Janet Wormitt Page 3

This may come as a shock. As a Certified Feline Master Groomer, the labs in the allergy laboratories in the U.S. will pay me  $140 CAD for each pound of dirty cat hair. Amazing. Why? Because cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. Cat hair is a reliable source because it is dirty and full of allergens.

An estimated 10 percent of people are allergic to household pets and among children, one in seven are allergic to Tiger, not Rover. Yet cats are the most popular house-pet in Canada.

Popular belief is that it is the fur causing the watery, itchy eyes. 

Wrong. 

Most people are reacting to proteins found on the cat’s skin and fur. The  There are actually five cat allergens described in medical literature, but the primary culprits are Fel d 1, and Fel d 4.  Laboratory gold. Both allergens are produced largely by cat saliva and the sebaceous glands. Fel d 1 is also produced by cat skin itself. So it’s not about the dander the cat sheds, it’s about the size and shape of the protein molecules.

Cat protein molecules are tiny, about one-tenth the size of a dust allergen. From the cat’s hair and skin it enters the air and can stay airborne for hours. It’s sticky too. It readily sticks to human skin and clothes and stays there, making it ever-present in the environment. It’s been found in environments where there are no cats – classrooms, medical offices, even the Arctic. 

All cats produce the proteins. While there are no true hypoallergenic breeds, there are some cats that produce more protein than others, especially unneutered male cats.

Here are some recommended steps offered by the professional allergist community that you can take to reduce cat allergy suffering: removal of soft surfaces in the home (carpet, furniture), frequent washings of bed linens, HEPA filters and washing cats has been proven to reduce the amounts of Fel d 1 present in the home. That’s right, w-a-s-h-i-n-g, with soap. Not combing, not shaving, not wipes, not “waterless” bath sprays.  An actual regular bath.

Allergy shots are another option. Small injections on a weekly basis for six months, followed by three to five years of monthly injections. A less troublesome option may be on the horizon as clinical trials are beginning for a cat allergy vaccine that has shown promise for  suffers.

In the meantime, simply washing the cat regularly will dramatically help reducing the allergens in your home, making it much more comfortable for everyone, with a glorious, fresh, silky soft puss as a plus. Love your cat, and bathe it regularly.

I admit it. 

I regularly “shop” other pet grooming establishments to see;

• whether they groom cats at all
• what do they consider “cat grooming” and what services does it include
• how much they charge for their “services”

Unfortunately, I am regularly appalled at the general level of service our pet grooming industry provides for cats.

Although cats are the most popular pets in Canada (36% of the pet households vs. 33% dogs) they are still treated as second-class pet citizens and expectations are very, very low when it comes professional cat grooming. What people don’t realize is that professional grooming is a training process that acclimatizes a pet to being handled, cleaned and groomed. 

Dogs need to be moulded into willing groomees, and so do cats. In my experience, dogs and cats are the same in their learning curve to the grooming process. It takes the same amount of time to teach the grooming process with intuitive understanding, patience, and good intentions. They differ only in the nature of how you overcome their potential fears, earn their trust to smoothen out the hurdles  as they may arise, and make the whole process enjoyable or at least tolerable.

So what is “grooming” supposed to be? Dictionary definition defines “grooming” as:

• to look after the coat of an animal by brushing and cleaning it
• to make clean and maintain the appearance
• to make something neat and attractive

Notice the word “clean”. There’s a big discrepancy in what pet groomers think a clean cat is. So let’s define”clean”:

• free from dirt, or unwanted matter, especially by washing
• free from dirt, stain, or impurities  

So when a pet groomer shaves off the gnarly spots on a cat and drags a comb over it, would you consider it clean and groomed? If the pet groomer tried bathing and gave up trying to dry the cat to completion and returns it half wet and frazzled, would you consider it “groomed”? If you got your cat back with bald patches or uneven trimming, would you be happy with how cute your pet looks?

 You wouldn’t for a moment as a dog owner. You’d demand a refund or go elsewhere.

If you took your dog to the grooming salon you would expect:

• a clean, appealing, dog-centric professional environment
• knowledgeable professionals
• a complete servicing of your furry friend, including  as many baths as it takes to get them thoroughly clean, a complete blow-dry, combing or currying,  nail trim, ear cleaning, and eye cleaning. 
• depending on your breed, you may want a hair trim according to your preference or lifestyle needs
• a variety of service options such as mat removal, speciality shampoos, coat conditioners, teeth brushing, de-shedding treatment, etc.

For most cat owners it seems the best professional service that they can hope for is an incomplete effort with minimal incident. For shame. 

Education is the key.

If your cat smells, has dandruff floating on the surface of the hair, throws up hairballs, has mats or tangles, looks like its been dipped in hair wax or feels greasy, has “stuff” stuck to it, your cat is not clean. Why cat saliva is considered a cleaning agent is beyond sound reasoning. A person or dog wouldn’t be considered clean if it was dipped in its own spit.

It is time for cat owners to unite and demand more for their beloved felines. Better education and quality service to keep their cats truly clean, healthy, and a joy to cuddle and live with.

As a professional groomer, there are times when, for the sake of humanity and compassion, you have to groom a pet that does not tolerant handling for certain areas or even all aspects of grooming.  Whether it is the natural disposition of the pet, or a fearful reaction, it is our responsibility to treat a pet in our care with sensitivity and empathy in the quickest time possible to prevent undue stress and fear. The introduction of the Air Muzzle(R) has been a wonderful option for grooming unpredictable pets.

The Air Muzzle(R)  is a bit of a  misnomer as is is not actually a muzzle that would fit over the snout of an aggressive or fearful animal. It is more like a Elizabethan collar or pseudo-space helmet . It fits around the neck like a space helmet and it prevents an animal’s teeth from coming into contact with a pet professional. Sometimes we need to  perform tasks that may create an aggressive reaction from the pet, yet is necessary to maintain the health and comfort of the pet. A good example would be nail trimming, a necessity for all indoor pets. No animal likes it, but the degree of tolerance varies a great deal. Avoiding nail clipping can cause painful splayed feet, arthritis, and ripped out, broken and ingrown nails. But this only one common example of when a pet professional may opt to use an Air Muzzle in order to keep the pet comfortable or clean.

The Air Muzzle(R) is designed with a deep trough for the throat to ensure no contact at all on the windpipe, yet it fits around the head and sits high on the neck behind the jaw bone. The animal can see clearly forwards and there is nothing on the muzzle or face whatsoever. This is why I prefer using the Air Muzzle(R) over a regular muzzle for both cats and small dogs if ever necessary. It is allows a pet to breath freely,  no restriction to sight, or anything that could cause annoyance  on their face.  Pets  adapt quickly when they figure out they can still see and breathe freely. They stay calmer and stress less when having to do some offensive grooming tasks. 

Because the Air Muzzle(R) seems to be such a benign and safe tool for pets, I have learned to use it in other useful ways. Some pets, understandably, strongly object to water or blow-dryers anywhere near their faces, so the Air Muzzle is a great tool to prevent this from happening. 

The Air Muzzle(R) is expensive, but an excellent investment ($90 USD or $115 CAD). Professionals will never know how they ever worked without it when comparing it to the other bite restraint options. A cat bite is far more infectious than a dog bite and every pet professional is entitled to work safely using the most humane tools available to prevent injuries. 

You can order your own Air Muzzle(R) here

In a previous post I talked about the lion trim and the pros and cons of the trim and why people may opt to have their cat trimmed in this fashion. I would like to illustrate  the different styles of lion trims (yes, there are different styles!) that use the contrast of long and closely trimmed areas depending on the condition of the cat and the owner’s individual preferences.

I must stress as a pet professional I DO NOT do lion trims on outdoor cats from October to April in my area. I will also NOT SHAVE SENIOR CATS in a lion trim as their lack of muscle mass and body fat makes the risk incredibly high to cut them, plus they are unable to regulate their body temperatures as well as when they were in their youth. I leave risky trimming decisions  like those to the veterinarian.

The first photo is a classic lion trim with full boots and a full mane. Attractive on most cats (except the pudgiest of cats where nothing is left to hide), it includes shaving the tail with a proportionate tail tuft which varies depending on the length  and texture of the individual’s tail hair. The mane follows the line of the shoulder blade.

The second photo is a lion trim that has no mane and the trim was taken to just behind the ears. This was out of necessity as there were big mats behind the ears and the bib which left virtually no mane to work with.  Some clients prefer less mane.

This tail is a full tail. The body hair on most cats is not as long as the tail hair. This is a good option for long-coated breeds such as Persians and Maine Coons as the tail is very long and full and takes over a year to grow again compared to the body typically growing out by six months. If you have a gorgeous tail on your cat, I encourage you to keep it!

