All Groomers Are the Same...

​All Groomers are the same…

​I wish that statement were true.  Unfortunately, the amount of training, passion for the profession, commitment to continuing education and level of ethical decisions are not the same for all groomers. The grooming industry is not regulated in the State of California, or any state.  The quality of one groomer to the next can and does vary greatly.

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa takes great pride in the high quality of each groom we perform, our ethical business practices and our dedication to the feline exclusive grooming industry.  We go beyond the industry standard in the areas of education, professionalism and ethics.  These qualities help make our safety record outstanding!

​As a business, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has completed almost 400 grooms to date.  Not one of our feline clients had to receive medical treatment due to a groom performed by Kitty’s Purrfect Spa.

WHY ARE WE SO SAFE???  Simply put, due to our extensive training, our devotion to monthly continuing education and our commitment to provide the highest standard of service possible has given us an outstanding safety record.  Some of the techniques and policies Kitty’s Purrfect Spa implements are listed below.

WE NEVER USE SCISSORS!  Scissors lead to many problems, the first and most obvious is cut skin! Another undesired effect of using scissors, especially on mats, is that the cut hair actually causes the mats to get worse due to the random length of fur in the area trimmed.

​WE NEVER USE GROOMING LOOPS (NOOSES)!  Cats should never have anything around their necks that cannot easily break off with their own weight.  This is why your cat probably wears a break away collar.  It is too easy for a cat to hang itself from a grooming table if the kitty gets startled, mad or just tries to run away from the groomer.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa Groomers always use their body and work space as the only way to contain a Kitty during the grooming process.

WE NEVER PUT WATER IN A CAT’S FACE!  This is why our Spa does not offer blueberry facials for our Kitty clients!  We also never clean a cat’s face in the bath.  Water in a cat’s face is a bad idea. Cats’ little noses and mouths can very easily be filled with water.  Cats ARE NOT dogs!  It is impossible to hold a cat’s face the same way you would hold a dog’s face during the grooming process. Once water is used to rinse a cat’s face, you risk the chance of filling Kitty’s breathing passages and lungs with water.

​WE BATHE IN THE KITCHEN SINK!  We NEVER dunk a cat in a bucket of water and call it a bath!  In fact, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa never puts a cat in standing water for any reason.  We never use a “dog tub” with water that comes out of a sprayer on a “dog setting”.  Another thing we never do is use rinseless shampoo because it always leaves a residue on Kitty’s fur, in turn, causing worse problems than you started with.

WE ALMOST NEVER SCRUFF A CAT!  We tell you if we do scruff your cat!  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa believes in the most compassionate and least restrictive methods to groom all kitties!

​IF and only IF, KITTY BITES AT US, DO WE USE AN AIR MUZZLE.  An air muzzle looks like a hamster ball, goes on the head like packman and is easily thrown off by Kitty.  It uses Velcro to stay in place and weighs 7 ounces.  We NEVER use a traditional muzzle.  Traditional muzzles are DANGEROUS for cats. Most were designed for dogs.  In a traditional muzzle, a cat’s airway can be very easily blocked.  Also, a cat cannot be accurately observed for possible medical issues while wearing a muzzle made from cloth.

WE MONITOR THE STRESS LEVEL AND HEALTH OF YOUR CAT DURING THE ENTIRE GROOMING PROCESS!   We are NOT afraid to walk away and finish your groom on a different day if your Kitty shows any signs of distress!  While we are not veterinarians, we are trained to look for warning signs of possible medical concerns and notify you immediately if we make any observations about your cat’s health.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa is not shy about referring you to your veterinarian if we have any concerns.

WE LEAVE YOU WITH A COMPLETE REPORT OF YOUR KITTY’S GROOMING EXPERENCE!  Nothing is ever a secret!  We put everything in writing before we leave!

​YOU ARE ALWAYS ALLOWED TO WATCH, TAKE PICTURES AND ASK QUESESTIONS during our grooms!  In fact, we encourage it!  Your comfort with the grooming process is as important to us as your Kitty’s comfort!

WE TELL YOU EVERY LITTLE THING WE FIND DURING YOUR KITTY’S GROOM!  We want all our clients to be well informed!  If we find a lump, bump, excess wax in the ears, a bloody claw… We tell you!!  Usually immediately!  We will never sugarcoat how the groom proceeded.

