Question 1

Don't cats groom themselves?

Accepted Answer

This is a common misconception! Cats do not "groom" themselves, they LICK themselves. When they lick themselves, they ingest large amounts of loose, shedding hair, while at the same time leave dander on their coat, the protein in their saliva that causes allergic reactions in humans.

A cat's tongue does nothing to prevent mats and tangles, reduce shedding, trim nails, clean its ears, or wash away dandruff. 
There is no comparison between what the professional groomer does and what the cat does by licking itself from head to toe.

Do you want to snuggle up to a cat covered in their own saliva? Or a cat that's been professionally groomed?

Question 2

Don't cats hate water?

Accepted Answer

Contrary to popular belief, most cats do not mind being bathed with water and shampoo. Many are actually quite calm and especially enjoy the blow drying process. If a cat is conditioned at an early age, it will most likely learn to adapt to the bathing process without any problems in the future. We slowly introduce each step to the cat so they are not frightened and proceed once they are assimilated.

Question 3

Can I stay to help or watch the groom?

Accepted Answer

No, we only allow employees in our grooming area for safety reasons.

Cats can be very similar to young children in that they may act differently in front of their parents in hopes of being "saved" or receiving extra attention. As your cat's groomer, we would like the opportunity to bond with them throughout the grooming process to build the trust that is essential for a long and happy relationship.

Question 4

How long does a groom take?

Accepted Answer

The 1st appointment is usually the longest as we want your cat to be comfortable with what is being done without being rushed.

Please plan for 1-3 hours for the first appointment, and 1-2 hours for future appointments.

If your cat has severe matting, shows aggressive behaviors, or display signs of stress (panting, repeated urination and/or defecation), the groom may take longer and we may break the appointment into two sessions and come back to finish the groom within a week.

Question 5

How often should cats be groomed?

Accepted Answer

Most cats should be groomed every 4-8 weeks. In general:
- Senior cats need more frequent grooming as their skin tend to be greasier. 
- Diluted color cats need more frequent grooming as their coats tend to mat up easier. 
- Brushing your cat at home with a metal comb can help extend the time needed between grooms.

Question 6

Do you groom cats with existing health conditions?

Accepted Answer

If your cat has any type of heart conditions, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), or hypothyroidism, we recommend you take them to be groomed under a vet's supervision due to the additional health concerns.

Question 7

Do you groom senior cats?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Please let us know all their existing health conditions or any relevant info.

Question 8

Do you groom aggressive cats?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the level of aggression. We do not groom feral cats or those who have never been socialized. A general rule of thumb is if any adult in the household cannot pick up or pet the cat: we are not able to groom it. We can confirm once we assess your cat in person. Additional fees may apply.

Question 9

Do you groom sedated cats?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not groom completely sedated cats.

Question 10

Will you sedate my cat?

Accepted Answer

No. We are not qualified veterinarian professionals and therefore not qualified to do that.

Question 11

What causes matting?

Accepted Answer

Greasy skin and coat combined with natural shedding causes matting. 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.

Question 12

Will it hurt my cat to be groomed?

Accepted Answer

It can hurt your cat NOT to 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 (4-6 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.

Question 13

Why are my cats aggressive to each other after the groom?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, non-recognition aggression may happen as cats mostly recognize each other by their scents instead of visual cues. After your cat returns from a groom, their scent has changed, and other cats or pets in the household may not recognize the new smell and suddenly behave like they are encountering a new animal.

You may have to keep them separate and slowly reintroduce them. Do not let them fight it out! Rub towels on each cat and then swap them so they can get used to each other's scents again. Swapping their beds, blankets, carriers, or anything with their scents on it will also help.

Question 14

What are the benefits to having my cat professionally groomed?

Accepted Answer

The main benefit is having a happier, healthier cat that does not suffer from any of the painful and potentially life-threatening problems such as matting, ingrown toe nails, skin conditions, etc. In addition, you will benefit as reuglar grooming cuts down on shedding, 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 the hard part to us!

Question 15

Why can't you give my cat a haircut without a bath?

Accepted Answer

It is important to us to thoroughly clean each cat, prevent mats and tangles, cut down on shedding and hairballs, and promote a healthy skin and coat, all of which can only be achieved by a bath with water and shampoo.

While we may do a "precut" before the bath, the final haircut is only done after the skin and coat has been properly cleaned.

Our groomers are professionally trained by the National Cat Groomers Institute and know how to work with cats so that most actually enjoy the bathing process. We have seen with our own eyes the tremendous difference a good bath makes, and also see how much better the cats feel based on the purring and affection they show afterwards. Therefore, all our grooms and haircuts include a bath first.

Question 16

What do I need to book an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Before you book an appointment, we require:
A new client form submitted at www.wccatgrooming.com/forms 
Your cat's up-to-date FVRCP and rabies vaccinations

Question 17

How long does it take for my cat's coat to grow back after shaving?

Accepted Answer

For short hair cats, typically 2-3 months; for long hair cats, 4-6 months. The hair on the tail grows back the slowest, and in some long hair cats, it can take up to a year for it to be fully grown back.

Question 18

Why is my cat's fur growing back weird and patchy after a lion cut?

Accepted Answer

If your cat's fur is growing back patchy after being shaved, it is typically caused by one of two things:

Catching the hair in the "wrong" part of the growth cycle at the time of shave.
An underlying health issue.

We recommend shaving again and most often, the fur will grow back normally. If it does not start to grow back properly within the next 2-3 weeks, we HIGHLY recommend a vet visit. A blood panel work should be done, and specially ask for the thyroid to be checked to ensure there are no underlying health conditions causing the problem.

Question 19

Why is my cat's fur growing back darker after being shaved?

Accepted Answer

This may happen in colorpoint cats.

The gene that produces the pigment in colorpoint cats is temperature sensitive. The extremities of the body (face, feet, tail) are cooler and so the skin there produces more pigment. Shaving exposes the skin to a cooler temperature and therefore has the same effect.

It is usually a temporary change and as the cat sheds and regrows its hair, it will slowly return to its original / lighter color, which may take up to a year. However, colorpoint cats can also get darker with age.

Frequently asked questions