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Bad experiance at the Groomer!

post #1 of 22
6/10/09 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I broght Chestnut into the groomer today, he got terribly matted while we were on vacation for two weeks. Apparently he was so bad that they gave him something to bite on? They said they put a towel in his mouth so he didn't bite them, and they said next time they are goig to "zap" him! I rather bring him to the vet to be shaved if this ever happens again then that! I'm so upset! Can I really trust this groomer to take care of my cat when he needs grooming? Are these normal pratices? He had permission to shave him if he got too out of control, just to get the matts out, if he was so bad, why didn't he just do that????

I feel so bad for my poor baby!
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post #2 of 22
6/10/09 at 12:43pm
That sounds awful. I would find another groomer. I wouldn't let this person touch him again.
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post #3 of 22
6/10/09 at 1:36pm
They were going to ZAP him? What does that mean?? That sounds terrible!
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post #4 of 22
6/10/09 at 1:48pm
I'm curious what they mean by giving him a zap as well?. Do they mean a shot to calm him down?.

I don't like the idea of a towel being put in his mouth either I can only imagine how terrified he was, poor baby.

Find somewhere else, and when you do let them know what the other groomers did so they know they don't do the same with him!.

I've just changed vets again because i didn't like their bedside manner, and i let the new vet know

PM Helen, Bella713 because she uses the groomers a lot, so she'll tell you if that's normal or not and what you should expect
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post #5 of 22
6/10/09 at 1:53pm
It doesn't sound like that person should be grooming cats. The first time I got a lion cut for mine the groomer told me that if gentle persuasion didn't work she would simply not give her a cut and there would be no charge. She gave her several lion cuts and never had a problem. She told me that a cat's skin is very easily cut and that's why she doesn't force the issue if they don't want to cooperate.
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post #6 of 22
6/10/09 at 1:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbjerkness View Post
That sounds awful. I would find another groomer. I wouldn't let this person touch him again.
Yeah I'm done with this guy, and I'm letting the person who recomened him to me know what happened today!

Quote:
Originally Posted by kscatlady View Post
They were going to ZAP him? What does that mean?? That sounds terrible!
I don't know waht he means by zap... and frankly... I don't want to know!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosiemac View Post
PM Helen, Bella713 because she uses the groomers a lot, so she'll tell you if that's normal or not and what you should expect
Thanks, I'll do that!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Denice View Post
It doesn't sound like that person should be grooming cats. The first time I got a lion cut for mine the groomer told me that if gentle persuasion didn't work she would simply not give her a cut and there would be no charge. She gave her several lion cuts and never had a problem. She told me that a cat's skin is very easily cut and that's why she doesn't force the issue if they don't want to cooperate.
I did request that they try to get the matts out first before resulting to a lion cut, though... maybe that would have been a better option, Chestnuts hair is so fine like cotton candy
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post #7 of 22
6/10/09 at 4:18pm
I don't understand the towel in the mouth thing at all. They make muzzles for cats and I would expect that if the groomer deals with enough cats he would have tools like this. That said, some cats just get too out of control to be groomed without anesthesia. Tre gets so wound up at the vet's office that it takes the vet and 2 techs just to give him a shot. I don't think it would be possible to groom a cat in that state without hurting it. The first time I took Thufir in to be groomed, the groomer told me that a lot of cats had to be put to sleep (by the vet) to groom them and asked me if that was OK. He was matted badly and wouldn't let me cut them out, so I agreed, but fortunately he turns into a total sweetie away from home and they were able to groom him no problem.
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post #8 of 22
6/10/09 at 5:04pm
I think I'd have a talk with the manager of the grooming place. But hopefully you won't have to use a groomer. You need to work on him at home and keep him groomed and mat/tangle free instead of shaving him down.

You need a fine and medium-toothed comb to do the right kind of grooming.
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post #9 of 22
6/10/09 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post
I think I'd have a talk with the manager of the grooming place. But hopefully you won't have to use a groomer. You need to work on him at home and keep him groomed and mat/tangle free instead of shaving him down.

You need a fine and medium-toothed comb to do the right kind of grooming.
I actually spoke with teh owner today, he is the one who said all this to me! As far as grooming him at home, I do, but when we went on vacation for two weeks he go stressed out, sheaded a TON (my chocolate brown couches were WHITE) and extreemly matted. I feel like such a horrible meowmy
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post #10 of 22
6/11/09 at 9:47pm
What in the world is zapping?
I really want to know, this sounds outrageous.
What a bad experience for all!
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post #11 of 22
6/12/09 at 11:34am
Yeah, I worked at a groomers and in NO WAY should they have resorted to using a towel in his mouth (how the heck did they manage that anyway?) or any cruel practices like zapping? What the HECK is that? ...thats INSANE!!

Cats that are badly matted need to be shaved PERIOD. It hurts an amazing amount to have matts taken out when they are that severe. How DARE they! I am so outraged right now!

Definately call the better business bureau or any other place you can to get the word out on these guys. It is absolutely despicable!

Did you look at his skin? Is it ok? Make sure they didn't tear any flesh okay. It isn't your fault, especially if it was on a recommendation from a friend you go there. Give him lots of love and treats and TLC.

Just serves as a warning to people here. Be careful. I am a nut and would have stayed while they worked on him. I just don't trust people. Especially with cats, very few people know how to groom them and handle them. My boss and I at the salon were the only two who groomed the cats. The other groomers were "dog" people. They really didn't 'get' cats and their special needs.

