What are your days of operation?

Catington is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 4pm by appointment only.

Need special accommodations? Please reach out via the contact page or call/text us @ 818-817-1477

Do you offer nail cap services?

Nail caps/soft paws application is not offered at this time.

What if my cat doesn’t travel well?

Often times people avoid taking their cat to the vet or spa because they don’t travel well. Fortunately there are plenty of over the counter & prescription options to help ease your cat’s anxiety. Understandably many pet parents are hesitant when it comes to sedating their cats. Please keep in mind that this remains a better alternative than allowing your cat to go years without annual vet visits or allowing their grooming needs to go unmet. This will only lead to more severe issues and stress down the line.

A popular over the counter option is Bach’s Rescue Remedy. They have both a human & pet safe version. This option works well for cats with mild anxiety. If your cat shows signs of distress, such as panting, drooling, or soiling themselves, they need a prescription strength aid. Your vet can determine the best option for your cat based on their medical history. Whichever option you choose, make sure to test it prior to your appointment.

Please keep in mind that unforeseen & unplanned events such as natural disasters can occur at any time which may require you to evacuate with your cat. Finding an appropriate solution for your cat in advance, as well as practicing how to place them in a carrier is vital.

Which vaccines are required?

Cats are required to have annual vet visits in order to book an appointment. Your vet will inform you which vaccines are necessary for your cat’s well being. A Rabies vaccine is mandatory. Please do not make or hold an appointment for your cat if they are showing any signs of illness or injury as the session will be cancelled and charged. If your cat has recently undergone any medical procedure, please consult with your veterinarian to ensure it’s safe for them to be groomed.

Will my cat be restrained?

No. Safety is always the priority. All services are performed without restraints. Every grooming session is approached with the cat’s comfort in mind and is adjusted to their individual needs. Under no circumstances will a cat ever be forced to complete a groom if it is deemed unsafe.

Do you offer a discount for multiple cats?

Discounts are not offered on multiple cats as it takes the same amount of time and resources to complete each groom.

Will my cat be sedated?

Cat grooming is a specialty which requires specific training in both grooming and handling techniques. Although it has become regular practice to sedate cats for grooming at many veterinarian offices, Catington is a space exclusively for cat grooming and sedation is not required in most cases. If your cat has what you consider to be an extremely nervous temperament (shows signs of distress such as panting/labored breathing, is easily frightened, etc.) you should ask your vet for a mild oral sedative to help them relax. This will set them up for a successful groom and pleasant overall experience. A popular sedative is Gabapentin, but your vet may recommend something else based on their medical history. Whichever your vet prescribes, it would need to be administered as directed prior to our appointment time. Sedatives must always be administered by their guardian. Always test the sedative once before your appointment to ensure its effectiveness.

What if my cat is aggressive?

Nibbling, swatting, & wiggling are not signs of aggression.

If you have a cat that is known to be aggressive; meaning they growl, hiss, or bite readily, it is best to have them groomed at a veterinarian’s office as they likely require heavier sedation. Please do not book an appointment if your cat has a history of being aggressive, as you will be charged for all treatments booked. No cat should be forced to complete a groom as this can be traumatic physically, mentally, and emotionally. Anger is usually a sign of extreme fear or underlying pain. Not all cats are candidates for grooming.

Which service is right for my cat?

The best way to determine which service you need is by first determining what you wish to accomplish with a grooming treatment. Every session in includes two massaging shampoos & gentle blow dry, nail trim, ear cleaning, and sanitary/hygiene shave to prevent waste from sticking to the coat when using the litter box.

Bath & Brush vs. De-Shedding:

A bath & brush is a fine option for a simple refresh. If your cat has never been bathed or is shedding profusely, a de-shed is a better choice. It includes all of the steps as the bath and brush with a few additional steps to remove the loose undercoat; including a thorough comb out with suction to speed up the shedding that would otherwise take place slowly over time.

De-Shed vs. Lion Cut:

A de-shed treatment will reduce the amount of shedding while keeping your cat in full coat. However, this treatment needs to be maintained on a 4 to 8 week schedule to keep up with the shedding cycle. A lion cut will drastically reduce shedding until the coat fully grows out; typically 3 to 4 months.

De-Matting vs. Matted Lion Cut vs. Mercy Groom:

A matt is an individual knot that can be penetrated by water and removed with a comb. A pelt is very tight to the skin, typically covers larger sections and prevents circulation and free range of motion. These cannot be removed with a comb as the cause severe pain and stress.

Matts and pelts form due to oil build up. Oil from their scalp coats their fur and as they go to shed, rather than freely leaving their body, the strands stick together. Overtime this cycle repeats itself and a matt forms. The oil also traps dust, dander, litter, etc. Matts are typically found in common areas such as the hip area, the chest, and behind the ears. This is because the oil/waste travels from their glands and hind areas up the tail and spine and then spreads throughout their coat. Similarly wax from their ears and food/water from their mouth when eating travels down the throat causing matting on the chest and underside. This is why bathing is a required step as it will get to the root cause. De-matting without bathing makes it more painful for the cat because the dirt and oil cause resistance when combing and the coat will begin to matt again immediately as the root cause has not been addressed.

If your cat has loose matts, and you wish to keep them in full coat, a Full Coat De-Matting treatment will achieve that. It is crucial to then keep them on a grooming schedule to prevent matting in the future.

A lion cut is best if the matting is too severe and your cat is unable to tolerate the de-matting process due to sensitivity or age. Cats who are advanced in age and have loss significant body mass are not candidates for shave downs as their skin is thinner, and attempting to shave over bone is very likely to result in cuts and nicks. In these cases, it is often necessary to break the grooming session up into two sessions so as not to stress your cat. There is no additional cost for senior cats if they need multiple sessions as there comfort and safety is the priority.

If your cat is pelted, that would require a Mercy Groom. A good way to determine the difference between a Matted Lion Cut & Mercy Groom is: Are there more matts than there is loose fur? Are the matts tight against the body? Does it restrict their range of motion? If so, a mercy groom is likely necessary and urgent as this cuts off circulation and can lead to open wounds.

Each grooming session begins with a consultation, so if you decide to go with a different option you are welcomed to change services at that time. If you believe your cat may likely need a Mercy Groom, please book that service to ensure there is enough time. If it is determined during consult that it is not required, we can change it at no cost.

Don’t hesitate to reach out.

c/t 818-817-1477 (text is best)

email: meow@catington.com