your pet is paramount and refusal to muzzle may result in termination of service and full-service fees charged.
Will my cat be sedated during grooming?
No, it is illegal for a groomer to sedate an animal without direct supervision of a vet.
My cat’s skin has become irritated after grooming, what can I do to help?
The biggest way to stop further irritation is to prevent your cat from licking or scratching at the area and making the irritation worse.
Why won’t my cat stop scratching themselves since being groomed?
If your cat had a dramatic change in hair length it can feel weird to them for a few days as they’re feeling touch a lot differently now.
If there was matting then it may be because matting restricts blood flow to the skin. It can feel itchy as blood flow returns once the matting is removed.
It may also be because of an allergy to products used. All the products we use are natural and organic however we can’t guarantee no cat will react to them.
My cat seems depressed or off after being groomed, did something happen?
Cats can be very cautious creatures that stress easily. They can often take a while to settle after a new or big experience. It is not uncommon for cats to hide away & not eat or drink for a day or so after a groom - especially if there was a big change in hairstyle.
If your cat’s behaviour continues to be off, it is best to consult your vet.
I don’t like the way the groomer clipped my cat, what can I do?
Miscommunication between the groomer and owner is often the reason for dissatisfaction with a clip. Sometimes what you see in your mind is not always the picture that gets transferred to the groomers mind especially if it is their first time grooming your pet. It may take a few appointments for you and the groomer to understand each and get on the same page.
If you just want a little more taken off here or this part shaped slightly differently don’t be afraid to ask the groomer to make slight alterations before they leave. Trust that they’d rather you speak up and be happy than say nothing and ruminate on it for the next couple of months.
Photos are the best way to communicate what you want. Your groomer will also have either taken notes of what they did during the last groom or taken a photo. Working out how you want the previous clips changed is also a good way to help your groomer understand.
Sometimes your groomer will have to change something for practical reasons – whether they had to work around matting or because your pet’s coat is different to the one in the photo. Being realistic in your expectations also helps. For example, a Jack Russel Terrier is never going to look like a show standard Poodle no matter how skilled the groomer is.
And lastly, the number one thing to remember if you don’t like the clip? The beauty of hair is that it will always grow back.
What shampoos do you use?
We use the Petway range of products. They are Australian made & owned, naturally derived, pH balanced, sulphate, phosphate & soap free & environmentally friendly.
For more information check out their website here: www.petwaypetcare.com.au
My cat/my family has sensitive skin/allergies, can I supply my own shampoo?
Of course! If there’s something that works better for your family and is safe for your pet feel free to ask for your shampoo to be used instead.
Will having the groomer brush my cat’s teeth mean I don’t need to have them done by the vet?
No. Having your pet’s teeth brushed by the groomer will help reduce tartar build up but only a clean done by a vet under anaesthesia can guarantee your pet’s ongoing dental health.
Will my cat be put in a cage?
No, they will only be put in the carrier provided by you.
I think the groomer injured my pet, what do I do?
If you believe your cat has been injured during the grooming process it must be brought to the groomer’s attention within 48hrs of the appointment. Vet treatment must be provided promptly and an itemised bill as well as consent to speak to the vet must be provided to the groomer.
Why should my cat be bathed?
Cats should be bathed just as often as dogs. Although cats do a great job at cleaning the outside of their coat, they cannot penetrate down next to the skin where a lot of muck hides and can cause skin and hair issues.
But don’t cats hate water?
Not as much as you think. Once the warm water soaks into their coat it gets nice and heavy making the cat feel secure and safe. Plus, who doesn’t love a good shampoo massage?
I think my cat has dandruff, what should I do?
Get them bathed. That ‘dandruff’ is simply a build-up of dead skin the cat cannot remove with self-grooming. A bath and blow dry will remove all this build up and leave them with healthy skin and coat.
Why should I get my cat clipped?
There are a few reasons why you might choose to clip your cat.
· To reduce the amount of fur shed in your home
· If your kitty has problems with hairballs
· If your cat is prone to matting
· If they are old and can no longer maintain grooming themselves
· To keep them cool in summer
· To make it easier to check for ticks
· Because it can look really cool!
What are Soft Paws?
Soft Paws are vinyl nail caps that are glued on to your cat's existing nails. They are completely safe and humane and can be used on cats of all ages. They are still able to retract their nails back into their sheaths but stop your cat from clawing you and the furniture. They are seen as the humane option over declawing a cat and look pretty fab at the same time.
For more information see their website here: https://www.softpaws.com/questions-answers-cat/