WE ARE FULLY INSURED!  If something goes wrong during the grooming process, we transport you and Kitty to the nearest vet.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa does everything in their power to assure there are no out of pocket expenses to you if we caused an injury to your Kitty!  Please keep in mind, some vet’s require Kitty to be up to date on shots before they will treat your Kitty.  We will not cover those expenses, however, OUR GOAL IS TO COVER EVERY EXPENSE DUE DIRECTLY TO AN INJURY WE CAUSED.  If an undiagnosed life threatening health issue appears, we will transport you and kitty to the nearest vet.

​WE GROOM AGGRESSIVE CATS!  We have been specifically trained to handle highly aggressive cats. If Kitty’s Purrfect Spa believes it is in the best interest of Kitty, we will groom a highly aggressive cat. In fact, we groom many cats other groomers have turned away.

WE REMOVE PELTS!  We are trained to remove fur that is one solid mat from Kitty’s skin.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has done approximately 50 pelt removals with no injury to Kitty!  Some of these Kitty’s even had skin twisted into the fur. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa successfully removed the fur without injury to the Kitty’s skin! If you do not find a Feline Master Groomer to remove your cat’s pelt, the only other option is to have a vet shave down your cat under anesthesia.  That is costly.  Additionally, not all cats can medically have anesthesia.

​WE REFUSE TO GROOM MEDICATED CATS! (Cats who have been sedated just for a groom)  No “Happy Pills” Allowed!  If you give your Kitty sedation before we arrive, we will reschedule your appointment.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa believes that over 90% of cats can be groomed without medication or anesthesia!

WE REHABILITATE OWNERS AND KITTY!  Currently we are working with approximately 10 families who had a “very bad” grooming experience.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa first makes sure the humans have all their questions answered and are comfortable with our techniques.  Once the humans are comfortable, and that may take many phone calls and an in-home visit, we begin to work with Kitty.  One of our Kitty clients took over four visits before he could have his first full spa day with Kitty’s Purrfect Spa. We are happy to invest all the time, you need, into you and your precious Kitty!

THIS IS WHY WE CLAIM TO BE EXTREMELY SAFE! ​Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has professionally groomed almost 400 cats in 15 months with no accidents!  That is an outstanding safety record by anyone’s measures.  When you hire Kitty’s Purrfect Spa to pamper your kitty, Kitty receives the high quality treatment you would expect from any human spa!

Published September 2014, Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Breeds, Colors, Patterns... So Confusing!

An Overview of Breeds, Colors and Patterns

Most of us know that we have a Lab that is black or a Poodle that is white.  Nevertheless, when it comes to cats…. many owners give me a blank stare.

Let us start to learn more about basic cat facts!

​Cat Breeds

​Like it or not, our basic dog knowledge comes from the American Kennel Club (AKC).  While most dog owners do not have pure breeds, the AKC gives us the words we need to describe our dogs.  We can say we have a Lab, or Labradoodle, or a Lab mix.  All those words describe the breed of dog.

​Cats have a similar organization. It is called the Cat Fanciers Association, Inc. (CFA).  Currently, the CFA recognizes 40 breeds of cats.  Some of the more common breeds Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has groomed in this area are the Persian, Exotic, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Siamese, Bengal and Turkish Van.  Other breeds we have groomed in Santa Clarita include the Scottish Fold, Abyssinian, LaPerm, Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest Cat and Manx.

While some owners have purebred cats, and other cats highly resemble the purebred version, many of us “just have a cat”.  We call “just a cat” by the length of fur they have.  The “mutts” (forgive my language) of the cat world are called Domestic Short hair (DSH) or Domestic Long hair (DLH).

For the list of 40 recognized breeds, please visit the following:

http://cfainc.org/Breeds.aspx

​So, now that we know the breed of cat you have, life gets a little more complicated with the color of cat you own.

The cat world likes to throw colors and patterns together.  Here we go!

​
Cat Colors

Let us start with colors.  Out of 40 recognized breeds by the CFA, there are only eight color choices, plus White!  The colors of all cats are Black, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Red, Blue, Lilac, Fawn and/or Cream.

​If your cat has white on the fur, we would say the color “and white”.

I am sorry to say, that the “Orange Tabby” Garfield looking cat next door, is a Red Domestic Short Hair.  In the cat world, orange is called red and gray is called blue.

​
Cat Patterns

This is where most people get confused.  Tabby is a pattern in the coat, not a breed.

There are four Tabby Patterns; all these cats have an “M” shape marking on their forehead and narrow stripes on their faces.

