Here are a few questions people have about the cat grooming process...
How often should I have my adult cat groomed?
For most breeds, I recommend that cats be professionally groomed every 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on the service you require and your cats individual needs. I will always offer you re-booking or a reminder to re-book when you are ready, so you can rest assured that you have a suitable grooming plan for the future that will work for you and your kitty.
When should I take my kitten for his or her first groom?
I recommend that kittens have their first bath and blow dry under 6 months of age. Around 4 to 6 months is ideal.
Kittens benefit from having a professional bath and brush out every 6 to 12 weeks, especially kittens with a long haired coat, high maintenance coat.
How often do my cats nails need to be trimmed?
It is best to trim your cats nails every 2 to 4 weeks as cats nails only take 3 weeks to grow back.
Longer nails can quickly become uncomfortable for your kitty, potentially causing infection, so it is important to check your cats nails regularly. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming your cats nails at home, I am always more than happy to help.
Nail trimming is available in salon as a single service, or as an inclusion to all cat grooming packages.
Do I need to have my cat groomed over winter?
Yes! If your cat is not regularly groomed over the winter months, it is likely that the coat will become long, matted and dirty. Besides looking bad, a matted and dirty coat prevents good airflow to the skin and will hold water for longer as air cannot move as freely, which left unaddressed can lead to skin irritations and/or infections – and a wet coat is a cold coat!
Regular winter grooming will leave your cats coat long enough to keep it warm but eliminate matting, knots and dirt build up.
How long will my cat be in salon?
The length of time your cat will need to be in salon will depend mostly on the service you require.
Generally a full body clip (Lion Clip or Comb Clip) can take between 1 to 2 hours, while a de-shed can take between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. The time needed will slightly vary, depending on what grooming requirements your kitty has, and how compliant he or she is with being groomed.
Can I remain in salon during my cat's groom?
I usually prefer to groom cats alone, or with a professional assistant if required.
However you are welcome to stay for the first 10 minutes of the groom to comfort your cat if you like. Salon safety is essential, so if you would like to remain in salon while cat grooming is in progress, please be familiar with Purrfect Pet Spa’s cat Terms and Conditions.
You are welcome to stay throughout the duration of your kitten's first groom, so there’s no need to worry about your precious new furbaby throughout their first grooming experience.
Should I bath my cat before going to the groomer?
As far as your groomer is concerned, bathing a cat prior to a visit to the salon can often do more harm than good as bathing a matted coat will tighten the mats even more.
If you do bath your fur child between salon visits, please make sure their coat is completely brushed and combed out before bathing.
How often should I brush my cats coat at home?
Regular home brushing/combing is recommended once or twice per week, for about 5 to 10 minutes each session. I recommend that you keep your first few sessions short, until your cat becomes comfortable with the process.
A matted coat is uncomfortable for your cat, prevents good airflow, and restricts blood circulation to the skin, potentially causing serious health issues. Regular home brushing will eliminate matting and knots.
Should I attempt to brush knots out of my cats coat?
A knot is a small clump of tangled hair and can usually be carefully brushed and combed out. A mat on the other hand, is a large knot that may have become tightly bound to the cats skin.
Matting close to the skin cannot be safely brushed out as it is a solid mass of hair. Matting can be very painful for your cat, as with every movement your cat makes, the skin must be free to move with it - when matting is present, the skin is unable to move freely, resulting in constant and painful pulling. It is essential that mats be professionally clipped as soon as they appear.