CAT GROOMING UNDER SEDATION
I have groomed every kind of cat and to deny that some cats have a problem with being handled or combed is wrong. Cat groomers who force their way through the groom, with the attitude that they have been paid to do a job and the cat WILL do as THEY SAY, when clearly the cat is distressed and showing signs of fear aggression, are making life difficult for the owner for the future and also making the cat even more fearful. A vicious cycle.
Making the decision to groom a cat under sedation is not taken lightly by me. However, There are times when I feel it is the safest and kindest way to go. If it not about me getting the job done, not about me proving I am a good cat groomer and can handle any cat, It is ONLY about the cat. If a cat is too stressed on the grooming table, and is badly matted, the most humane route to take is to sedate the cat to get it shaved. Once this has been done we have a clean slate to start the counter conditioning programme to help the cat get used to the grooming process. This option is never taken on a whim and is definitely not a long term solution or an easy way out. Learning the correct techniques and slowly training a cat to tolerate short sessions of grooming is the ultimate goal.
I work alongside local vet Dr Carmichael at Addisons Vets in Holland Park. Cat grooming under sedation charges involved: £65 for the sedation in conjunction with my grooming fee. I do not charge twice for completing a groom under sedation. Before any sedation Dr Carmichael will give your cat a thorough medical examination. You remain with your cat during the sedation which takes seconds. Once your cat has fallen into a deep sleep, which usually takes about 5 minutes, you can go and get a coffee in one of the local cafes, browse some of the quirky shops or take a lovely walk in Holland Park. Make sure you check out the Japanese Gardens which are really relaxing. Once the groom is completed the sedation process will be reversed and your cat awakes within minutes. You are then called to take a wander back to pick up your cat to take home.
Anita is everything you could ask for in a cat groomer. Kind, caring, conscientious and good! She is brilliant with difficult cats and does a professional job time after time – her clients are always satisfied. I cannot recommend her or her services highly enough.
Sarah Parrish. Head nurse, Addisons Vets.
Compassionate thinking is required for cat grooming.
IS IT SAFE?
Of course, with any procedure involving sedation/anaesthetic there is a 0.0000001 risk of something going wrong. However, this is extremely rare. Millions of cats, as well as all kinds of other animals, are operated on everyday under anaesthetic. It is important to note that sedation is putting your cat to sleep for a short period and not full blown anaesthetic/gas which is used for operations and is much stronger. Dr Carmichael’s pre medical check up determines if sedation can go ahead. You cats’ age, medical conditions, and sound of heart are all taken into consideration. Dr Carmichael has been a vet for over 50 years so your cat could not be in better hands.
If you have any questions regarding
- Mobile cat grooming
- Grooming your cat under sedation
- Having trouble handling your cat during grooming
Please contact info@catnips.co.uk. This type of issue can be very distressing and I am here to help anyone.
Here is an article written for the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association on grooming aggressive cats.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
This is the second time I have used Catnips. Anita came to my house in 2014 to groom my 15 year old Norwegian Forest Cat Hallelujah (aka Halley) who had become badly matted. Halley hates being picked up and held for more than 30 seconds, so you can imagine how difficult it was to groom her. Although she is normally sweet tempered, she wouldn’t respond to Anita’s normal tactics and distractions and stubbornly struggled at every possible opportunity, but Anita was patience personified, gently cajoling H and taking it 30-40 seconds at a time. At one point, we managed to coax her onto her back on my lap as we sat on the floor by her cat flap so that Anita could shave her tummy. The groom took about 6 hours in total. At the end Halley looked amazing, though the rest of us were rather worse for wear …
H’s new coat took about 6 months to grow back completely. As she loves going outside and writhing around in dirt on her back, her coat became a grit magnet and she soon became knotted and matted. She wouldn’t allow us to groom her and would struggle away within the obligatory half a minute. So it was time to call Catnips again!
With last year’s experience in mind, Anita suggested it best to get her sedated at the vets this time. Anita met us there with all her equipment. Dr Carmichael at Addison’s Vets gave Halley a quick examination due to her age to check she would be safe under anaesthetic, and then gave her a sedative before Anita set to work. Whilst we went for a walk in Holland Park in the beautiful sunshine. About an hour later, Anita called to say all had gone well and H would be ready in 15 minutes.
Anita has once again done a great job and Halley has emerged very fashionably chic, it looks like she’s got a fur shrug around her shoulders with a lovely swishy lion tail. Thanks for making my cat look beautiful again Anita!
P.S: Thanks again for the lift home yesterday. Being able to get Halley back into her normal environment quickly made a huge difference.