1.    Mackerel Tabbies, have narrow stripes that run almost parallel down Kitty’s Side
2.    Classic Tabbies, appear to have a “bulls eye” on the sides and a “butterfly” between the shoulder blades
3.    Spotted Tabbies, have large or small spots all over
4.    Ticked Tabbies, have no spots or stripes but have the tabby markings on the face

​Cats can also come in solid colors.  Some cats that look solid on first glance, but actually have tabby markings if you look carefully!  Solid or partially white cats are always identified as “with white”, and are officially categorized on a gradient scale. A “Tuxedo Cat”, would be considered black with white bicolor (usually) grade 4.

Smoked Colors are when the cat’s under coat is white, with a different color on top.  There are also Silver Shaded and Golden Shaded, which refers to the color of the undercoat.

Then we have “mixed up colors”….

​Tortie (Tortoiseshell) is a mixture of black, red and cream

Diluted Tortie is blue and creamCalico is black, red and white

​Diluted Calico is blue, cream and white

​Many of you have Pointed Color Cats.  These breeds usually are the Persians, Himalayans, Siamese, type cats.  The points; ears, feet, mask and tail are a different color from the body.  These cats come in the following colors: Seal Points, Blue Points, Chocolate Points, Flame Points (red), Lilac Points, Cream Points, Tortie Points (black and red), Blue Cream Points, and Lynx Points (tabby markings on points).

​If your head is spinning, mine is too!

Please remember, this is a simplified overview of Breed, Colors and Patterns.

Put it all together…

​So, what kind of cat do you have? You may have a Flame Point Persian, a Seal Point Siamese, a Russian Blue (they only come in blue), a Domestic Long Hair Mackerel Tabby, a Red Tabby Persian, etc.

​I know it is very confusing!  The key to correctly describing your cat, is for you to pick a breed, color and pattern that your cat most resembles.

Published August 2014 Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Kittens!!!

Kitty' Purrfect Spa supports Kittens in two ways!

First, all adopted Kitten's from a shelter or rescue receive 50% off their first groom if given within two months of adoption!

Second, as strong believers in regular maintenance, Kitty's Purrfect Spa offers a 4 month plan designed just for Kitties!  During those four months, Kitty's Purrfect Spa will make five visits to your home to get Kitty used to the grooming process.  Each visit will be a fun positive experience where we expose Kitty to nail trimmings, combing, the sounds of the grooming process and two to three baths.  All this for just $36.00 a month!  A small price to pay to get your kitten started in the right direction!

The earlier we start Kitty with nail trims and brushing, the easier it will be on Kitty! Remember the "teenage years" approach very quickly in these furry family members.

If it is time for your family to add a kitten, please remember part of responsible ownership is the maintenance of Kitty's Coat, Skin and Nails!

Please call for more information!  661-505-0397

July 2014, Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Hairballs are dangerous and disgusting!

Hairballs are dangerous and disgusting!

Hairballs are just a nuisance!  While Kitty’s Purrfect Spa wished that to be true, they can be much more serious!

What is a Hairball?

It has been long thought that hairballs were the result of self grooming.  When cats lick themselves, the dead fur was swallowed and what was not passed through the digestive system was brought back up and regurgitated.  Recent studies are leaning more toward hair balls being the result of a possible issues with the intestines and/or how digested food moves between the stomach and intestines.  If your cat suffers from daily or weekly hairballs, your first step should always be to seek veterinary advice.

Why are Hairballs Dangerous?

Hair can actually get backed up and packed into your Kitty’s body.  Blockages from hair can occur anywhere in the digestive system.  When these blockages occur, surgery may be your only option. If your kitty experiences Continuous hacking that does not produce a fur ball, frequent diarrhea or loss of appetite you should seek medical help to get to the bottom of the issue.

How Can I Reduce Hairballs In My Home?

Kitty's Purrfect Spa has developed a six month program that will improve your Kitty’s coat condition, in turn reducing the amount of dead hair ingested by your beloved family member.  In addition to feeding your Kitty a high quality food recommended by your veterinarian we are convinced the amount of hair in your home and in your kitty can be significantly reduced.

What Proof Do You Have Your Methods are Successful?

