KITTY'S KORNER by Deborah Hansen
Kitten season is upon us. It is a great time of year to reach the new kitten owners. Many kitten owners do not know where to start when trying to meet the coat and nail needs of their new kitten. As grooming business owners, the younger the pet, the more long-term potential profit there is.
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o capitalize on this revenue, having a plan to help new kitten owners is a must. When starting a new kitten program for your grooming business, it is best to reach out to your current and previous clients. You never know who is going to end up with a new kitten, or who knows someone who will unexpectedly have a new kitten in their household. After letting your current and previous clients know about your kitten programs, reaching out to local rescues and shelters is a great low– cost marketing strategy. A successful kitten package is as much about client education as it is grooming. Many kitten owners have never had a kitten, or have not had a kitten in a long time. While their veterinarian will take care of the
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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 4 • April 2020
basics, many new kitten owners need additional help. I like my kitten clients to have a series of five visits. I have found that after the fifth visit I can make an accurate recommendation for grooming needs during the remainder of the kitten and teenage months. The first kitten visit to the groomer is all about fun! I like to play with the kitten to assess the kitten’s temperament and comfort with human interaction. I also like to learn about the family’s interaction with their newest family member. Many times I learn the family is afraid to hold or interact with their new pet. This is when I show the family how to appropriately play with the kitten. I also like to show the family how to pick up and hold their new cat.
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I usually assign homework at this first visit. If it is clear the cat is not used to being handled, I ask the family to hold the cat and to touch each paw at least once a day. Depending on the length of the nails and the comfort level of the kitten with being handled, I may or may not do a nail trim at the first visit. A week later I see the kitten again. My first question for the family is about how the kitten is doing with its paws being touched. I also ask lots of questions about the kitten’s playtime with the family. If a nail trim was not done at the first visit, I perform a nail trim at the second visit. During the second visit, I focus on combing out the kitten and on the litter box. I ask questions about the actual litter box. Many times families have