7 minute read
When to Stop a Cat Grooming Session
Cats are wonderful animals and I love giving my life to grooming them. My personal focus is on welfare and health for the cat rather than necessarily the most beautiful outcome for human eyes.
By Katie Gwilt.
It’s always lovely when the two are combined, but removing problemmatted areas whilst keeping the cat as stress-free as possible will always be my main focus. With this in mind on occasion, I do stop a groom before it is finished.
I will usually schedule a followup date within a week (with at least two days in between to allow the cat to get used to the positive changes already in place) or possibly refer them to the vet if they are very anxious and need to be fully sedated for their own safety.
There are a few signs to look out for to tell if the cat is getting to their panic point which can be tricky to come back from.
1. Panting/open-mouthed breathing
It is not natural for cats to pant like dogs do. It isn’t a behaviour they show as part of their temperature regulation. If a cat is panting then they are highly stressed and anxious and you need to pause the groom until this stops. You can then access the cat to see if they can continue a bit more or if that is the end of the session for the day. Do pay attention to their breathing in general and try to slow things down before it gets to this point.
2. Urinating/defecating
Some older cats in particular just can’t hold their bodily functions, but if a cat is releasing urine or faeces during a groom due to fear it is definitely time to assess what you are doing. Have a look at what stage of the groom you are at and if is there something you can do to decrease whatever is scaring them. If planning on bathing the cat always do a drier test to check their reactions before starting the bath to try to reduce reactions like this.
Slow things down and assess the cat before continuing. Once a session can be an accident, but more than once you definitely need to change things up.
3. Any sign of medical distress
Always check before grooming if the cat has any medical issues that the client is aware of. Heart murmurs are common in
Maine Coons and breathing problems with flat-faced brachycephalic cats. Some cats have seizures or need access to water if they have hyperthyroidism, diabetes or chronic kidney problems. Other cats like Scottish Fold can have a lot of joint problems and all older cats are prone to arthritis and back leg pain in particular.
Make sure you know this in advance and plan the grooming area accordingly. Adapt how you approach and handle the cat to compensate for any known medical issues. If in any doubt then stop the groom and contact the client or the closest vet as needed.
4. The cat is in major panic mode
You will know this when you see it, trust me. The cat will basically be climbing the walls to get away. I find this is just unsafe for both the cat and the groomer. If the cat is matted or has ingrown claws then this is one that I will always refer to the vet for full sedation. Those problem areas need to be dealt with but if they are panicking then the likelihood of cutting their skin with clippers is just too high to even try. I will work with most cats and it is rare this happens, but if it does protect yourself and the cat by referring on to be sedated.
Early warning signs of stress and anxiety include (but are not limited to):
• very wide pupils
• starting to lash out to defend/protect themselves
• trying to run away or hide
• completely freezing and shutting down
• very fast breathing
• ears and whiskers going back towards the body (usually a sign they are getting ready to fight/protect themselves)
• growling and hissing if it starts to escalate
• the tail starts to swish majorly
It’s important to always watch the cat’s body language throughout the grooming process to keep track of their mood and comfort levels. Many cats in the UK aren’t used to being groomed so you are introducing a strange concept to an adult animal which can be scary for them. You can always start with short introduction grooms and increase as you and the cat both get used to each other. It’s all about building trust and the cat learning how good they feel after any knots, tangles and mats are removed and their loose dead fur is all removed. It is worth doing some research on cat behaviour if you are going to be working with them regularly and doing a course (such as those run by iPet Network) if you are used to dogs and cats are a new venture for you.
There are lots of things you can do to help to reduce stress for cats in the grooming environment which I will discuss in next month’s Feline Focus column.
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