I personally own two domestic long hair cats.  Before I attended the National Cat Groomers Institute of America, I only gave an occasional brushing session to my kitties in addition to hairball food and the occasional dose of hairball medication.  While attending NCGIA, I learned how dangerous and easily preventable fur balls can be.  I was not a believer, however my almost white carpets needed me to give it a try! Victoria, who was 11 at the time, began to receive a bath and brush every four to six weeks and a full belly shave about every eight to sixteen weeks.  Victoria went from having a hairball about twice a week to having no hairballs for over six months now.  I chose a full belly shave for Victoria because she is a shy and sensitive kitty.  I did not think she would appreciate the feeling of not having fur, as it would make her feel more exposed.

Tatianna, 10, is a more outgoing kitty.  She loves her Lion Cuts!  Before her first lion cut, she had hairballs almost daily, now she has about two a month. It took both kitties about four to six weeks to stop having their puking parties.  However, once the excess hair was out of their system my carpet cleaning was reduced significantly!  The results were delightfully surprising and made me a true believer that long hair kitties do not need to suffer from the menacing hairball!

In Conclusion....

Currently, I have many kitties on regular (four to eight week) maintenance plans that are also enjoy the huge reduction in hairballs!I strongly believe that regular grooming can and will reduce hairball issues in healthy cats. Please call for more information on hairball prevention!  661-505-0397

June 2014, Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Anal Glads and Cats

Anal Glands and Cats….

Most dog owners, especially those of small breed dogs, know the anal glands need to be expressed on a regular basis to prevent the glands from becoming impacted.  In the United States, many groomers will express the anal glands of small dogs for a small charge.  Did you know it is illegal for groomers in other countries to express anal glands?  Countries such as Canada considers expressing anal glands an invasive procedure that should only be performed by a veterinarian.

Cats verses Dogs, two different species.  Both need their Anal juices to mark their territory and lubricated their bowl movements.  However, felines also release their anal glands when they are angry.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa, does not need to offer anal gland services because an irritated, stimulated or angry cat will naturally release their anal juices.  When a family member is playing dress up, tea party, or warriors with kitty, and kitty escapes because kitty smells, that is what happened.  Out of irritation, kitty’s juices started flowing.  This is a natural feline response.

During the grooming process, kitty will express their own glands at least three times.  The first being the moment kitty realizes it does not have a choice and will be groomed.  During the bathing process while kitty’s bottom is being cleaned, and during the drying process when the room temperature forced air hits kitty’s private parts.  If kitty is having any kind of shaving in that area, it will release their glands another time. That being said, if your cat is struggling to defecating, you need to seek the advice of a veterinarian.

Thank you Pudge, a regular client, for showing us your before and after picture!

June 2014 Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Why Does My Cat Shed More RIGHT After a Groom?

Many clients are surprised when Kitty’s Purrfect Spa hands Kitty back to them and hair is flying everywhere! WHY does this happen???  Doesn’t Kitty’s Purrfect Spa claim to have all the answers for our Kitty’s coat issues???

Cats shed after a groom for two main reasons. First, even though Kitty’s Purrfect Spa comes to your home and monitors Kitty for signs of stress, grooming can still be a stressful process until it is something Kitty understands and comes to expect. Just like the things you have to do once a year verses monthly. The less often we do something, the more anxiety/excitement we have. The same is true for Kitty. With regular grooming Kitty will become accustomed to the grooming process. Kitty will know that Kitty’s Purrfect Spa will always groom her with the same steps and this will make Kitty less anxious. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa “regulars” know that after the cologne is sprayed, they are going to be placed in their owner’s arms. Many feline clients will sit patiently and wait in front of the door, even if they were grumpy during the groom, because they know they are finished!

A second reason your cat sheds more right after a groom is that the warm bath water opens up the hair follicles and provides the perfect time for the hairs that were getting ready to leave the coat to come out. (Just like when you shower, your hair is more likely to come out.) The same is true for Kitty.

If your Kitty does have some loose fur immediately following the groom, please be sure in 24 to 48 hours it will stop, and you will be noticing much less Kitty hair everywhere!

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa Offers a Professional De Shed Treatment.

During this add on service, Kitty’s dead undercoat is literally sucked out. This does not hurt Kitty in any way and some of Kitty’s Purrfect Spa “regulars” don’t consider their groom over until they have their De Shed treatment! This treatment helps significantly reduce the amount of hair you will find around your home and on your clothes.

The most effective way to have Kitty’s shedding under control is regular grooming by a highly trained professional cat groomer.  In order to help you with shedding, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa offers special rates for cats on a regular schedule. Please call for more details! 661-505-0397.

May 3, 2014, Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Hair, Hair Everywhere!

