KITTY'S KORNER
by Deborah Hansen
HOUSE CATS VS
Grooming house cats can be a very different experience from grooming outside cats. Some groomers will not groom outside cats, while others will groom outside cats when the cats meet specific requirements.
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hen deciding if your grooming business will groom outside cats, there are many factors to consider. The first and most important thing to consider is that an outside cat will be much wiser and knows how to successfully use resources to their advantage. The life experiences of a cat that has lived its entire life inside, with stable meals and a clean litter box, are much different than a cat that has lived outside and knows how to hunt and to instinctively doubt the intentions of people.
When a house cat gets angry and wants grooming to stop, they typically go through a trial and error system to see how they can convince you to leave them alone. However, when an outside cat who has learned to defend its life is done with grooming, it takes strong technique, nerves and strength to finish the groom. Grooming an outside cat is not necessarily more dangerous, but takes a different skillset than grooming an inside cat. When you are grooming an outside cat it is best to work methodically with a firm but gentle touch. The
Groomer to Groomer • Vol 40 Ed 8 • August 2021
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cat needs to know you are helping it and that you have their best interest in mind. If you take a “scruff and go” approach with this type of cat, they will interpret your actions as a threat and stage a methodical attack against you to defend their life. Another thing to consider when deciding to groom outside cats is how often they visit the veterinarian. In my experience, outdoor cats tend to visit the veterinarian less often than inside cats. This is important because when you find something abnormal and recommend a vet visit,