• What do you think is the biggest misconception owners have about cat grooming, and how do you help educate them?

  Owners generally don’t know how to handle their own cats and also they will groom the top line of the cat which is the main part of the body however they will forget the underneath areas that can become matted on longer haired cats. We help owners by advising them on the tools that they should use and also how to hold their cats in certain positions where the cat is feeling comfortable so most owners will want to pin the cat down to be able to groom them and UK cats actually hate being restrained

  • What signs of stress or discomfort do you look for when grooming cats, and how do you adapt your approach when you see them?

Cats show their stress in different ways it can be part of their body communication with key stress indicators such as their ears eyes tail and body movement it can be vocal stress indicators that can cause the cat to meow or hiss. They can become aggressive as part of the fight and flight process which can be difficult for groomers to manage however if you solve the cat’s problems and its stress indicators it will be a lot easier for groomers to manage the cat and their behavior and we do this with enrichment treats and a home from home experience

  • Have you noticed any changes in the demand for professional cat grooming in recent years, and what do you think is driving that growth?

The cat grooming industry is growing this is due to the fact that people are buying more cats so cat ownership is on the rise as cats are easier to keep indoors so we have seen a rise in Maine Coons, ragdolls and persians for example where owners are buying dog like cats to have in their homes as pets however they are not equipped to groom them. The cat grooming industry has grown there are more cat groomers now and there are more grooming tutors and there’s a recognition of the fact that cats need specific grooming and it is totally different to dog grooming therefore training has become at the forefront of the grooming industry. I have been working with iPET Network to develop our cat grooming training and also promote it to dog groomers and dispel the myths that cats are all aggressive, this is simply not true most will just sit and let you brush them, if you handle them correctly.

  • What grooming tools, techniques or products do you find most effective when working with cats, and why?

It has become hard to find products and tools for cat grooming specifically therefore I have put together a shop for my students to be able to purchase products all in one place the most important thing about cat grooming products is that they are tested on cats and they are a natural product, due to the cats licking their own fur we have to be really careful with what we put on them also they have a different pH level to dogs as well as humans. Product wise I use Milla and Max and I use Colin Taylor scissors and combs as well as Chris Christian products. I particularly like Unicorn powder that freshens the coat but also detangles and degreases taking out any debris from the coat and as this is combed and brushed through it comes out of the coat therefore not leaving much residual product on the coat

  • Are there any products, innovations or specialist tools that have become particularly popular with feline groomers, and why?

Milla and Max products are really good for cats it’s a nice product and they are very interested in the cat’s coat and skin as well as the welfare of the cat they believe in welfare driven cat grooming which is also in line with my ethics for cat grooming and I am one of their cat grooming ambassadors in the UK and I also sell their products

  • Looking ahead, what developments or innovations would you like to see in the cat grooming sector over the next few years?

I have produced a seminar, an online cat grooming seminar for groomers called happy cat happy groomer™ I would like to see more cat grooming training options and online seminars for dog groomers as well as cat groomers to support welfare lead grooming very much in a similar the way we talk about holistic grooming for dog groomers cats require their own handling methods and I would love to see us move away from restraints in the future I always trying to treat every cat as an individual understand it and what the owners requirements are and deliver a grooming experience that suits that individual cat one size doesn’t fit all and it would be great to see some more seminars come to market for Catwoman that represent this.

To find out more visit https://jwpetservices.com/happy-cat%2C-happy-groomer%E2%84%A2