Contrary to popular belief, most cats do not mind being bathed. In fact, many are very calm during the bathing process and seem to find it relaxing. We use special techniques to introduce a cat to the bathing process each time, until we can see that they are used to it. We know from experience that cat owners report they have a very happy cat after it’s time in the Mobile Cat Spa.
Let’s be blunt about this: waterless shampoos are useless to solve problems in any species of animal. Let’s draw a parallel–how long can YOU go without a shower or bath & all you do is put perfume or cologne on to mask the situation? Not long! You’ll probably start to feel quite gross over time too! Adding products to what is a dirty situation is only adding insult to injury.
Now, considering we are talking about cats here, what do cats do a great deal of? LICKING! Do you want them ingesting that stuff? I don’t think so! Waterless shampoos do nothing to solve the problem.
The problem is oil & grease & dirt & all the hair that is caught up in it. What do YOU do personally when you’re dirty and smelly & icky? You likely jump in the shower to wash that gunk away, right? Groomers trained in feline-specific grooming (very different than dog grooming) will NEVER, EVER suggest using waterless shampoo. It doesn’t serve your cat or you.
You see it offered at some grooming establishments because they don’t know how to deal with different feline temperaments, so they are afraid of the idea of bathing a cat. They lack the specialized training that is required to know how to introduce a cat to the bath in a safe & gentle fashion, so the cat comes to realize it is actually a rather pleasant thing! Warm water, sudsy massage, warm rinse, then a big fluffy towel wrap–GLORIOUS!
You know all those different cat breeds out there? The ones that are bred by professional, legitimate breeders, many of which take their cats to competitive cat shows. You wouldn’t believe the bathing they do with their show cats! Most of them fully bathe & dry their cats on an almost WEEKLY basis! Really! Why? They want them in as clean & problem-free a state as possible. They go way beyond what even a feline exclusive pet cat groomer does. They often do 4, 5 or 6 different lathers with different products, and rinses each time! I tell you this just so you know that the idea of full bath/blow dry grooms on cats isn’t new, it’s just not as well known or commonplace.
Greasy skin and coat combined with natural shedding causes matting. And once a small tangle or mat forms, it grows very quickly. The only real defense against tangles and mats is regular bathing and drying done by a professional cat groomer who truly knows what they are doing. Dog groomers are not cat groomers and will groom a cat using products and techniques that can cause more problems than they solve.
Cats are naturally oily. As their hair sheds, it gets stuck on the oily hair and builds up into small tangles, then clumps. As the process continues, it builds up to create a tangled mass called a mat. When a mat gets larger and covers areas of the body (sometimes making the cat seem like a turtle or an armadillo!), it is called a “pelt”.
Mats & pelts pull on the skin, leave bald spots, causes pain, skin irritation, wounds, can hide skin conditions, fleas & ticks, & can restrict the cat’s ability to move properly, can affect it’s breathing, and even their ability to urinate or defecate. This can absolutely kill a cat when allowed to continue. It is a serious situation.
If matting on a cat is severe, a shave down is the only humane way to solve the problem & give the cat a fresh start to grow a new coat. This requires patience on the part of the cat & the groomer. This process can be painful for the cat. Depending on their tolerance, it can often be completed by a professional cat groomer.
In more extreme situations, when the cat is under too much stress, a professional cat groomer will always refer you to a veterinarian for the purposes of medical sedation, to allow them to have the procedure completed. Even the sweetest, most compliant cat can become aggressive towards the groomer trying to help. Cats are strong & fast & can do a great deal of harm with their teeth & claws. This puts the groomer at risk of serious and sometimes permanent damage. This is why mats & pelts are serious business to everyone involved.
An even more serious result of allowing a cat to become severely matted is the risk of the cat’s life. Cats get stressed easily, which affects their heart. The process of mat removal causes stress on even the most easy-going of cats. If a cat is older, overweight or has health issues (especially those that are undetected), they are at a higher risk of sudden heart failure due to stress. In short, allowing a cat to become matted can ultimately cost the cat its life.
Depending on how the cat tolerates a more extreme mat or pelt removal, the goal of a professional cat groomer is to always follow the clip with a proper warm degreasing bath & blow dry. Otherwise, the greasy skin & remaining coat is still there, and new hair just grows into the old greasy environment that created the previous problem. Depending on how the cat deals with the shaving process, sometimes the shaving is enough of an appointment for one sitting. The gentle degreasing bath is still a very necessary component, but may be postponed to a slightly later date, to reduce the length of the appointment for the cat, and the stress involved.
We use a variable speed high velocity dryer, along with a “Happy Hoodie” over the cat’s head & ears, which muffles the sound. We start on low to expose the cat to the feeling of the air, & work up from there as the cat allows. Like the entire grooming process, we take the cat’s temperament into consideration when drying. This means some cats will prefer to be on your lap for physical reassurance, while others prefer to be free to move around, which is when we use the Catty Shack Vac patented drying system designed specifically for cats. It is one of the key features of our state-of-the-art mobile spa. It contains the cat, while letting it be free to move about as it wishes.
We do not sedate cats. In reality, very few cats truly do need any sort of sedative in order to be groomed. We handle each cat in such a way that the need for drugs of any kind rarely happens. If we do think your cat would best be served by receiving medication, we will refer you to your veterinarian for a mild sedative that can be administered prior to the grooming appointment.
However, it must be noted that medications from your vet are absolutely NOT guaranteed to help. Indeed they may do nothing, and in some cases they can actually make the cat WORSE, because they end up in a bit of a “drunken” state, and like some humans (!), it can make them far more inclined to “lose it”!
It can hurt your cat to NOT be groomed. Cats that are not groomed are prone to serious matting problems, skin conditions, painful ingrown nails, and a variety of other problems that, if left unattended, can cause irreversible damage or even death.
A cat that is groomed regularly (approximately every 6 to 8 weeks) will not suffer from such problems. Because the groomer is handling the cat on a regular basis and looking over every inch of its body during each visit, health issues that may arise can be found early on, and the likelihood of effective intervention is increased.
Your first appointment will be longer than usual (often twice as long), as this is the first time we will be meeting each other. I want to ensure both you & your cat(s) are comfortable with the process. Remember–this is a relationship we are building. This applies to the humans as well as the cat(s) involved!
In general, the average Classic Groom or Haircut will take approximately 1 hour, however it may be more or less depending on size, temperament, and what services are involved. If you are only having “Small Services” done e.g. nail trim, sanitary clip, Soft Paws nail caps put on, the appointment will be quite short in comparison–potentially only 5-15 minutes.
Because we come to your home and we are completely self-contained, you are free to do other things around your home while we groom your cat(s). We believe cats are best served by not being away from their normal home environment any longer than possible, and therefore strive to complete each groom in an efficient and timely manner.
Plus, because there is no stressful car ride (car rides usually mean vet appointments) your cat will much happier when the grooming is finished.
Overall, the length of your appointment is totally dependent on how your cat handles the experience. We come ready to provide all services, but it is up to your cat how much they are willing to tolerate.
Most cats will greatly benefit from professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks, seasonally at the longest interval (4 seasons, so 4 times a year, or every 3 months) is strongly advised. Once we’ve done the initial grooming we will be able to establish a grooming schedule that works best for you & your cat.
Most of the time we can. We can usually tell when we initially see your cat in person whether or not it can be safely handled.
In fact, one of our specialties is grooming cats that other salons have turned away. Because we come to you, your cat doesn’t have to go through the dreaded car ride – so we’re already ahead of the game. We start off with a less stressed cat!
An important cat fact is that aggressive cats are most often NOT good candidates for haircuts/clipping, as excessive stress can be caused.
The main benefit is having a happier, healthier cat that does not suffer from any of the painful and potentially life-threatening problems already mentioned.
In addition, you will benefit since regular grooming cuts down on shedding, eliminates hairballs, reduces allergy problems, and helps promote a cleaner environment as well as a cleaner cat. And the best part is, you don’t have to do any of the grooming yourself! Leave that up to us!
First thing—professional cat groomers never use brushes on cats. We only use specialized combs. The reason for this is that the tines of a comb get completely through the length of the coat & all the way to the skin, to thoroughly remove tangles. Brush tines are far shorter, so they are inclined to compact the coat, sometimes actually causing mats, as they are incomplete in the detangling they can do.
Second thing–when a cat goes unwashed, it is oily & greasy. Brushing or combing oily/greasy hair just spreads that around to the rest of the coat. This sets the cat up for increased matting potential.
Third thing—if you could see the colour of the water rinsing off a bathed cat, you’d realize how dirty they can be without you even realizing it. That same cat likes to lie on your furniture, on your bed, on your lap, on your shoulder, even walk on your counters. Yuck! Like people, like dogs, a cat has skin & hair and can get dirty. Why shouldn’t a cat be bathed properly too? Isn’t it a lot nicer to have a clean cat that smells & looks great? Wait until you FEEL the difference when you pet your cat after a professional groom! AWESOME!!
Kittens are very open to learning & accepting new things. Their “childhood” is the most perfect time to introduce them to the grooming process & environment. It gives them the opportunity to experience grooming early in their lives & sets them up for a very positive future, as they realize that “cat spa” visits can be a very positive & pleasant experience!
As cats age into seniors (about 10 yrs+) their skin becomes more loose & fragile, making shaving more risky. Like people, older cats often become arthritic. The oils in their skin increase, while their attempts at self-grooming decreases due to stiffness/soreness. This can quickly lead to tangles, clumps & mats.
Mats will never resolve themselves, and if allowed to become larger than about the size of a nickel, they require shaving. Shaving requires more extreme body positions to get the clip done. This is why shaving senior cats is often a difficult proposition.
The best way to maintain a senior cat is to perform a Classic Groom—a warm degreasing bath & blow dry with comb out. This is less physically stressful on the cat, and when done on a regular basis, it prevents problems from developing that make it harder to correct.
Not being up to date with vaccinations will not immediately disqualify cats from being serviced, but it may affect the level of services they are able to receive. What this means is that a cat that has not been seen recently by a veterinarian and is beginning to show signs of stress will be treated more cautiously than a cat who has just gotten a full annual health clearance by a veterinarian. It is always in your cat’s best interest to receive annual check ups to ensure their health status. Rabies vaccines are required under Ontario law, and proof is required prior to your appointment.
Flea baths themselves do NOTHING to solve a flea problem. The problem goes FAR beyond what is on the cat itself. In the moment, a flea bath can only kill live fleas on the cat at that moment, but it will do nothing to kill the eggs that are on the cat and in your home, nor will it prevent live fleas from jumping right back on your cat after it leaves & returns to its regular environment.
If your cat has fleas, we DO NOT knowingly accept them for service. We will do a check for fleas prior to starting service. If it is discovered that the cat has fleas after the groom has already begun, we will shift to a flea bath treatment to do something in the moment, but going forward, unless your cat is under care of a veterinarian for the flea issue, they will not be accepted back for service.
Store bought remedies are inadvisable and can be dangerous to the health of your cat. DO NOT PURCHASE THEM. The only way to safely & efficiently rid your cat and your home of fleas is to follow a veterinarian directed protocol. Most veterinary products are guaranteed if you follow the instructions. Once we know your cat has fleas, we must charge a “Fleas Found” surcharge of $40, as we must stop and do a deep clean of the salon prior to ANY other clients being able to be seen. This is the only way to be safe & protect other clients.
We also service some surrounding areas to these towns–it’s all about reasonable distance, as we are based out of Carleton Place. To make sure, email us your address at meow@mobilecatspa.ca. If we service your area, we will need you to fill out a NEW CLIENT APPOINTMENT REQUEST on the website.
Alternatively, people outside our service area can be serviced, but we may need to look at arranging a location to meet that is at a reasonable distance. This will obviously require a car trip for your cat, but it is an option. This can include grocery stores or other large plazas for example, where we can park in the outer areas of the parking lot to perform our services.
Just like other service calls to your home (internet, plumbers, electricians & most all other service providers) WE NEED SOME LATITUDE TO YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME.
