Cat grooming: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering cat grooming

Cat owners hire groomers who understand feline stress and handle cats gently. Your slow handling method, your mat removal technique and your health notes are what win loyal clients.

What customers ask

  • Can you groom a cat that hates being handled?
  • Will you remove mats without cutting the skin?
  • How long will the grooming take?
  • Do you give sedation?
  • What if you find a lump or a wound?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask about the cat's coat, temperament, health, age and any past grooming experience.
  • Explain your slow handling method and the quiet space you use, in plain words.
  • Check the coat, skin and nails before you start, and show the owner anything you find.
  • Work through mats slowly, and tell the owner when a cut or a shorter clip is the safer option.
  • Put the service type, the bath, the nail trim and any breed or lion cut in the quote.
  • Send a note after the visit with the coat condition and any issue for the vet.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of cat grooming, shown with consent
  • A list of your services, such as brush-outs, mat removal, lion cuts, baths and nail trims
  • Your approach to calm handling and when you stop a service
  • Your grooming training and the dates it was completed
  • Your business registration and any local permit that applies to your grooming business

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a brushing schedule and the tools that suit the cat's coat
  • Suggest a short visit between full grooms to keep the coat from matting
  • Offer a senior cat visit plan with gentle handling and shorter sessions

Licenses and permits

Some states and cities regulate pet grooming, so check with your state and local agencies before you take paid work. Keep your training and any required registration current, and list them on your profile.

Questions

Do I need a license to groom cats for pay?

Some states and cities regulate pet grooming. Check your state and local agencies, and confirm whether any registration applies to your work.

What if a cat is too stressed to groom?

Stop the service, let the cat settle, and explain the options to the owner. Suggest a shorter visit or a visit after the owner has talked with their veterinarian.

Should I offer sedation?

Do not offer sedation as part of your service. If an owner asks, advise them to talk with their veterinarian first.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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