About Pinkys Purfect Paws
Why Cat Grooming
I grew up on a farm in County Durham surrounded by around 30 farm cats and several house cats. I have owned cats and loved cats my whole life, though all have been domestic short haireds – until now! In 2018, I reluctantly went to help a family member fix their shed and ended up coming home with a domestic long haired kitten. Having just recently lost a cat, I had no intentions of getting another so quickly but my arm was twisted and I couldn’t say no, I had never seen such a cute ball of fluff, having never seen a long haired cat until now. Little did I know that she would lead me on to a whole new path in life.
In the really hot summer of 2021, I began to look into cat grooming. Ferdie was now 3 and she was struggling with her fur immensely and it was making her miserable. She developed mats down her sides and around her bottom. I freaked out! I’d never seen this happen before, so I began looking for a cat groomer. Cat groomers in my area were non-existent and so we ended up visiting a dog groomer, which was a very stressful experience for both myself and poor Ferdie. At this point, I expressed my interest in cat grooming. I decided if there was no-one to help Ferdie, then I would do it myself but I wanted to learn how to do it properly, and safely.
After searching the internet for any sort of training in Cat Grooming, I came across the iPet network who were offering a Diploma level 3 in Cat Grooming and Salon Management (regulated by Ofqual) at their salon in Lymm, near Manchester. I signed up, and it all began there! After my first initial few days training, I was addicted and beginning to realize the possibilities. During the training, I gained lots of experience of grooming cats of many different breeds, temperaments and needs, both in the salon as well as mobile in people’s homes. It became clear to me that there were many people in the same boat as me, with cat grooming needs.
Upon completion of my training in August 2023, I set up Pinkys Purfect Paws mobile cat grooming so that I could help out cats and their guardians locally to me in the comfort of their own homes.
How I work
I am a Cat Only groomer and my training is specialized in cat behavior, handling and grooming so there will be no underlying doggy smells that could potentially put your cat off.
I put your cat’s health, welfare and comfort over looks. This means that we will take our time to really get to know your cat, what works for them and their needs taking into account their age, temperament and health, and using specialist feline friendly products only. I treat all my customers’ cats as I would my own – they are extremely precious to us and my work ethos is to achieve the best possible results whilst always keeping the cat’s wellbeing at the forefront of everything I do including allowing them plenty of breaks and of course cuddles. I always try to leave a groom on a positive note with a cat so that they see it as an enjoyable experience so I may use treats and herbs during or afterwards.
I have been trained in different handling techniques to keep your cat (and myself) safe and I have undertaken feline first aid as part of my studies. I do not scruff but I may use a ‘happy hoodie’ to help relax your cat or protect their ears from the sounds of the clippers or during drying, or an ‘Elizabethan collar’ or a towel as a barrier, to protect myself from being bitten.
What to expect during a Grooming Session
First of all we will require a space to work in your home with the cat that has as least hidey holes as possible. Kitchens, conservatories and bathrooms are usually good places as all are contained and have doors. You will need to make sure that any cat flaps or windows are closed prior to our arrival and that your cat is inside your house. If your cat escapes, you may still be charged for travel and time costs.
We will work within that space with your cat either on our grooming table or our lap, it just depends what your cat feels most comfortable with.
Each groom will begin with a health check where we will gently check the condition of your cat’s coat, body condition, their temperament and health and wellbeing. This is where we will have a more in depth discussion about your needs for the groom and the expectations. It is at this point where we will be able to give you a more accurate costing for the grooming. The health check also gives us the opportunity to find out where your cat likes to be touched and areas to be mindful of.
If you are in the room with us during the groom, we may ask you to assist when appropriate. Having you in the room talking to, praising and distracting your cat can often help to settle your cat down. It is okay if you do not feel comfortable getting involved. Just let us know.