We must deal with traffic, weather & most importantly, feline behavioural needs. This means exact timing is an imperfect science. We try our best to be on time, but we require latitude on our arrival time–possibly an hour or so latitude sometimes. We will always reach out to advise you when we are off time, and when our estimated arrival will be.
We try to plan for a reasonable amount of time per groom, plus realistic travel times, but things don’t always go according to plan. If you can’t allow for this possibility, then mobile grooming may not be for you, despite the huge benefits & convenience it brings to you & your cat. Failure to be able to accommodate flexibility in arrival times may result in Late Fees (15 min. wait +$30) or a No Show Fee of the full price of service booked. These fees are covered in “Extra Fees/Surcharges” HERE.
Our salon is in a 12’ cargo trailer towed by a pickup truck. Curbside parking is preferable in town, as many driveways are often on an incline or are too short to fit the length of the rig. When we street park, depending on your property frontage, we may need to block the entrance to your driveway somewhat while we are there. However, we are right there in the unit, so if there is a problem, we can move the rig to allow driveway access if the need arises.
For maximum safety, it is preferable to not have to reverse such a rig in busy areas where many other vehicles can often be parked. If your neighbourhood is not compatible with this, we may need to look to meet at a pre-arranged viable location nearby. We have done this in the past for townhouse dwellers for instance. We have met in the visitor parking area or sometimes just around the corner from the townhouse complex on a street that allows parking.
We prioritize your cat’s mental health as well as their physical health. If your cat starts to show signs of stress, we will pause, watch & continue with modified methods if possible. Sometimes the groom may need to be postponed or broken up into two appointments. This can be common with geriatric, pelted, severely overweight or aggressive cats. In these sorts of situations, the first appointment will focus on the key problem areas e.g. mat removal, and then schedule the bath on a separate visit. This is done at no extra cost to you. Cats have what we refer to as a “turkey timer”, meaning they will tolerate things for only so long before they decide they are DONE. Building a relationship with the cat means working with their temperament & understanding and honouring that.
Cats show stress in several ways: frequent urination or defecation, irregular breathing/panting, irregular movements. Behaviour changes such as sudden aggression or “popcorning” is also a sign that their “turkey timer” has gone off, and it is time to call the appointment so we can end on a positive, calm note. Cat grooming is about building a relationship, not forcing the cat through something it can’t cope with.
If an appointment must be split into 2 visits, the full cost of services booked will be charged at the time of the initial visit, even if the groom isn’t able to be completed at that time. We will book a follow up “part 2” appointment to finish the appointment the next time we are in your area (usually within 1 week).
The health & safety of your cat is fundamental to how we perform grooming services. Sometimes modifications may be required such as towel or box drying rather than blow drying, or breaking the appointment up into more than one visit. Our goal is to listen to the cat & always act in their best interests. Safety first! When the cat knows we listen to them & their needs, it paves the way for positive experiences with their grooming at future appointments.
If you have difficulty getting the cat into a carrier, we can assist. HOWEVER, we will not spend time trying to catch your loose cat that is still running around the house. If you know you need help, the cat needs to be in a small contained area e.g. bathroom/powder room BEFORE we arrive.
The best approach is to plan ahead & put the cat into a small room in advance of their appointment—with a litter box & some food/water to keep them more comfortable. Chasing down your cat right before the appointment can set things up to go badly as your cat will often end up upset/stressed out, compromising our ability to successfully complete the groom you have booked.
Me…WOW!
That sounds lovely!
To initiate an appointment for my cat grooming services, simply put a paw on one of the buttons below.
NEW CLIENTS will need to answer some questions so I know how/when to best reach you, and some information on your cat(s) & situation. Once received, I will reach out to discuss things further. There is no obligation in submitting. I want to be sure I have answered your questions, that I get a better feel for your cat(s), and that you are comfortable with my recommended approach to services for your individual cat(s).
REPEAT CLIENTS will already have a client file with me, so just need to “raise a paw” to let me know what service(s) they would like to book. I will contact you to let you know when I am next available in your area.