Most UK grooming salons specialise in dogs, but a growing number take cats — usually by a specifically City & Guilds-trained cat groomer. The process is genuinely different.
Frequency
Short-haired cats rarely need professional grooming. Long-haired breeds (Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Norwegian Forest) benefit from a full groom every 8–12 weeks to prevent matting, especially as they age and groom themselves less.
Key differences from dog grooming
- No restraints, no force. Cats won't tolerate the tethers and grooming arms used on dogs. Handling has to be calm and consent-based.
- Sedation is uncommon. A reputable UK cat groomer will refuse to use sedatives. Severely matted cats are often referred to a vet for a shave under mild sedation.
- Common cuts are the "lion cut" (body shaved short, mane and tail puff kept) or a "hygiene tidy" around the back end only.
Finding a cat-friendly UK groomer
Search specifically for "cat grooming" — most salon listings default to dogs. On groomino, the Cats animal filter on each city page will narrow the directory to salons that explicitly accept cats.