Unlike many dog grooming appointments, professional cat grooming is highly individualized.
Cats vary widely in:
Coat type
Grooming tolerance
Age
Health status
Mobility
Behavioral needs
Medical conditions
For that reason, no two grooming appointments are exactly alike.
At Cats in the City, grooming begins with assessment and observation rather than immediately beginning a procedure.
Learn more about our approach:
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-grooming-guide/
https://catsinthecity.com/tandem-cat-grooming/
Every appointment begins with an evaluation of the cat's current condition.
This may include assessment of:
Coat condition
Matting
Shedding
Skin health
Nail condition
Mobility
Grooming tolerance
Behavioral presentation
During this process, we may identify concerns such as:
Matting
Undercoat retention
Embedded claws
Greasy coats
Hygiene issues
Mobility limitations
Learn more:
https://catsinthecity.com/tandem-cat-evaluation/
https://catsinthecity.com/what-walks-in-clinical-census-cats/
The coat is evaluated to determine the most appropriate grooming plan.
We assess for:
Shedding
Coat density
Undercoat retention
Coat compression
Matting
Pelting
Skin visibility
Many coat issues begin long before severe mats become visible.
Learn more:
https://catsinthecity.com/pre-felt-somatic-entrapment-syndrome/
https://catsinthecity.com/the-felting-model/
https://catsinthecity.com/matting-severity-scale/
https://catsinthecity.com/key-contributors-to-matting-in-cats/
Nails are evaluated for:
Length
Thickness
Retained sheaths
Overgrowth
Embedded claws
Senior cats and medically complex cats are particularly prone to claw problems.
Learn more:
https://catsinthecity.com/ingrown-cat-nails-early-detection/
https://catsinthecity.com/ingrown-claw-removal/
https://catsinthecity.com/senior-cat-overgrown-claws/
Once the assessment is complete, an individualized grooming plan is developed.
Depending on the cat's needs, this may include:
Deshedding
Coat decompression
Sanitary trim
Nail trimming
Bathing
Drying
Haircut services
Total Reset services
Learn more:
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-deshedding-portland/
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-sanitary-trim-portland/
https://catsinthecity.com/total-reset/
The specific procedures vary based on the condition of the cat.
Services may include:
Removal of loose undercoat and retained coat.
https://catsinthecity.com/short-hair-cat-deshedding/
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-deshedding-portland/
When matting is present, coat restoration techniques may be necessary.
https://catsinthecity.com/severe-matting-cat-grooming-portland/
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-dematting-portland/
Some cats benefit from haircut services designed to restore comfort and maintainability.
https://catsinthecity.com/lion-cut-portland/
https://catsinthecity.com/teddy-bear-cut-portland/
Routine trimming and embedded claw management may be performed.
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-nail-trim-portland
Many professional grooming appointments include bathing.
Bathing can help:
Remove oils
Remove debris
Loosen retained coat
Improve coat texture
Improve skin cleanliness
Following the bath, cats are carefully dried using feline-specific techniques and equipment.
Learn more:
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-skin-and-coat-care/
https://catsinthecity.com/why-is-my-cat-greasy/
At Cats in the City, grooming is performed using the TANDEM Cat® model.
This approach emphasizes:
Team-based support
Natural body positioning
Trauma-informed care
Somatic observation
Non-sedated grooming whenever possible
Our goal is not simply to complete a groom.
Our goal is to provide care while preserving comfort, safety, and emotional wellbeing.
Learn more:
https://catsinthecity.com/tandem-touch-grooming/
https://catsinthecity.com/tandem-cat-groomed-awake/
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-grooming-without-sedation-in-portland/
https://catsinthecity.com/maintaining-natural-body-positions-for-cats-at-cats-in-the-city/
Before the appointment concludes, the team evaluates:
Coat condition
Skin visibility
Nail status
Hygiene areas
Mobility observations
Follow-up recommendations
If concerns are identified, guardians may be advised to seek veterinary evaluation.
Many guardians report improvements in:
Comfort
Mobility
Grooming behavior
Coat quality
Activity level
General wellbeing
Every cat responds differently, but removing accumulated coat, claw, and hygiene burdens often results in noticeable improvements.
See examples:
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-grooming-case-studies/
https://catsinthecity.com/severe-matting-case-studies/
https://catsinthecity.com/case-study-full-body-pelt-removal/
Professional cat grooming is about much more than appearance.
The goal is to support:
Comfort
Coat health
Skin health
Nail health
Mobility
Hygiene
Quality of life
When performed thoughtfully, grooming can become an important part of a cat's overall care plan.
Learn more about our grooming services:
https://catsinthecity.com/cat-grooming-services/
Book an appointment: