Hello cat lovers,

when it comes to choosing a cat, many people are seduced by the beautiful Persians, Ragdolls, Norwegian Forests or other long haired cats.Some owners underestimate the amount of maintenance long haired cats require, though. These beauties have to be brushed daily, and they also need their eyes and ears wiped to prevent infections. If not brushed regularly, long haired cats will develop mats, especially around their neck and armpits. These are not only very unsightly, they can irritate your cat, be painful and even cause infections.

Our short haired feline friends require much less “maintenance” – they usually keep themselves clean and presentable and only need an occasional brush.

It is a sad fact that a lot of very matted cats have to be shaved under general anaesthesia at the vet’s. And we all know how much most of our cats love the vet…

Nevertheless, we do not recommend taking your cat to a cat groomer to be shaved. This process is much too stressful for a cat to be done without sedation.

If your long haired cat’s coat is well maintained, hair washing is unnecessary, too. We wouldn’t recommend hair washing for short haired cats at all, as it strips the hair of its natural protection.

Here at Longcroft we have always tried to break the vicious circle of long haired cats disliking to be groomed and, as a result of that, having to be shaved while being put under. With a lot of patience, Dreamies and a “just a little, every day” approach, we have often succeeded – to the owners’ surprise and delight – in grooming cats and getting rid of matting during their holiday. We never use any force and make grooming part of the daily play and cuddle sessions.

Longcroft grooming will always be a part of a longer stay at Longcroft, so that we can take things at your cat’s pace. We will never use force while grooming. And we will not hesitate to tell you that maybe your cat does need to go to the vet’s and be put under if he or she doesn’t warm to our attempts at grooming.

Longcroft stands for ethical, kind and sympathetic cat grooming.