Next time you go on vacation make sure the sitter brushes him. It will make sure this NEVER has to happen again! Mine vacuums before I come home too.
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post #12 of 22
6/12/09 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Denice View Post
It doesn't sound like that person should be grooming cats. The first time I got a lion cut for mine the groomer told me that if gentle persuasion didn't work she would simply not give her a cut and there would be no charge. She gave her several lion cuts and never had a problem. She told me that a cat's skin is very easily cut and that's why she doesn't force the issue if they don't want to cooperate.

This is my experience as well. Once Bugsy first started struggling BOTH my groomers warned me prior that if this continues and gets worse they will absolutely not finish the cut and i will get a full refund, i figure they would say the same for just a comb out as well... Poor baby, that sounds horrible!

I would think if they could not do it they wouldn't and recommend a vet visit or something? Sounds horrible, poor you for going through this.
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post #13 of 22
6/12/09 at 11:55am
This is one of the main reasons that I won't own a longhair cat. I really don't have the time and patience to do grooming all the time, and would hate to have to take the cat to a groomer or vet to be shaved down cause of matting.

Longhairs are very pretty to look at. And we (hubby and I) admire those with the patience to work with them. Just not something I'd want to be doing.

Hopefully this won't happen again. I would never recommend or paternize that groomer again!
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post #14 of 22
6/12/09 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
Truth be told, I had no idea what I was getting into with Chestnut's coat when I adopted him! I love im so much though, so all the extra work is worth it!

He seems to be fine, no worse for the wear, though maybe a bit sore were the major matts were. No cuts or anything like that though, thank god! I did check for that right away when I got him home and he calmed down a bit. Luckily he still lets ME groom him, we've come so far with that! When he first came home he wouldn't let me NEAR him with a comb, now he enjoys it on certain parts (his head, lol) Its still a struggle to get his belly, but, we get it done.
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post #15 of 22
6/12/09 at 12:09pm
I just came from the vet's office yesterday. The receptionist was telling me about her long haired cat with mats all over her belly. She stressed that vets are NOT groomers, and she would have to take her kitty to a groomer.

I agree. My cat had to have her belly shaved awhile back for a kidney ultrasound. She was sedated. The vet still nicked her skin with the clipper and had to take a stitch. He readily admitted it and said that the stitch would dissolve in a few days. So I wouldn't trust the vet to groom any more than I would trust the groomer to diagnose or treat. The answer may be in getting a seditive for the cat from the vet prior to the grooming session.

ETA: My kitty has long fur too, and she only sheds in spring. During that time I use a mitt with rubbler "fingers" on it. Works great, and she will let me do her belly too. I also comb her once in awhile. We never have matt problems.
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post #16 of 22
6/12/09 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
I just came from the vet's office yesterday. The receptionist was telling me about her long haired cat with mats all over her belly. She stressed that vets are NOT groomers, and she would have to take her kitty to a groomer.
Yes, this is whats so scary to me about getting Bugsy groomed. You just never know who is qualified to groom your cat. I am over paranoid and have bribed both of my groomers with 20 extra dollars cash to come to my house so i can be there, watch it all, help if needed, and have Bugsy in the comfort of his own home. I just don't trust anyone.

Its hard in the animal industry, its not as watched and regulated (are those appropriate words?) as human health care and grooming businesses. Not only that, if they abuse your pet your pet doesn't have a voice to tell you.

At least a vet could sedate an animal who is freaking out, a groomer would just traumatize the poor thing. I'm lucky Bugsy only gets knots on his bum and armpits.
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post #17 of 22
6/12/09 at 12:37pm
I guess I'm lucky. My vet has grooming services done by the techs, and has a grooming salon on premise. My boys are both long haired Maine Coon crosses and need special handling so they go to the clinic and not the groomer should something need to be done. For the most part I try to comb them at home and get rid of matts quickly myself.
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post #18 of 22
6/15/09 at 10:31am
We have something around here called the Whiska waggin. They will come to your home to groom and use their van. That way you can watch.

I am so glad he didn't get his skin ripped! My Rocko is very sensitive and he has the WORST fur of all of them. It matts in such a sort period of time. I am glad your kitty is not scarred for life and will let you groom him still. They are so resilient!
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post #19 of 22
6/15/09 at 10:47am
Cammy has long hair. I've had her since the end of Feb and haven't noticed mats or anything. Even when she first came, and you could tell she'd been on her own for a while. I wonder why...different texture of fur maybe? Or I just haven't had her long enough?
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post #20 of 22
6/15/09 at 11:26am
Different texture. Fiona is long haired and NEVER matts. I was fooled into thinking all cat hair was easy. Than Rocko came and his hair matts if you look at it funny. Her fur is more like fluffy rabbity and his is more like actually hair with an undercoat. the hair gets all tangled in the undercoat.
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post #21 of 22
6/15/09 at 10:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fifi1puss View Post
Different texture. Fiona is long haired and NEVER matts. I was fooled into thinking all cat hair was easy. Than Rocko came and his hair matts if you look at it funny. Her fur is more like fluffy rabbity and his is more like actually hair with an undercoat. the hair gets all tangled in the undercoat.
It sounds like your Rocko has the same type of hair as my Chestnut! Its the undercoat that kills me, and if u miss a day of grooming, bam... matt!
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post #22 of 22
6/16/09 at 5:42am
Looks like Chestnut has Rockos pleading eyes too. We love 'em anyway don't we?
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