So Your Cat Needs A Bath, Eh? – Tips Before Taking Your Cat To A Groomer

It is well known, cats have an absolutely amazing tongue that they use to keep their coat clean and beautiful. Sometimes, especially in what is called “the shedding season”, or for cats with very long or thick fur, your cats own efforts may need some help. Getting an occasional bath can remove a lot of loose hair, which spells less hairballs, and less cat hair on your “fur”niture. It also keeps mats and tangles at bay while keeping kitty looking magnificent.

Most groomers will bathe the cat and add some form of conditioner. But there are many other services a groomer will do. Many groomers offer haircuts for cats. Some will do an overall trim, while others do fancy cuts. Your cat can look like a lion, or, **cough** a poodle.

Plenty of cat owners send their cats to the groomer in order to get their claws trimmed, and in some cases there are cat owners who send their cats to the groomers with the express intent of getting the cats gussied up with nail polish on the claws and bows in the fur.

Needless to say, most cats do not enjoy this process whatsoever and will put up a fight every step of the way. After all, cats aren’t really sure what is happening when a groomer starts coming at them with water and soap, and so it’s only natural that the cats would react with fear and sometimes even with aggression.

You’ll need to find a groomer who is well versed in dealing with cats, because a dog groomer may not have the talent needed in order to finagle a cat into accepting this type of treatment. Before taking your cat to a groomer, ask about the groomer’s experience with cats and make sure that this won’t turn into a disaster. A groomer who is well versed in dealing with cats will know exactly what needs to be done and how a cat should be restrained in order to get the job done.

After you get your soft, sweet smelling cat back home she may be a bit miffed and feeling insecure. Don’t be surprised if she hides out for awhile. The beauty parlor experience can be a frightening experience for a cat.

While it is nice to get your cat groomed once in awhile, the fact is that most cats spend a whole lifetime without ever getting a bath. They are very efficient at keeping their “do” looking and smelling beautiful. If you have decided to take your cat to a groomer, expect to pay a bit of money and to pay restitution to your kitty when she comes home.

More articles by Virginia Sutherland: Rabies Cats And Dogs important information for cat owners, and how to keep neighbors cats and dogs out of your back yard: Liquid Fence Dog Cat Repellent