What’s included in my cat’s grooming?
Cat grooming packages include
- Bathing
- Drying
- Comb-out
- Minor de-matting
- Ears Cleaned
- Nails Clipped
- Mini Sanitary Trim
(Sanitary trim is optional for shorthaired cats)
Formally trained and/or Certified Professionals here perform all services at Tailored Tails.
Our Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) trained at the National Cat Groomers Institute of America (NCGIA). There are currently only two CFMG’s in the state of Colorado. Most facilities do not accept cats at all. Those who do may have age, health, or behavior restrictions. For the safety of your cat, please ask questions about Groomer education and safety practices no matter which grooming salon you choose!
Why does my cat need a bath? Don’t cats hate baths?
No. That’s an old, old myth and it must be stopped! Spread the word quickly! Tell everyone you know! Hurry!! ? The bath is the most important part of a cat’s grooming!
Cats don’t groom themselves; they lick themselves. Ewww! What we’re really seeing in a cat’s licking behavior is that cats like to be clean. The cat’s licking just can’t do the job, though, and is really just depositing saliva on the coat. Dead hair is getting stuck on the cat’s tongue and your baby ends up coughing up a hairball on your carpet.
It’s our job to help out. These sweet babies deserve at least that. Actually, we find that most cats enjoy the bath. Not kidding! Kittens started with regular bathing don’t think a thing about it. Older cats that have never been bathed will react at first, but settle as soon as they realize the warm water feels good. And I haven’t seen one yet that didn’t enjoy being dried in our Catty Shack Vac ®.
A thorough bath with a good quality de-greasing shampoo is the most important part of a cat’s grooming process. A coat washed free of all oils and dead hair is stunningly beautiful! A cat groomed regularly will not have dandruff! Best of all, a clean coat will not become matted and clumpy with separation. Kitty stays fluffy & fresh smelling. Take a look at our Before & After photos of cats for the proof. Once your cat has been professionally groomed and prances around the house knowing how good he looks, you’ll be spoiled by that gorgeous look and wonder how you ever did without it!
Do I need an appointment for a nail trim only?
Yes, please call ahead to schedule a nail trim. We should be able to get your pet in quickly. Proof of rabies vaccination is still required. All cats must be brought into the Salon in a carrier.
How often should I bring my cat for professional grooming?
At least every six weeks is the short answer. Ears should be cleaned and nails trimmed at least that often. However, the long answer is that it varies from cat to cat and from one lifestyle to another. We have cats that come in every two weeks; others do well with a complete grooming every four months. Obviously a cat with long hair will need grooming more often than a cat with short hair.
If you’re not sure, please ask your Groomer so that we can answer this question specifically for you and your cat. We can help you out with your life’s busy schedule. Remember, you don’t have to book your appointment for the “works”. You can always book for a simple brushing & combing if this is what your cat needs and you are short on time. We are here to assist you with your pet’s grooming needs and will do our best to help!
Appointments
We prefer to keep our Salon as calm and quiet as possible, and we do not over-book our staff. We do not rush! Pets are very sensitive to the feelings of those around them and need a calm, relaxed atmosphere.
Having said that, we find that many people believe a pet’s appointment works much the same as a person’s appointment at a hair salon. However, due to the procedures necessary to grooming and the fact that pets have much more hair than we do, it’s best to rotate two pets through grooming at the same time or very close together. This is first and foremost best for the pet, but also the most efficient & productive way to groom the pet in a timely manner.
At Tailored Tails we generally book two medium-sized pets in a two-hour time block for each Groomer at 8am, 10am, 1pm, and 3pm. We make adjustments to the schedule based on coat type, coat condition, size of the pet, and services requested.
Your scheduled appointment is considered a contract for services, therefore, kindly give us 24-hour notice if you must cancel or reschedule your appointment. Even with less notice we may be able to fill the appointment from our waiting list. No show, no call will result in a $35 fee per pet per our policy.
How long will it take?
We usually say it will take a 2-hour window of time for cats; maybe more, maybe less, as we are dealing with animals and the animal behaviors they present.
Smaller cats or shorthaired cats will most likely be done in two hours or less, larger cats or longhaired cats will take longer. Cats getting haircuts or a Lion Trim will take longer than cats getting the basic complete grooming. The real answer is “it depends”. Not the answer you want to hear, we know, but that’s the honest answer! We prefer to “read” the cat’s behavior and adjust our process based on what’s best for kitty.
More on Appointments and “How long will it take?”
