When people find out that I am a cat groomer, their typical response is “But I thought cats groomed themselves.” I love it when I hear that! For many years my rebuttal to both groomers and cat owners alike has been that cats do not groom themselves. Rather, they LICK themselves. There is a big difference. After all, if I got up in the morning and licked myself from head to toe would anyone want to give me a hug? I didn’t think so. Yet so many cat owners are petting, snuggling with, and sleeping with their beloved felines who are covered in some serious saliva.
- GC, GP Man-atzakat's Call Me Crazy of Bara and GP Fanci FX 2 Sexy of Bara
The truth of the matter is that a whole lot of cats are running around this planet dirty, smelly, matted, flea infested, wearing dried fecal matter, covered in saliva, and shedding profusely. Typically their owners have no idea what type of grooming services are available that would rectify these particular problems. It is up to the professional groomer to educate them on what options they have, and what the groomer can do to make life better for both the cat and the owner. How this is done depends greatly upon the amount of knowledge a grooming professional has about cats and their specific grooming needs.
A groomer who tackles felines needs to know, at a minimum, how to recognize the various cat breeds, colors and coat types in order to properly assess what grooming elements are best for a particular cat. In addition, it is important for a groomer to understand feline behavior and know safe and proper handling techniques in order to make the grooming process effective for both cat and groomer.
It is well worth the investment to acquire the needed education to become the best cat groomer around. In these tough economic times, cat grooming is on the rise. Of the estimated 90 million cats in the US, very few groomers are willing to take on the unique task of providing this specialized service. And even fewer groomers are adequately equipped to do the job successfully for any length of time. That means the supply is much lower than the demand, a ratio that definitely favors the grooming industry.
Ask around. Just about everyone you meet has a cat or two (or three!). I would bet the farm that every one of those cats could benefit from some type of professional grooming. If the cat owner doesn’t think so, remind them of the fact that their furry feline they love to cuddle is actually covered in layers of icky saliva. Ask them if they like shedding hair all over the house and all over their clothing. Ask them if their cat smells good. When they say “no,” be prepared to offer them real solutions to their problems. BE the solution to their problems. Capture just a fraction of the 90 million cat market and become THE cat expert where you live!
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