Cat grooming – best tips and advice

Why Cat Grooming Matters

Spring is the purrfect time to consider a change to your business, by branching out and offering cat grooming! In this month’s column Four Paws Groom School Tutor Katy Gwilt, who is an approved iPET Network provider, explains exactly what learners can expect when they sign up for a qualification.

Katy writes... I’m so excited to be delivering the iPET Network Cat Grooming qualifications.

There are three qualifications to choose from which includes a Level 3 Award in an Introduction to Cat Grooming, Level 3 Certificate in Cat Grooming and Introduction to Styling and the Level 3 Diploma in Cat Grooming and Salon Management. The qualifications are all the same level of learning but provide building blocks for learners should they want to dip their toes into cat grooming or obtain the full Level 3 Diploma qualification. All qualifications are regulated by Ofqual.

Courses last five, ten or 25 full days of training and by the end of the Diploma qualification you will be ready to set yourself up as a qualified cat groomer.

The Level 3 Diploma course provides lots of practical training both in the Four Paws salon and out on the road doing some mobile grooming with The Kat Lady visiting a range of my actual clients.

Having a chance to do mobile grooming is so important for cats. Many cats don’t travel well and so arrive at a salon already very stressed out so being able to offer mobile grooming can be so beneficial to our feline friends. It also helps as a lot of clients have mobility and health issues themselves which is why they need help grooming their cats so being able to go to them helps the humans too.

As well as a comprehensive practical hands-on learning approach where you work with different breeds, ages, health conditions and temperaments of

cats, there is also a theory element to really round out your learning.

From zoonoses and bio-security through to the legal requirements and legislation on handling and lifting cats as well as anatomy, behaviour and a background on how to care for and clean your equipment. It really is an extremely comprehensive course and I will also be adding in some business information on how to set prices and some tips to help you get started in the industry etc.

By the end of the Diploma course you will be able to groom a cat to include claw trimming, full brush out including suitable brushes and combs for cats, bathing and drying cats, hygiene/sanitary cuts, clean their eyes and ears as well as how to safely remove mats/pelts and clip cats (including the lion cut).

You will know how to assess each cat as an individual and come up with a grooming plan tailored specifically to the cat’s needs at that time to allow the cat to feel their best self!

It is suitable to anyone completely new to grooming as well as a great add on for dog groomers wishing to branch out and add cat grooming to their portfolio of services. As I always say, cats aren’t small dogs and need very different handling and care. Their behaviour is completely different and requires careful study and of course the focus of the teaching will be on the wellbeing of the cats and their unique holistic needs.

To find out more about the iPET Network courses go to www.ipetnetwork.co.uk