It is well known, cats have an absolutely amazing tongue that they use to keep their coat clean and beautiful. Sometimes, especially in what is called “the shedding season”, or for cats with very long or thick fur, your cats own efforts may need some help. Getting an occasional bath can remove a lot of loose hair, which spells less hairballs, and less cat hair on your “fur”niture. It also keeps mats and tangles at bay while keeping kitty looking magnificent.

You will spend a bit of money when you send your cat to the groomer. Make sure the groomer is experienced with cats, and have a gentle manner. Look over what services the groomer is offering. Besides bathing, some offer fur trims, and others will even do fancy cuts like the lion cut.

Plenty of cat owners send their cats to the groomer in order to get their claws trimmed, and in some cases there are cat owners who send their cats to the groomers with the express intent of getting the cats gussied up with nail polish on the claws and bows in the fur.

You may now be thinking that anyone trying to put nail polish on your cat would probably need to see a plastic surgeon, and yes, it is true, most cats do not at all enjoy these procedures and may display both fear and anger.

While this could spell disaster if you tried it at home, professional groomers know what to do to make it easy in kitty, and how to restrain your cat gently in order to get the job done. Grooming, and especially dealing with, a cat is totally different than grooming a dog. A groomer experienced with cats is a must.

After the visit is over, you may be excited, but your cat may be wishing to hide out for a bit. That’s OK. Recognize that your cat has had a somewhat traumatic experience.

While it is nice to get your cat groomed once in awhile, the fact is that most cats spend a whole lifetime without ever getting a bath. They are very efficient at keeping their “do” looking and smelling beautiful. If you have decided to take your cat to a groomer, expect to pay a bit of money and to pay restitution to your kitty when she comes home.

Learn more about Aging Cat Health and Cat Health Bloody Stool and more feline health oriented articles by cat lover, Virginia Sutherland.