Please help me!  My cat is shedding by the handfuls!

“There is cat hair everywhere. How can I keep my cat’s shedding to a minimum? What really is the best way since there are so many opinions being promoted? I don’t know what’s best!  HELP!”

At Kitty’s Purrfect Spa we hear this all the time. Some shedding is normal and healthy. However excess shedding can be controlled. A recent cat publication suggested three steps to make life with cats that shed easier: 1.) Groom regularly (bath and comb), 2.) Feed a balanced diet (recommended by a vet), and 3.) Keep fur under control (easier said than done). While Kitty’s Purrfect Spa agrees with these steps, we can see how difficult it is for owners to understand them, let alone follow them correctly.

Regular grooming (bath and comb) is essential to reduce shedding! Some owners will skip the bath and go right for the comb out. This is when problems occur! If you attempt to comb out a greasy, matted kitty it will not end well.  Essentially you will be pulling on the coat, causing discomfort to your cat and in turn provoking an aggressive reaction from Kitty because it HURTS! Kitty’s Purrfect Spa knows many owners do not understand that cats with shedding problems may need to be bathed as often as every two weeks with a feline safe degreasing product. The bottom line is that excessive shedding may be the result of too little or improper grooming.

Eating a balanced diet is good advice for both humans and animals. The problem is that many humans don’t know what a balanced diet is when it comes to their cat. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa recommends that owners feed their cats the diet recommended by their veterinarian. Your veterinarian will have the best understanding and up to date information for the different foods on the market, as well as any health or life stage issues of your Kitty. This makes your veterinarian the best resource you have in choosing the correct diet for your Kitty. Remember that even though you view your kitty as a human member of your family, their physiology is not exactly human. They will require a diet suitable  to their feline biology.

When it comes to keeping fur under control owners can be overwhelmed by all the product options offered at their favorite pet stores. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa recently visited one well-known pet store and counted no less than 18 products ranging in price from $5 to $50 dollars. While all of these products guaranteed the removal of excess fur, some of these products had very sharp metal edges and those sold as professional grooming tools  contained actual razor blades. Such products may not be the safest or even best way to remove Kitty’s dead undercoat (excess fur). When buying  a “De Shed” product always do your research!  Read up on exactly how the item you plan to purchase removes the dead fur. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa  is aware of at least three different tools that are problematic. One product is known to scrape off and even cut off the delicate living feline fur, in addition to the dead undercoat. A second product had clever advertising. It showed the dangers of the first product while claiming to be safer. However, the blades were as close together as a flea comb, which means it would pull the cat’s hair (hurting Kitty) and ending up in a battle of wills between human and Kitty! The last product Kitty’s Purrfect Spa saw was not able to produce better results than just petting Kitty with your hand.

Shopping for a tool to De Shed Kitty is difficult because you just can’t be certain it will safely and effectively produce the desired results! Some owners purchase expensive De Shedding tools, attempt to use them on Kitty, Kitty gets angry, and the tools are never used again. The primary reason these products are ineffective and often times unsafe is because they were originally designed for use by professionally trained groomers.

How does Kitty’s Purrfect Spa solve the problem of shedding?

We have a proven process! First, we give Kitty a warm water massage bath with our kitty-safe degreasing product. Next we use a force dryer process to blow out all the loose hair. This is not only effective, but most cats enjoy this less stressful way of hair removal. For cats with a  thick under coat or that are simply prone to shedding, we add our De Shed Treatment, which consists of a suction vacuum with a special attachment that safely sucks out and removes all the dead under coat. For cats prone to hairball issues, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa recommends shaving Kitty’s belly. When more drastic measures are required, our lion cut is an excellent option. With a lion cut Kitty’s Purrfect Spa will shave the body of your kitty leaving the head, legs and tail in full coat.

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has proven De Shedding options that our clients are extremely satisfied with! Give us six months to prove to you that with our regular grooming procedures, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa can solve your Kitty’s excess shedding problems!

Published May 1, 2014 Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Just a Brush Out Please!

Many times clients call Kitty’s Purrfect Spa with a problem. For example, Kitty has a mat in the middle of her back. The Human wants the problem fixed, they know Kitty is uncomfortable, they know Kitty won’t let the Human solve the problem their way, so they call us to solve it the way the Human believes it should be solved. When we have a problem this serious, most of us do not walk into the doctor’s office or mechanics garage and tell them how to fix what is broken. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa fully understands the emotional bond you have with your beloved feline. We understand you only want the best for Kitty. We also know that you would do no less for your child.

