Cat groomer’s expert advice on which brushes are the best
5.9.2024
Pictures: Darina Schweizer
Translation: Eva Francis
Prejudices against cat groomers are as difficult to get rid of as matted fur. Cécile Riner’s here to clear up misunderstandings, show us how to untangle even the worst of knots and reveal which popular brush not to use.
Kitty cut? Undercat? Kitten bangs? I’d love to know which trendy hairstyles extravagant pet owners give their four-legged friends. It’s one of the questions that’s on my mind while I’m travelling through the Aargau Seetal to a cat grooming salon. For the first time ever and without a cat, I must add. The view from the train window is idyllic, almost clichéd. Like something out of a tourist brochure. My image of professional cat groomers might be a cliché too, I think to myself as I get off the train in Egliswil.
A few steps later, I enter Cécile Riner’s cat grooming salon. The bright room in shabby chic style is decorated with lots of cat pictures and figurines. No trace of extravagance. There’s a simple glass vase filled with coloured cat fur on the reception counter. Natural fur, of course. «I don’t dye, straighten or curl hair,» the cat groomer adds. Not that she hasn’t been asked to. In fact, she’s had the most unbelievable requests.
«I’ve been asked to colour fur, tattoo a cat and give one a spiky Stegosaurus hairstyle. But I refuse all these requests. My work’s all about animal wellbeing.»
We’ll see what that means in a moment. Franky’s one of Cécile’s six Maine Coon cats. When the 41-year-old carries him down from her flat above the salon, he’s draped over her shoulder like a scarf. I grin. I’ve never seen such a relaxed cat before. Will he stay this way? Cécile places Franky on the motorised vet’s table in front of her and raises it.
She starts off by removing wax and dirt from the cat’s ears and eyes. Franky’s as relaxed as ever. Even when he gets his claws clipped, he doesn’t blink. «Domestic cats, especially older ones, need a manicure every now and then. They have thicker claws and don’t wear them down as much as outdoor cats,» the cat groomer explains.
Pre-washing under the shower
Next, Cécile turns to Franky’s fur. She picks the cat up, strokes him gently and carries him into the next room. I see a bath tub and my eyes widen. Sure, Maine Coon cats aren’t afraid of water, but are they fond of it? Cécile laughs and replies: «In my experience, cats don’t mind water at all. Them not liking water is a prejudice.»
Well, Franky knows and trusts his owner, I think to myself. But what about other cats? That’s when Cécile’s sensitive touch comes into play. Before every treatment, she takes plenty of time to give cats a cuddle and get them used to her. «I’ve managed to calm down the wildest creatures,» she says and laughs. «I’ve only been bitten once.» That’s impressive, given she sees 100 to 130 cats every month.
Off to the dryer
The shower head makes a spraying noise, but Franky hardly pays any attention to it. «I spent a long time looking for a jet that was as quiet as possible so as not to frighten the cats. The Gardena shower head convinced me,» Cécile says. She gently lathers Franky with degreasing shampoo and rinses it off. As she strokes his fur, there’s a squeaking sound. This means he’s clean and soap-free, right down to the skin.
We move on to the first glass blow-drying box. This is where cats are pre-dried. Like in a car wash, I think to myself. In the second blow-drying box, it’s time for the detailed work. Cécile puts a little pink cap over Franky’s head. «This looks a bit brutal, but it’s not at all. The fabric muffles the noise and calms the cats down,» Cécile explains. She grabs a hose and blows away Franky’s loose and already dried hair. The Maine Coone cat comes out of the glass container looking nice and fluffy. With all the prep work done, this is when the actual treatment starts.
The untangling begins
Matted fur is the most common reason why owners take their cat to a groomer. Hair length isn’t the key factor for matting. «It depends on a cat’s age and breed,» Cécile explains.
«Animals with a big undercoat are particularly prone to matting – Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats or British Shorthairs, for example. As a rule of thumb, the more colourful the fur, the more likely it’ll create knots.»
Cécile gently combs out any lightly matted fur after the shower. She demonstrates this on Franky’s tail. «Look at this,» the cat groomer says as she gently brushes the fur apart, «his skin is greasy, as his sebaceous glands produce too much fat. That’s a common phenomenon.»
But not only the undercoat and skin fat are problematic, flea remains or foreign fats such as hand cream that gets on a cat’s fur when we stroke it can also cause matting. Cécile applies the comb below the knots. With expert movements, she feels her way forward centimetre by centimetre until the knots are untangled. Meanwhile, Franky purrs like a Rolls-Royce.
If the fur is heavily matted, Cécile gets out the razors. She has five of them – in a range of strengths and designs – and uses them to shorten matted fur. «I only shave if it has health benefits for the cat,» the 41-year-old emphasises. In order to be able to assess this, she regularly speaks to veterinarians.
«And what about this?» I ask, pointing to a brochure picturing a cat. Its body is shaved, its head and tail long-haired. It reminds me of a poodle. «This is a comb cut,» Cécile answers. «It helps long-haired cats stay cool, especially in summer. And their owners don’t have to brush them as much. That also reduces stress for the cat.»
Common cat grooming mistakes
According to Cécile, however, brushing a cat isn’t a bad thing. On the contrary. She even says it’s best to brush your cat regularly from an early age. If you do this, the cat gets used to it and doesn’t feel stressed. What’s crucial is that you use the right comb.
«Unfortunately, I often see the FURminator. This pet brush does more harm than good with its short knives. It only trims the top coat and doesn’t reach the undercoat.»
She tells me about a lady who brought in her cat whose skin was visible because it had almost no top coat left. What’s more, cats with too much undercoat vomit more frequently because they swallow too much fur when they groom themselves.
According to Cécile, simple cat combs with long teeth are better. «If you can’t brush through the knots, don’t cut them out yourself. The risk of injuring your pet is too great.» The right cat food also influences fur health. There is, for example, food that helps cats with hairballs. It’s important to look out for high meat content, as Cécile says. And it is also crucial to keep the skin healthy. «Be careful with plastic bowls. Many cats are allergic to plastic and develop skin problems such as eczema. Porcelain food bowls are best.»
A reward at the end
Franky definitely deserves a treat after his grooming appointment. The Maine Coon cat’s fur looks lovely and silky in the sunlight. His belly fur has developed natural waves. All without colouring, curling or straightening. And he got rid of his knots without stress. And guess what I got rid of? My prejudices.
Which cat brush can you recommend? And have you ever been to a cat groomer? Let me know in the comments!
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know?