I’ve included this photo to illustrate what I personally feel is inappropriate trimming. Some clients want me to trim as much hair off their cat as possible,  meaning they ask me to trim their faces, legs and paws.  The answer is a resounding NO!

Aside from looking silly and uneven, these areas are very sensitive with tactile whiskers in the back of the limbs and paws, plus they contain tendons which are easily injured. There is absolutely no professional justification to trim these areas. So as a professional Certified Feline Master Groomer, don’t bother asking if I will even consider it.

Fur that feels greasy, waxy, with mats forming around the base of the tail and rear end is sometimes a symptom of a skin condition. If the skin seems darker or discoloured at the base of the tail your cat probably has stud tail. 

Stud tail (also known as Tail Gland Hyperplasia or Supracaudal Gland Hyperplasia) is a feline version of acne, just like humans, but on the tail. It is hundreds of tiny blackheads caused by excessive oil production usually triggered by hormones. It can sometimes also be found on the chin too. It is usually associated with male cats, but females can also have this condition.

This first photo is of a female cat after a preliminary degreasing bath with some combing to break apart the matted hair on the tail so a closer inspection could take place. Notice the yellowing discolouration, greasy waxy appearance, black flakes, and darkened skin. It will often have a rancid smell. After evaluation, it was determined that the stud tail was extensive and that the tail would need to be shaven (as had the body of the cat already had been done) in order to improve the ability to treat and clean the skin condition.

With the tail shaven, in this second photo of the same female cat, you can clearly see the yellow waxy grease and the blackheads. This residue will rub off wherever  the cat goes, plus it looks and smells bad. So it was back to the tub for a deep cleaning tail exfoliating scrub combined with a degreasing organic cat-safe shampoo. I use Chubbs Bars Sugar Scrub. It works fabulously.

To get stud tail to clear up, an owner has to begin a regular regime of washing the tail twice a day with a degreasing cat shampoo or vet prescribed antiseborrheic shampoo. It is faster and easier if the infected area is kept shaven so the twice daily washing regime can penetrate effectively. Treatment of stud tail is not that different than daily cleansing for human acne, but please don’t use human products. 

Sometimes stud tail can cause secondary skin infections that look raw and oozy. This will require vet prescribed antibiotics to clear up the infection.

After the Chubbs Bar Sugar Scrub, the yellow wax and blackheads were mostly gone with renewed and deep-cleansed soft pink skin beneath. This was only the first step. It will take multiple regular cleansing to clear up the skin and regular bathing to prevent mats in the future.

It is very common for cat owners to seek professional grooming help for the first time when their cat becomes a senior. “My cat stopped grooming itself.” This may be partially true, but as a cat owner, responsibility for grooming is a shared one. 

Regular home grooming helps an owner monitor the health and condition of their beloved pet and immediately identify changes. It’s heartbreaking that as seniors age, that they are often increasingly neglected and/or rejected because they smell bad, feel gross, or are cranky. These are the pets that actually need grooming more often. Why? Just like humans, our bodies betray us. They may seem less loveable, but they are still deserving of love and care. They  need our help and assistance to stay clean, and feel better. 

Here are some of the changes senior cats go through and why they seem to stop “self-grooming”.

1. Arthritis. If your cat is not moving much, is particularly cranky being touched around its backside, or being picked up, it may be developing arthritis. A cat will curtail its grooming activity because it can’t move the way it used to, and the activity is painful. It is best to have a veterinary do an assessment and make suggestions in relieving your cat’s pain.
2. Weight problems. The days of kitty yoga are over, and half the real estate simply can’t be reached. Often weight problems are tied with arthritis. Being overweight also contributes to a lack of wellness and can lead to depression. 
3. Hidden medical issues. Cats are masters at disguising illness. Cats can go for years with diabetes, kidney or thyroid issues with owners completely unaware. It is particularly important for cats over 10 to see a veterinary annually for a check-up.
4. They sleep more. Healthy cats spend 50% of their awake time “self-grooming”. If your senior spends more and more time sleeping, they amount of time spent on  their hygiene decreases.
5. Their skin and fur changes. The skin becomes thinner and more delicate. Their muscle mass decreases. The fur changes in texture, density, and vitality as the ability to absorb and utilize nutrients and vitamins slows down.
6. Senility. Yes, elderly pets can suffer from dementia. They can forget about where the food bowl is, get lost within their own home, forget using the litter-box, and completely forget about their grooming schedule.
7. Not using the scratching post. This can be a combination of arthritis, overweight, depression or dementia. When a cat stops using it scratching post, take notice. The scratching post is a vital emotional outlet for cats plus it is the sole source of the cats ability to sheath its nails. If no sheathing occurs, the nail-bed continues to build-up until the nails grow around and into the pads. This is very painful and can cause infections. Check your elderly cat’s nails at least monthly.

