Should I Get My Cat Professionally Groomed?

By: Adri Sandoval
Adri Sandoval is the Special Projects Manager for iHeartDogs and iHeartCats. Her work has deepened her love for animals, fostering a strong passion for rescue and animal advocacy.Read more
| December 26, 2017

Cats basically groom themselves, right? Why would anybody pay to get their cat groomed by a stranger?

As it turns out, a cat’s tongue, teeth, and saliva can only do so much. Hopefully, your cat will allow you to groom them yourself, but sadly, that’s not always the case. That’s when a professional becomes needed. Here are the main types of grooming that cats usually need. If you are unable to do these things, it may be time to take your cat to a groomer.

#1 – Nail trims

Your cat’s nails need to be trimmed at least once a month to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Nails that are overly long are more likely to get stuck in bedding or carpet and may affect how your cat walks, which can eventually lead to pain and arthritis. If your cat runs every time you pull out the nail clippers, this might be a task best left to a professional groomer.

#2 – Brushing

Even short-haired cats need regular brushing to reduce shedding and help prevent hairballs in your cat.

Long-haired cats need even more brushing to prevent mats from forming. A mat is a tangled patch of fur, and severe matting is extremely painful for a cat. Imagine somebody pulling on your hair nonstop for weeks or months, and you can understand what a matted cat feels like.

Cats have extremely thin skin, so you should never try cutting mats out of your cat’s fur by yourself! Any knots and tangles that you can’t remove with a regular brush and comb should be handled by a professional.

#3 – Bathing

Cats do their best to keep themselves clean, but sometimes cat saliva just isn’t enough to really get thoroughly washed, and a bath becomes necessary. Any mats in your cat’s fur should be removed before bathing, because water will just make mats worse. Since most cats hate water, this may be a task that’s worth paying somebody else to do!

If your cat allows you to trim their nails and brush and bathe them and never develops mats, then you may never need to take your cat to the groomer. But if your cat refuses to allow you to do any of those things yourself, it is in your cat’s best interest to let a groomer handle those issues rather than wait until they become severe. Cat saliva added on top of already matted fur can turn into a sort of a shell on your cat, which must feel like torture. Don’t wait until your cat’s hair is crunchy before turning to a pro for help!

(H/T: WebMD Pets)

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