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Frequently Asked Questions

I just want my cat's nails cut. Can you help?

Sorry, no. I specialise in providing full cat grooming services only.

For those who require a nail trim only I always recommend that you call up your vet and ask. They typically charge $15 - $25.

What happens if you can't groom my cat?

Historically I choose to not groom cats 7% I meet due to health or welfare concerns. In this instance I only charge the $55 pre-paid deposit and will take the time to discuss a range of options best suited to your cat and their needs. That first meeting and consultation typically takes half an hour or so. 

Will you need help to groom my cat?

In almost all instances, I won't need any help, particularly if I've seen your cat more than once or twice. If it's your first time with me I ask you to stay for the first 30 minutes or so because I like to be able to ask questions and answer any too. I find it's beneficial to make sure cats and their humans are calm and a good first experience helps. That said, there is perhaps a 30% chance I'll ask for very light assistance, usually for only a few minutes. It's rare I need more help than that. 

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How long does it take?

The salon spa service typically takes between 2 - 2.5 hours. I have a nice waiting room with comfortable amenities and often you'd also be welcome to be with me in the salon room too - I don't mind a chat! I also offer the option to drop and go. I can text when I'm nearly finished. I prefer for cats to not stay at my salon all day but I do have a comfortable space for them to wait if required. 

What advice do you offer to all first appointments?

I always offer the same two pieces of advice:

Firstly, please make sure your cat arrives safely in a cat carrier.

Second, just be calm. Pretend you are going to a friend's house. Cat's are highly attuned to our emotions. 

Do you groom kittens?

I groom kittens from 12 weeks of age up to 6 months and charge $88 for a kitten wash. I recommend a professional groomer washes your cat when they are young as it gently conditions them to the experience. If your cat has been de-sexed, we must wait 2 weeks for males to recover and 3 weeks for females.

Do you groom elderly cats?

Yes. I groom many elderly cats, several over the age of 20. Beyond the age of 13 I modify my techniques to focus on 'comfort grooming'. I may ask that you stay with me when I work to offer your cat emotional support, and the decisions I make are solely focused on welfare, not necessarily perfect aesthetic outcomes.  

I hear a lot about the need to find the right schedule. What's that about?

I've written a long blog post about it here but the TL;DR is it's probably one month either side of 3 months. As I'm almost always fully booked I choose to err on the side of recommending less frequently than more, but crudely speaking, the more frequent the schedule, the cleaner (and usually happier) your cat is (happier because cats I see very frequently are so used to the service it is very comfortable for them).

I see the price is AROUND $155 but there is an asterisk?

For approximately 50% of the time I would expect to charge $155. About 30% of the time I charge $165. If the price comes in lower it may be a function of having a short haired, single coated cat whose coat is not matted. When I charge an extra fee it's usually to cover time taken for mat removal shaving or compacted fur brush outs. The overwhelming majority of my clients are great and keep their cat in good condition, but from time to time the need to do extra work arises. I prefer a discretionary pricing policy as it allows me to be fair. 

How can I pay?

On the day you can pay via bank transfer, PayID, cash or credit card. I prefer PayID and it's easy - you just use your banking app.​

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To secure your booking I require a credit card to be held on file to reduce last minute cancellations and no-shows but that system is different to my normal payment channels. 

How do I know if my cat needs shaving or just washing? What if I have a preference?

Ultimately, it is my role to help understand what your needs are and those of your cats, so I’ll ask questions about allergies, frequency of matting, furballs, changes in coat condition, shedding and other areas to best understand what your needs and preferences are. I typically offer a few suggestions and determine what service is most appropriate for you and your cat, making sure we are all comfortable with the process. Typically, after a few visits we can determine what’s working and what frequency is most appropriate too. 

Care to share any industry secrets or ‘inside baseball’ knowledge?

Sure! (That’s a softball question really!)

I think I’d say 3 things really. Cat groomers tend to work on double coated and/or long-haired breed cats most of the time, and more often than not we are really being asked to help prevent matting, particularly under the armpits and inside back legs. Most cat groomers prefer to recommend belly shaving, accompanied with a full coat groom, most of the time.

Secondly, I would not disagree with someone who says their cat doesn’t need grooming. One of my cats (Baby) is a small little black domestic short hair and aside from brushing her, she has good skin, no visible dandruff and there really isn’t a ‘need’ to professionally groom her on a regular basis.

The final ‘secret’ is that 99% of the time all you need is a good comb to stay on top of your cat’s shedding at home. Combs, not brushes. There are really only 2 combs worth buying – the more expensive one being around $35 and is really only recommended for British Shorthaired cats and Exotics. Brushes and other de-shedding tools just don’t compare to a good comb! The trick for brushing is higher frequency and less time per brushing session.

Still have an unanswered question?

Send me a text (I often can’t answer the phone in the moment) with your question and I’ll get back to you – usually by the end of the day, unless I have a bit of time between grooms (or it’s the weekend!) Thanks 😊

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