Realizing that most people have not been “inside” a grooming Salon, let’s explain all that a little better… We book one or possibly two cats in a two-hour time block for our CFMG, depending on the services requested. Nails are trimmed first and a “rough” sanitary trim is done before the bath. The cat is then taken to the bath and washed at least twice with de-greasing shampoo before being towel-wrapped and having its ears cleaned. Kitty is then placed on more towels in a kennel for a few minutes to absorb as much water as possible before going to the drying room to be dried by hand. (The towel wrap is an important step in the grooming process so that the pet is exposed to less “hands-on” time.) If a second cat is to be done, this one will be washed while the first is sitting in the towel wrap. We then move to the drying process where the cat is completely combed removing as much dead hair as possible and getting out all mats.
Please note, too, that this scenario is free of any time delays faced daily with typical animal behaviors. What if one of the pets is matted? This takes extra time in the tub, extra time while drying to brush through the mats, and extra time on the grooming table to get rid of all mats as well. What if one of the pets relieves themselves? We must interrupt the process to clean up the pet and clean and disinfect equipment as well. What if we find a tick or fleas? This must be addressed, again requiring extra time. All part of a normal day in a grooming salon! There are so many unknowns we run into with every pet! We encounter normal, typical animal situations & behaviors as the day goes on and, even though some time is factored into our appointment block for these things, we may still run into delays. In order to be calm and patient with each animal and give them the proper care they deserve, we ask that all humans realize that we are working with the needs of animals and grant us the time to care for them as they require. If you have time constraints on your pet’s grooming day, please consider rescheduling to a day when we may meet your pet’s needs comfortably and without rushing him/her.
How much will it cost to groom my cat?
We get many, many phone calls with this question! Oh, how simple our lives would be if we could give one flat price for dogs! Pricing for cat grooming is so much easier, since there is less variation in their size and coat types! Please see our Grooming Services for Cats section.
The price for grooming a cat is based on product and labor needed for the services chosen.
Just like any other service-oriented business, it all comes back to time & material or product & labor.
Please note that no cat proceeds into grooming until the client knows their price and approves it, along with all details of their grooming instructions!
Remember, too, that enrolling in our Pampered Pets Program will get 10% off those prices. Call our office at 596-TAIL or stop in with your pet for a more accurate estimate.
Can I drop off my cat early? Can I pick up my cat after work?
For the convenience of our clients, Tailored Tails offers Before and After Care Service for a nominal fee of $8 per hour.
We realize everyone leads a busy life. You may drop off your pet up to one hour early without charge. Pets should be picked up within one hour after we call to let you know your cat is ready. Outside of these times we offer Care Service. Cats will be kenneled and supervised. They are provided with bedding and water and a fresh, clean litter box. In cold weather we will provide a heating pad or a blanket or both.
We cannot, unfortunately, offer extended hours of day care or overnight boarding; we are not licensed for these services.
What brush is best to use?
Actually, we recommend that you use a comb. Longer hair must be combed to find the tangles. Once you find one, place the comb under the tangle and then brush the hairs against the comb to break apart the tangle. This method is much more comfortable for your pet. Short hair must also be combed to remove as much dead hair as possible.
Each pet is unique and each coat is different. Each requires a different method of maintenance. Please ask us so that we can answer this question specifically for you and your cat.
How did my cat get matted? She’s never been matted before!
Grease is the primary culprit with a cat’s coat. Cats are oily; it’s just how they are. Those oils hold on to the dead hair and don’t allow it to fall away, and that’s where regular combing is helpful. The immediate solution for a cat is a thorough de-greasing bath as soon as possible, followed by drying, combing, and de-matting. If the matting has become too extensive, the cat may require a Lion Trim.
Mats can be serious, and may require Veterinary care. One small tangle can grow into a larger tangle until the coat is matted over large areas of the body. A matted coat will become more matted until it is “pelted” over the entire body. Matted coat traps moisture and bacteria against the skin and may cause sores, hot spots, & even abscesses. Mats pull on the skin causing movement to be uncomfortable or even painful. Mats can hide insects and parasites, and they can trap outdoor debris such as sticks, grass, and leaves. We find household items such as paper clips, straight pins, bobby pins, and craft items stuck in a cat’s tangled hair. Matted coat is not just a matter of appearance.
We’re aware some of those statements seem pretty incredible to someone not familiar with grooming. It’s something you have to see to believe. We offer lots of information to help you, though, if your pet is having problems with tangled hair. Please talk to us! We have informational brochures, a PowerPoint slide show, photos, books, DVD’s, and magazine articles that may help. All may be viewed free of charge, just for the asking. We can also provide combing and brushing lessons and handling tips to use while you are combing or brushing. Communicate your needs to us and let us help!