This is precisely why you called a Certified Feline Master Groomer. A groomer who ONLY grooms cats. A groomer who comes to your home, and grooms in the most comfortable and stress-free environment for your Kitty. A groomer who is trained in cat psychology. A groomer who is trained to look for feline signs of stress and possible medical issues.

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa understands it is a shock to you when we politely tell you, no, we will not just brush out Kitty. Each and every Kitty we groom gets the full package!  Paw-di-cure, warm water massage with degreaser in the bath, facial, ear cleaning, room temperature drying, and a comb out. Depending on Kitty’s coat condition and owner preference we may add to our basic service.

WHY? WHY would you force my cat to have a bath? Kitty’s Purrfect Spa firmly believes a bath solves many issues. First, it degreases the coat preventing matting and in its worst form pelting. It open up the hair follicles promoting a healthy growth cycle. Forced air drying allows us to view every inch of kitty’s skin. Many times we have found lumps, bumps, and injuries the humans were not aware of. Ear cleaning allows Kitty’s Purrfect Spa to notify the owner of excess wax or ear mites, both reasons for a vet visit. A facial allows us to look for any eye, ear, nose, and sometimes mouth problems that need professional attention.

Also, time after time, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has observed the transformation in a clean kitty. Most of them want to show off! They seek extra attention and petting! By allowing Kitty’s Purrfect Spa to perform all grooms to the level of a Master Groomer, you will be notified of any issues that you many need to see a vet regarding, you prevent bigger difficulties in the future, and you allow your Kitty to feel amazing and frisky again!

Published April 8, 2014 Kitty's Purrfect Spa Newsletter

Pelted Kitties are in Pain! How you can help.

Saving Pelted Kitties!

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa a In-Home Mobile cat groomer in Santa Clarita keeps talking about pelts, pelting and the like! What is all this talk about??? The short answer is a pelt is the extreme form of matting. A pelted kitty is when the fur has completely grown together and you cannot physically get your fingers to the skin. Pelted kitties are a medical emergency! A pelt can kill any kitty! At the worst a pelt can literally bind the kitty’s legs to the body and block off the openings to defecate. If the kitty does not starve from lack of mobility, it will literally rot from the inside from a backup of waste.

How does a pelt form? It starts slowly then quickly grows out of control. At one point the regular oils, grease and debris stop allowing the dead hair from leaving the coat. (Stop here, a professional grooming by a trained cat groomer could prevent all your problems!

This dead fur begins to get trapped in the fur that is still in the growth cycle. (Stop here, you have mats!) Kitty begins to feel pain at this point in the process. The more time that moves on the more mats form. They usually start at the base of the tail and hips. As time moves on, the mats get tighter and closer to the skin. The longer the human waits to have Kitty’s pelt removed, the tighter, more painful and more dangerous the mats become.

Once the mats reach skin level and cover over 25% of kitty’s body, you have four options. First, take care of it yourself, which I am sure you have already tried. Take it to a groomer who is not highly trained and certified in feline exclusive grooming and risk a higher possibility of an accident. Have a certified feline master groomer, come to you and work in your home (Kitty’s most stress-free environment). Or take kitty to the vet to go under anesthesia for a shave down.

Many times I have heard, we did not know. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa does not judge! We believe strongly in education. We have solutions to prevent this situation from ever happening again! Yes it is expensive to have a pelt removed. Why? Because it takes a groomers full concentration and a high skill and education level. The groomer needs to be in tune with your kitty and able to anticipate your kitty’s next move before kitty makes it.

The process is highly demanding mentally, physically and emotionally on the groomer. Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has an excellent safety record. We strive every day to maintain this record at all costs! Kitty’s well being is our number one goal at Kitty’s Purrfect Spa. Therefore we have developed a program for the pelted kitty! We will remove the pelt, return for three additional baths, and spread the payments out over six months while providing you a discounted rate.

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa wants all kitties to be healthy, happy and well taken care of! Please call us immediately if you suspect your Kitty is mated or pelted. We’re here to help.


Published April 8, 2014

Out like a ROAR!

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa knows many of you enjoy having your Kitty in a Lion Cut for spring and summer!

We do Lion Cuts for the warm weather!

When you purchase a Lion Cut from Kitty’s Purrfect Spa, your Kitty receives the best care and treatment.  We first start with a paw-di-cure, massaging and trimming your feline’s nails.  Then we carefully shave down your Kitty.  All of this is performed in your smallest bathroom, preferably a powder room.

