We have kindly been nominated for the Leibster award by the Business Classroom. This virtual award is passed down to other bloggers that are highly regarded by yourself.

I need to nominate 11 bloggers- These bloggers are

• Jot it me down Animal Magic
• Pet Grooming- the good, the bad and the furry
• For Paws Dog Training and Behavioural Specialist
• The Cats Pajamas
• Canips Cat Behaviour and Grooming
• Pet Grooming 101
• CATitude
• Pet Naturals
• Bubbly Petz
• Cat Clinic Dr Kim
• The Grooming Blog- Melissa Verplank
• National Cat Groomers Institute of America

Sam’s questions for us are:

Why did you choose to start blogging? 

I saw a lot of cat groomers out there grooming cats with grooming loops around cats necks and taking 2 hours or more to groom cats and knew I had to help educate

If you could choose to work full time or blog full time what would you choose and why? 

Definitely Cat Grooming and the Business of Cat Grooming.  I love it!

If you could blog about anything for money what would it be and why? 

My dogs and cats!  I could talk about them all day!

Mac or PC

PC, haven’t had much to do with Mac’s

Favourite Blog

Jot-it-me-down – great stories!

What TV show is most like the your life?

Lol there isn’t any, A dog and cat groomer that talks pets all day?  No TV shows near that!

If a movie was being made about you – who would you want to be the actor playing you and why? 

Rachel Mcadams, only cos I’ve always wanted Ryan Gosling hahaha

If you could learn any new skill – What would it be and why?

Cat Behaviour,  I think will be my next forte’

Favourite social media platform?

Facebook, but it’s kind of boring me lately, same stuff different day

If you could live anywhere in the world where world where would you choose and what style house?

Italy, a little three story place in Venice

If the internet stopped working tomorrow – what would you decided to take up instead of blogging?

Getting a life hahaha.  I’m on it way too much!

Random Facts about me

1.  I started grooming dogs at 18

2. I started grooming cats at 19 with sedation at a vet

3. I started my grooming business and 21 and everyone asked for my mum when I answered my phone

4.  I love coffee at my favorite cafe to chill out

5. Cats actually make me itchy!

6.  So do some dogs!

7.  I have asthma

8. I have 5 cats and 2 dogs and I still manage to groom them all!

9.  I have over 600 regular clients

10. This is the most I have written about myself in years

11.  I am afraid of driving!  But I manage!

Questions for my Nominated Blogs

1. Why did you choose to start blogging?
2. If you could choose to work full time or blog full time what would you choose and why?
3. If you could blog about anything for money what would it be and why?
4. When did you start blogging?
5. Favourite Blog
6. How many coffees do you drink a day?
7. Your guilty food pleasure?
8. How many pets do you have?
9. Do you ever get writers block?  What do you do to help move on?
10. Favorite country to holiday?
11. If the internet stopped working tomorrow – what would you decided to take up instead of blogging?

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Don’t forget to tag us on Facebook or share your blog link in the comment section below, we are sure everyone would love to read your answers to the questions too

Christmas time, and the summer in general (in Australia) is the busiest time of year and you need to make the most of it to keep your books full year round.

Re-booking this time of the year can make or break the slow season.

First you need to discuss seasonal coat changes and needs with the owner before or after the groom.  Ask why the cat came to you, every owner came for a reason, and you have a resolution for this, but it is not a permanent solution, it is temporary, so you need to discuss this with the cat owner.  Here is my basic reasons and resolutions to prove the need for re-booking.

Hairballs-  Needs clipping or bathing and de-shedding regularly, so regular grooming is needed so re-booking is required.  Too long between appointments lead to the cats becoming uncomfortable and can lead to big vet bills.

Matting- It is best to remove the mats now with clipping and go on a preventative bath and blow-dry or regular clipping schedule, as if you wait until the cat is matted, the cat will  get harder to groom every time, eventually requiring sedation in some cases. So, re-booking is required.

Allergies-  to pet and owner, regular grooming is needed to remove dander and excess coat.  Allergies to cats are not once a year, dander is year round so regular grooming is required.

As you see most reasons from grooming require a regular schedule.  The only reasons for grooming that do not require a regular schedule are seasonal such as heat and grass seeds.  The cat will still need to be groomed a minimum of twice in this season.  I do not recommend once a year grooming as most once a year cats are harder to groom and have more chance of revealing skin conditions, cutting of skin, so the price should be much more.

Remind clients that cats can be groomed in winter by bath and brush-out or full clip as they have double and triple coats so do not seem to feel the cold (and most live indoors).

Pushing that little bit to re-book this once as you recommend it for optimal cat health can lead to all year clientele, and less of a slow season for cats.  This year, in my salon, with two cat groomers, filled every cat grooming space we had even in winter.

During the Christmas season you can use added extras onto the appointment to make extra money without overbooking yourself.

Just a few ideas I do-

I get soft claws nail caps in Christmas colours (which you can paint on if you have the time)

Scented extras such as bay rum and candy cane chubbs bars or bay rum cat-a-tonic that smells very much like gingerbread make a great add on or free extra.

Temporary tattoos using blow pens are also a cute add on.

Progroom has recently brought out a foaming berry facial that can be used dry with cat grooms.

Adding an under body short clip to a bath and brush-out can be a quick add on too.

Making simple cat collars from pretty ribbons and diamante trim look great for Christmas.

Having some red and green mice, bagged cat treats or stick toys can make you a quick dollar, that will be quickly added this time of year.

