Who to hire for a cat that needs grooming

Short answer

A groomer who takes cats specifically — many do not, and it is a distinct skill. Cats mat differently, tolerate restraint poorly, and have skin that is thin enough that clipper injuries happen easily, which is why a stressed or badly matted cat is often a job for a vet clinic rather than a salon.

Soon, not tonightIt will not usually get cheaper by waiting, and it is rarely worth an after-hours rate.

When it is someone else

Calling the wrong trade costs an attendance fee to be told so. These are the cases where this problem belongs to someone other than a Pet Groomer.

  • your vet

    the cat is matted to the skin, is elderly, or cannot be handled. Sedated clipping at a clinic is common, safe and often the least stressful option overall.

What to do before anyone arrives

  1. Check for matting behind the legs, under the collar and along the spine at the base of the tail — the areas a cat cannot reach.
  2. Note whether the cat has stopped grooming itself. That is often a sign of pain, arthritis, dental disease or obesity, and it is a veterinary question before it is a grooming one.
  3. Get the cat used to the carrier before the appointment rather than on the day.
  4. Never use scissors on a mat. A cat's skin lifts into the mat and is very easily cut.

What to ask when you book

  • Do you groom cats regularly, and how many a week?
  • What do you do if the cat will not tolerate it?
  • Do you work with a vet for cats that need sedation?

What changes the price

No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.

  • Coat condition and matting.
  • Temperament.
  • Whether a lion clip or a full groom is needed.

What you can do yourself

Is this licensed work?

Not licensed. Experience with cats specifically is the thing to ask about.

There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.

Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.

Common questions

Who should I hire for a cat that needs grooming
A groomer who takes cats specifically — many do not, and it is a distinct skill. Cats mat differently, tolerate restraint poorly, and have skin that is thin enough that clipper injuries happen easily, which is why a stressed or badly matted cat is often a job for a vet clinic rather than a salon.
Why has my cat stopped grooming itself?
It is usually a signal rather than a habit change. Arthritis, dental pain, obesity and general illness all reduce a cat's ability or willingness to groom, and the matting that follows is a symptom. A cat whose coat has deteriorated noticeably is worth a veterinary check as well as a groomer.

Find a Pet Groomer near you

2,171 pet groomers in this directory, ranked on published evidence rather than on advertising.

Who to hire for

General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.