Shaving means something different to everyone.

First, many clients ask for “just a little off”.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa can only take “a little off”, known as a comb cut, if your Kitty’s fur is clean with no tangles or mats.  Comb Cuts cost more because we have to prepare the coat to the finished condition (bath, brush, dry) then shave it to the desired length.  Comb cuts can only be done on Kitty’s that have no mats and cost $95.

Lion Cuts range in price.  If your Kitty has clean, grease free fur with no tangles or mats, the cost of a lion cut is $85.

If your Kitty has more than 4 mats that do not touch the skin, the lion cut costs $85 plus $35 for a total of $120.  The additional fee is for the extra time it takes to shave under the mats.

If your Kitty has mats that touch the skin, or the fur is hard from matting, covering an area larger than one inch by one inch, there is an additional pelting fee of $75.  WHY????  Because the groomer needs extra time to safely remove the pelt.  Many times, Kitty’s Purrfect Spa has to shave one strand of hair at a time in these situations.  Sometimes the skin is pulled in a knot under the fur.  Plus we cannot see what we are doing under the pelt, making the procedure much more difficult. Theses conditions are much more stressful on the groomer and the cat. So yes, if your Kitty is pelted the charge is $160.

WAIT!!!!  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa knows that is a LOT of money, and knows you never want your Kitty in that condition again, so we have a solution!  If you have a pelted Kitty that needs to be shaved down for humane reasons, we offer a special plan!  You will get the Lion Cut, Pelt Removal, plus four more baths at a discounted price with smaller monthly payments due on the first of each month!  This is a “Start Over” for Kitty’s coat!  At the end of the six months, your Kitty will look like new!

After the shaving is completed, Kitty will receive a warm water bath with massage.  In the bath we use a degreasing product!  If Kitty had mats or was pelted, grease was the most likely the cause.  This bathing process will allow Kitty’s fur to remain soft and mat free for approximately six to eight weeks. Following the bath, all Kitties receive a facial, ear cleaning, and blow dry.

Now, I know many of you want “just a shave”.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa does not offer that service because we do not believe it is in the best interest of the cat.  Many problems are caused by grease and debris at the skin level of the fur.  Without a bath we are just putting a band aide on a bigger problem.  Kitty’s Purrfect Spa believes in solutions, not temporary fixes.  We are happy to discuss this with you.

Kitty’s Purrfect Spa goal is to preform breed specific, show quality grooms each and every time. Please call for an appointment, or visit us at www.kittyspurrfectspa.com.

Published, March 17, 2014

Not the Couch! Nail Caps

Cats are born with the natural urge to scratch!  Felines scratch items to mark their territory, to remove the dead sheath from their claws, to play, to show dominance, while stretching, and for self-defense.  When cats scratch items, they leave their scent behind to notify other felines that this territory belongs to them.

Until recently many owners declawed their cats.  Declawing a feline is a serious surgery. Your beloved Kitty’s claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. In order to remove the claw, the last bone of the cat’s toe has to be amputated. Declawing is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period.

To humanely discourage Kitty from scratching your furniture, many behaviorists recommend items such as sticky tape, scents that repel cats, and noise makers.  Cats may also be trained to ignore the furniture if they are provided with scratching posts or toys.

Kitty’s Spa proposes an easier solution for indoor cats: nail caps.  Nail caps are vinyl coverings that come in a variety of brand names and colors, and they do not interfere with the normal extension and retraction of Kitty’s claws.  They are glued into place with a safe, nontoxic adhesive. They will typically stay adhered to the nail for about four to six weeks, usually falling off with the natural growth of the nail.  Nail caps are well tolerated by most cats. Some cats do need an initial training period to learn not to chew the nail caps off.  If nail caps do not fall off on their own, they should be removed in six to eight weeks.

The biggest benefit to nail caps is your Kitty’s ability to scratch and not destroy!  Nail caps keep human skin and furniture safe!  Nail caps come in a rainbow of fun colors.  Kitty’s Spa carries glitter gold, glitter silver, glitter pink, glitter blue, pink, purple, red, orange, green, yellow, black and grey!

