All about the new cat grooming qualification

from Total Grooming Magazine August 2021

News

Get Grooming Launches New iPET Network Cat Grooming Qualification

Get Grooming Pet Grooming School is delighted to announce it will be running the New iPET Network level 3 cat grooming qualifications from September. The new qualification is the First & only Ofqual Regulated Cat Grooming qualification in the U.K. There are three practical options to start your Cat Grooming career or expand the knowledge you already have with the opportunity to gain a recognised cat grooming qualification.

iPET NETWORK Level 3 Award in Cat Grooming

The first is the iPET Network level 3 Award in cat grooming offering a five day route to gaining the basic cat grooming information such as handling and what equipment to use, health and welfare, and working safely whilst practically bathing and drying of various coat types. It is assessed via three assignments and one practical exam.

iPET NETWORK Level 3 Certificate in Cat Grooming

The iPET Network Level 3 Certificate is a ten day practical course which covers most things cat including clipping, handling, health and welfare, maintenance of equipment, legislation and practical learning such hygiene trims as well as lion trims, modified lion trims and bathing a variety of coat types. This is assessed via five assignments and two practical exams.

iPET NETWORK Level 3 Diploma in Cat Grooming

The final option is the level 3 Diploma in Cat Grooming which offers twenty five days of practical cat grooming and theory to become the ultimate cat groomer. It covers all of the above plus customer care, dealing with complaints, running a cat grooming business, pricing, and a wide range of practical grooms on a variety of breeds. An ideal route for those wanting to exclusively cat groom. This is assessed via eight assignments, a feline first aid course and three practical exams.

Fast track to a Cat Grooming qualification

There is also a fast track option for already experienced cat groomers who are wanting to be identified as a qualified cat groomer. This is available for the Diploma and the Certificate in Cat Grooming.

It is estimated that there are

roughly the same amount of cats in the UK as dogs. Yet dog grooming is well recognised and there is often a dog groomer based in most towns, yet cat groomers are few and far between. There is a huge need for cat groomers especially in areas with high rise flats where dogs cannot be kept. Some households might also have more than one or even two cats as they do not have the accompanied physical need for exercise that dogs do. Most dog groomers are inexperienced and unsure about cat grooming. With knowledge on handling, equipment, breeds and health it is possible to groom cats safely and effectively for both groomer and cat.

At Get Grooming we help you overcome any worries you may have and gain confidence in grooming cats so you can add this avenue to your business and help cater for the 12 million UK pet cats. Like dogs, cats may need regular brushing to stop then becoming matted, or a good deshed in the summer months. Like double coated dogs, some cat breeds should not be clipped and regular bathing and grooming can prevent matts and make the grooming process a lot quicker.

Our courses are run by our Director and Tutor Michelle who has owned cats for 35 years, as well have having shown and bred a variety of different breeds including Maine Coon, Persian, Sphynx, Ragdoll, British Long and Short Hair, and Domestic breeds. “ Sadly cats are misunderstood creatures and with the correct handling and knowledge, cats can be just as enjoyable to groom as dogs”. Learning different ways to handle cats , identifying behaviours and signs of stress can help us to understand cats and learn to groom them successfully. A cat that is groomed regularly will prevent matting and also allow the cat to become more comfortable with the grooming environment. Starting a cat from young age can also help the cat to accept the grooming process as the cat matures.

Many dog groomers believe they can cat groom in the same way as dogs but cat grooming can be very different. There are a huge variety of different breeds, each have their own health concerns, breed traits and grooming needs. There are diseases that can affect cats but do not appear in dogs, things like HCM, a heart condition that can suddenly kill an affected cat. Cats skin is also much thinner and therefore require different blades to a dog, and handling and restraining a cat is much different to the dog species. If working with cats it is advisable to make sure you have the relevant training to make sure you are confident and work safely to groom the cat species and the variety of breeds that come into the salon.

Cat grooming can also be very lucrative, much more than dog grooming and most grooms takes under an hour. Pricing tends to range from £35 for a bath and brush of a short haired cat that takes 15-20 mins, up to a lion trim that might take an hour and costs £95. So many more cats can be completed in a day and more income is generated. It also provides an extra service to your business, and you may only want to offer cat grooming one day a month or you might decide to cat groom full time.

For more information on the Cat Grooming Courses please see our website at www.getgrooming.co.uk