For all the reasons above, short or long-haired, mats will happen in senior cats. But mats are PREVENTABLE.

Mats are the bane of senior cats and they do not occur overnight. It takes time for the tiny knots to become  an interwoven mushroom. Mats  also will not dissolve or disappear on their own. and your cat will need help removing them. DON’T ever use scissors.

Prevention is the only cure for mats. That means a regular cleansing bath and comb schedule to keep the loose hair and dirt in check. A cat owner is responsible for grooming when the cat begins to slow down its habits and shows signs of a problem. Shaving is a risky final option because of the delicate skin, and the lack of ability of a senior cats to maintain their core body temperature with no hair. Shaving is not a long-term solution for seniors.

Love your cat, and take special care of your seniors.

When I describe bathe a cat, I mean immerse gently with water, shampoo (with cat appropriate product, like Chubbs Bars) entire body thoroughly and rinse, at least TWICE.

Blow drying is an equally important component of a professional quality groom. If a cat is left to air dry naturally, or passively dry in a crate, any existing mats will shrink only tighter. A professional active drying system will remove loose hair, loosen tight mats, and fluff and straighten the coat creating a superior end result with less work to remove mats. 

Some cats are good at self-maintenance but still benefit from a seasonal bath just from a hygienic roommate point of view. Many cats need regular grooming help for a variety of reasons such as length and type of coat, weight, illness, and age.

Here are some of the reasons to consider bathing and blow-drying a cat:

1. Licking is not the same as washing with soap and water.  If I spent a great deal of time licking myself, would you consider me to be clean?


Cats do not have soap dispensers within their saliva glands, plus they have a lot more hair per square inch. There is lots of bacteria in the saliva.  I would be very offended to live with a roommate who did not bathe regularly. Why do cats get a free pass card, when dogs don’t? Surely spreading spit around (which is very allergenic) does not equate with bathing with soap and water. I wouldn’t use wipes and consider myself clean.


2. You cat smells like a litter box. How clean is your litter box……., really?


Kennel standards require a minimum of twice a day scooping of litter boxes. Less than that and your cat may be inadvertently taking the litter box with him wherever he goes in your home. You know, your bed, your lap, the kitchen counter, and your couch. Cats start to smell like the litter box too, which makes for a very pungent cuddle companion. Especially with dried feces stuck to the bottom, or paws soaked in urine.


3. You are tired of hair on your clothes and hairball vomit on the floor.


Indoor cats shed year round. If you are stepping in hairball vomit, finding drifts of hair on your clothes, bed, and couch, or have been to the vet for hairball problems, your cat needs help in staying ahead in the shedding cycle.


4. You cat has problems with recurring mats that you keep chopping out. It looks like your cat fought, and lost, against a weed wacker. Worse, you leave the mats in that are now turning into mushrooms or balls.


Not all loose hair simply falls out. If the cat is dirty or has longer hair, the loose hair stays trapped in the coat. Add spit, and you’ve got the recipe for mats. Loose hair + dirt/grease + moisture = mats. Mats usually start where the cat is dirtier like the chest or bottom, or where they can’t reach well, or at friction points like armpits. Without immediate attention mats grow and can fuse into one blanket of mats called a pelt. This is painful and unhealthy for the cats, and in severe cases can cause death by causing an cat to become septic. It can hid sores, parasites, and bruising caused by the constant pulling and lack of air circulation.


5 Your cat looks and feels like it’s been dipped in hair pomade.


Cats are naturally greasy. Some, especially males, have overactive oil glands. This is like adding more hair pomade each day and never washing it off. Ewww. While the messy look might be fashionable for humans, we at least, wash it out with soap and water. A clean cat’s hair d-r-a-p-e-s, falls straight, and feels soft. It shouldn’t stand upright, feel chunky, or separate into peaks.


6. Your cat leaves a trail of flaky dandruff?


Large yellowish flakes floating in the hair is dead dirty skin, NOT dry skin. Wipes and dry shampoos don’t work. Brushing or combing seems to make matters worse. There is only one true solution. Please see our blog on dandruff for more details.