Published October 2013, The Magazine of Santa Clarita

Ingrown Nails

Kitty’s Spa knows you love your kitty and would do ANYTHING to assure kitty’s comfort. Sadly, in the last two weeks, we have seen three kitties with nails that have grown back into the paw pad. This can be easily avoided and solved with routine grooming!  We have also seen at least two kitties that went to a facility to have their nails trimmed.  When Kitty’s Spa spoke to the owners, it became clear the “professionals” only trimmed the “easy claws”.

Please let Kitty’s Spa help you!  Next week only, we are offering an in home nail trim for $20. (Currently $30) Please let us help you keep your feline comfortable!  If there are nail issues, or kitty is grumpy, there are no up charges.

We understand, life gets crazy and “little” things get forgotten. We do not judge!  We solve your problems and offer solutions to prevent them from reoccurring.

If you pay another company to clip your beloved family member’s nails, please check their work and ask questions if you have questions!  Kitty’s Spa truly wants all kitties to be safe, healthy and happy! As always, you can watch us work.  Your cat’s safety is our number one priority!

Cats and Allergies

Allergists are now recognizing (what many of us have known forever) that cats ARE a part of the family - and removing the cat is not an option – so, we have to figure out WHAT TO DO!

Let’s start by understanding why many people are “allergic” to cats.  The first reason is that common allergens, such as pollen and dust, just collect – and often get stuck – in Kitty’s fur.  Once we’re past the more common allergens, the culprits have to do with an allergy to proteins found in feline saliva, urine, and dander.  Felines have at least five proteins that can be allergens for humans. (For the scientists — the two major allergens are Fel d 1 and Fel d 4. The minor allergens include Fel d 2, Fel d 3, and cat IgA.)  Unlike the pollen and dust (that just fall or are rubbed into Kitty’s hair), these more complex allergens are deposited in the fur from saliva, urine and the skin.  Cat allergen particles are sticky and small.  At a miniscule size – about one tenth the size of a dust mite particle – they can remain airborne for long periods of time, and then can “stick” to any surface they come into contact with.

What can a cat loving family do?  When divorcing the cat is NOT an option – the easiest (and most reliable solution) is a professional cat groomer!

When it’s “Groomer vs Allergen” what happens?

During each groom at Kitty’s Spa, Kitty’s fur is thoroughly washed and blow dried, which “unglues” and removes most of the allergens and dead fur from Kitty’s coat.  This leaves you with a soft and cuddly Kitty who doesn’t cause a sneeze-fest every time you pet her!

By placing Kitty on a four to six week bath and brush schedule, the professional groomer is able to keep the allergens from building up on the cat’s coat.  A regular routine of professional grooming significantly decreases the amounts of allergens your family is exposed to.

Keeping your family (Humans and Kitty) intact and happy is not easy when humans are allergic.  Many cat owners can’t imagine giving the cat a bath!  In fact, some people don’t even realize that cats CAN be bathed!  By reducing the allergens through regular bathing, my family was able to win the battle and I would like to help your family also make it a reality!

Please contact Kitty’s Spa at www.kittysspa.com for more information.

Published September 2013, The Magazine of Santa Clarita

Every four to six weeks?!?!?!?

Seriously???  You are suggesting that we PAY to have a pet that self cleans, groomed EVERY four to six weeks?

First of all, as I have said before, cats do not clean they lick. They cover their fur with saliva and the debris and fur removed ends up in their stomach, and will eventually come out one end or the other. Yes I am serious! The last two weeks I had several cats on a four to six week schedule for their second visit. Each cat was completely finished in under an hour, the cat did not need stress breaks and did not make the horrible sounds many of your cats made on the first visit. Plus, there was no fur flying and no mats to remove. I challenge you to put your cat on a four to six week schedule for three visits and witness for yourself the amazing transformation in your cat, the amount of cat hair on your clothes and furniture, the change in your cat’s personality and the desire of your family to make kitty an active member of your household.

To assist you in this, I am offering a limited number of “Ultimate Meow” packages. These are prepaid gift certificates. One price covers any grooming package plus nail caps if desired. You can pre purchase one visit for $60, two visits for $110 or three visits for $150.Ultimate Meow packages must be pre-purchased and a limited number will be sold. Ultimate Meow Packages do not include Pelting, Round Up or Waiting fees. They also are not valid for the buy six packages in a year and get a free bath and brush.

If you take me up on this challenge, I personally guarantee your house will have less cat hair, and your family will have a happier cat with a healthier coat. Call 661-505-0397 or email kittysspa@yahoo.com to purchase your Ultimate Meow packages!

Published August 2013, The Magazine of Santa Clarita