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Adding Cats to Your Grooming Book: What Changes
Cat grooming can grow a book and set a groomer apart, but it is not just a small dog groom. Here is what changes.
Many salons get the same call every week: "Do you do cats?" Owners of long haired and older cats often struggle to find someone who will take them. For a groomer willing to learn, that demand can mean steadier bookings and a specialty that is harder to replace. But cats are not small dogs, and treating them that way is how groomers and cats get hurt.
How cats are different on the table
- Handling. Most cats do best with minimal restraint and a calm, quick groom. Fighting a cat usually makes things worse fast.
- Skin. Cat skin is thin and stretchy, which makes it easier to nick with clippers or scissors, especially around mats.
- Stress. Barking dogs, loud dryers and strong smells can push a cat past its limit before you start.
- Teeth and claws. A cat bite or scratch can become infected and should be taken seriously, not brushed off.
Common cat services
Most cat work falls into a few groups: nail trims, combouts and deshedding for long and medium coats, sanitary trims, mat removal, and full body clips such as the "lion cut" for heavily matted or hard to maintain coats. Bathing is part of some grooms and skipped in others, depending on the cat and the coat. Older cats, cats that cannot groom themselves well, and long haired breeds make up much of the demand.
Set up for success
- Separate time or space. Many groomers book cats first thing in the morning, on a quiet day, or in a room away from dogs.
- Keep it short. Have everything ready before the cat comes out of the carrier so the groom moves quickly.
- Use the right tools. Sharp, cool blades matter even more on cat skin; see clipper blade care.
- Know when to stop. As with frightened dogs, a groom that is turning dangerous should end. The same signals and judgment from grooming anxious dogs apply, adjusted for cat body language.
- Refer when needed. Some cats are safer groomed at a veterinary clinic. Saying so is good service, not a failure.
Training first
Cat handling and grooming are skills worth learning properly before taking on paying clients. Options include hands on training with an experienced cat groomer and dedicated cat grooming courses or certifications offered by industry groups. Practicing under supervision builds the instincts that keep you and the cat safe.
Pricing cat grooms
Cat grooms often take a different kind of time than dog grooms: less bathing and drying in some cases, more careful clipping and handling in others. Many cat groomers price by service and coat condition, with extra charges for heavy matting, and some add a handling fee for difficult cats. Track how long your cat grooms really take and what they pay you; the guide to what each groom really pays you works the same way for cats, and the commission calculator shows your gross pay for a day. A skill few groomers offer is also a good reason to revisit your commission rate.
This article is general information. Cats with skin problems, injuries or health concerns should be seen by a veterinarian, and any groomer bitten or deeply scratched should get medical advice.