The only thing I add is be wary of ingredients in any products you add this time of year that you don’t usually use on cats and remind clients any decorations you put on their pet should not be left on unattended.

Emergency grooms- Those who are extremely matted that cannot be fit in anywhere else, you can groom after dogs one day or before others and come early.  This appointment would require and emergency fee as outside your normal hours.  This time of year people get desperate, and to compensate for an extra hour at the most you can make some extra cash.

As you can see Christmas can be positive for you salon and is an important part of your whole years takings so don’t hold back on asking if they would like an extra service or re-booking to avoid disappointment.

Any questions feel free to email me  lexiethegroomer@hotmail.com   🙂

Lexie the Cat Groomer

So you want to wash a clients (or your own) cat?  I get asked this daily at the moment so thought easier to post it!

It’s really not that hard!  Some of my kitty clients prefer bathing to clipping!  It’s the blow-dryer that scares most.

Those grumpy kitties are usually best in the bath when they are soaking wet.  Most cats when wet are quiet calm, once they are soaking they seem to think they can’t move.

Have everything prepared BEFORE you grab your cat!  You will need 2 towels, a bucket of luke warm water or 2 or a shower hose, a pump water bottle of shampoo mixed with luke warm water (use cat friendly shampoo only, I use progroom proamber, make sure it says cat friendly on the bottle!) I like to use chubbs bars after the first wash.  A cat Shampoo bottle, Nail clippers, and an extra person if you can help it.  Washing in the laundry sink or boosted bath is best. (no hydro bath running)

1. Put a towel on your washing machine or bench,  Cut your cats nails before attempting if possible to decrease scratching!

2. Put cat in sink/bath facing away from you, put pressure on the shoulders of the cat reassuring the cat.  Use the water bottle wet the tail first slowly and make your way up to the head scrubbing as you go.  Don’t wet the face or head only with your hands or kitty will get grumpy, if needs doing, do this last.  Scrub as much as you can with one hand on shoulders.  Apply as much pressure as needed, scruff only as last resort.  Remember the cat might try and run away from the water until it is fully soaked.  If you decide to put your hands in front of its neck you will get bitten,  keep your hands behind the cat.

3.  Rinse using bucket of water and cup, as much as possible or a hose with spray close to the skin so they cannot hear it.

4.  Re-shampoo using your hands and shampoo.  Scrub as much as you can.

5.  Rinse again thoroughly. Do not use conditioner.

6.  Towel over cat and put cat on other towel and dry as much as possible.  If you are keen to blow-dry  (if cats not scared of vacuum or your hairdryer they may be fine), wrap cat up in towel and put other towel over head or happy hoodie (so they can breathe but not hear) and put pressure on whole cat drying from tail up and combing at times.   A hv dryer without the nozzle is good to use. Do not blow-dry the bum or the cat will express its glands.  To dry near head hold ears down so no air gets in.  Otherwise comb your cat as it air-dries but HV drying is best to remove loose undercoat and dandruff.  (I like the LANTUN dryer with adjustable settings, you can barely hear it on.)

I recommend bathing every 4-6 weeks for optimal cat health.

I hope this helps!

Keep on grooming!

Lexie the Groomer, Certified Master Cat Groomer

Fancy Feline Online Groomer Education

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Just a few quick tips that every groomer should know before grooming cats;

 

• Do not noose a cat! (Or put a loop/collar around its neck used for restraint)  A cats bone structure is different to a dogs, one quick launch away and pull on neck can severely injure or kill a cat.  I prefer to use my hands but you may use a figure ‘8’ Harness.\

 

• Do not catch or hold a cat by its tail- same as above.

 

• No dogs around is best- just the simple smell of dogs groomed before a cat, noises of dogs or blow dryers if not use to, can cause a cat to stress out or act differently.

 

• Do not use flea shampoos or sprays containing permethrin, it is toxic to cats, I prefer to use not flea shampoos

 

• Do not be afraid to send a cat to a vet for sedation- if the cat is in danger of inuring itself or you it is not worth it.

 

•  Remember cats are different from dogs so do not treat them the same!  Most cats will not let you get away with it, you cannot tell a cat what to do, or to sit still.  You cannot handle a cat the same or expect it to stand like a dog.

 

• Try not to spend time grooming a cat for more than an hour, prolonged stress can KILL a cat! (sorry but I cannot stress this enough, the less time the better.)

 

• Panting is a sign of stress, not thirst.

 

• Got an angry cat?  Wash it first, it will completely change its mind!

 

That’s it for now 🙂

 

The Fancy Feline ‘Cat Guru’

 

 

So today I had another cat show. I show my companion cats at least 3 times a year, it helps me keep in touch with breeders, make new clients and show off my grooming. No I don’t have any pure breeds. Mostly rescues.
Today I received 2 rosettes which is my average.

At the show today I also made 2 clients, one a breeder and one her daughter. Breeders/cat show people find it hard to keep up with all pets too and I love that I am the go to girl for advice and products recommendation.
Of course not everyone wants my help (there are a few greasy kitty’s there!) and some cats that need a good brush! But I don’t tell them that, don’t want to get in anyone’s way.

Every judge comments on their grooming and I would hope they are the best groomed or I am in the wrong job 😉
Most judges if you listen, will explain the breed, colour, and standard of the cat they are judging. (Obviously except companions no breed standard)

It’s always good to pop in a cat show now and then to learn some breeds, colours and network.

Lexie xxx