Bad Ass Cat Groomer Online Conference 2025
June 22 - 24, 2025
Three days of in-depth seminars, live demos, expert Q&As, and global networking with cat groomers who are as passionate (and badass) as you! Connect, learn, and level up your skills from anywhere in the world. Replays will also be available for 6 months after the conference.
Early Bird Savings March 23-30 – $247 per ticket
Regular Tickets – $347 per ticket
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
BACG 2025
Are you ready to take your cat grooming skills and business to the next level? The Bad Ass Cat Groomers Online Conference 2025 is back for another power-packed three days of expert-led seminars, live demonstrations, interactive Q&As, and global networking—all from the comfort of your own home!
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your journey in cat grooming, this conference is designed to educate, inspire, and connect you with like-minded professionals who are just as passionate (and badass!) about grooming as you are.
💡 What You’ll Get:
✅ Cutting-edge techniques from top cat groomers
✅ Live demonstrations to sharpen your skills
✅ Insider business tips to boost your success
✅ Interactive Q&A sessions to get your questions answered
✅ A global community of badass cat groomers to connect with
This isn’t just another online event—it’s a chance to be part of a game-changing community of cat groomers dedicated to raising industry standards, perfecting their craft, and building thriving businesses. Plus, with exclusive access to expert knowledge and real-world grooming solutions, you’ll walk away more confident, more skilled, and more inspired than ever!
Event Sponsors
We’d like to thank our amazing sponsors for helping us host this amazing cat grooming event!
The World’s Greatest Cat Hotel & Spa. A Happy Cat Hotel & Spa Franchise is a premier, world class care facility designed and engineered exclusively for cats.
Schedule of Events
How to Add Cat Grooming and Make it Worthwhile
⏰ 9:00AM – 10:00AM EST
📣 Danelle German
Comb Cut Demo and Q&A
⏰ 11:00AM – 12:00PM EST
📣 Melissa Hall
Inside My Cat Boarding Facility: Lessons Learned
⏰ 1:00PM – 2:00PM EST
📣 Mel Brink
Pricing for Profit: Math or Psychology?
⏰ 3:00PM – 4:00PM EST
📣 Chris Raimo
Networking Event
⏰ 5:00PM – 6:00PM EST
📣 Hosted By Lynn Paolillo
Fast & Flawless Shaving Demo and Q&A
⏰ 9:00AM – 10:00AM EST
📣 Chelsea Waddell
How I Got 700 Clients on My Waitlist
⏰ 11:00AM – 12:00PM EST
📣 Jackie Warbis
Build a Brand Workshop
⏰ 1:00PM – 2:00PM EST
📣 Mercedes Schenk
Weird Sh*t You See in the Cat Grooming Salon
⏰ 3:00PM – 4:00PM EST
📣 Lynn Paolillo
Networking Event
⏰ 5:00PM – 6:00PM EST
📣 Hosted By Lynn
Sanitation & Innovations: Keeping Your Salon Clean & Cutting-Edge
⏰ 9:00AM – 10:00AM EST
📣 Sarah Warner
Social Media Success for Cat Groomers
⏰ 11:00AM – 12:00PM EST
📣 Lynn Paolillo
House-Call Demonstration and Q&A
⏰ 1:00PM – 2:00PM EST
📣 Mercedes Schenk
Stuff You Can Take to the Bank
⏰ 3:00PM – 4:00PM EST
📣 Danelle German
Networking Event
⏰ 5:00PM – 6:00PM EST
📣 Hosted By Lynn
Seminar Sessions
Build a Brand Workshop
Mercedes Schenk, CFMG, Owner of the Meow Mobile
Your brand is more than just a name and logo—it’s the story you tell and the experience you create. In this interactive workshop, Mercedes Schenk will guide you through the key strategies to establish a strong brand identity, define your target audience, and craft a compelling message that resonates. You’ll also learn how to develop a consistent visual and messaging strategy across platforms. Whether you’re starting fresh or refining your brand, you’ll walk away with the tools and confidence to create a business that stands out and attracts the right clients.
How I Got 700 Clients on My Waitlist
Jackie Warbis, CFMG, Certifier and owner of Happy Cat Hotel & Spa – Alexandria, VA
Jackie Warbis, CFMG and NCGI Certifier, will share her recipe for getting a new cat boarding and grooming business launched and building into an empire with 700 grooming clients on a waitlist. You’ll discover the greatest challenges encountered during her recent expansion process and how to avoid as many mistakes as possible. Bonus: during this seminar, you’ll get a tour of Jackie’s newly expanded facility and how she uses it to maximize sales.
How to Add Cat Grooming and Make it Worthwhile
Danelle German, President & Founder of National Cat Groomers Institute
During more than two decades of teaching dog groomers how to groom cats and add that service to their salon or mobile offerings, Danelle has witnessed certain challenges that are often faced. How does a dog groomer add cat grooming in such a way that it doesn’t cut into their bottom line but instead brings in more revenue? What is the best way to add cats into an already busy, noisy environment? And how can one get new cat clients if they are starting at ground zero? All of these questions and more will be answered during this seminar. Be careful, though…..once you go cat, you may never go back…to the dogs!
Pricing for Profit: Math or Psychology?
Chris Raimo, Happy Cat Hotel & Spa Franchising
Pricing is one of the most critical decisions a cat grooming business can make—but is it just about the numbers, or is there a deeper psychological element at play? This workshop explores the balance between math and mindset in pricing strategies, helping businesses move beyond simply being “competitive” to charging what their services are truly worth.
This workshop is designed to help small businesses set prices that reflect the quality of their work, attract the right customers, and build long-term profitability—without falling into the trap of being the cheapest option in town.
Sanitation & Innovations: Keeping Your Salon Clean and Cutting-Edge
Sarah Warner, CFMG, Certifier
Cat groomers take pride in keeping cats spotless—but what about the tools, towels, and workspaces we use every day? From disinfecting clippers to knowing when it’s really time to wash that Happy Hoodie, this seminar will cover best practices for maintaining a hygienic and safe grooming environment. Plus, get the scoop on new and trending cat grooming tools and products—are they game-changers or just gimmicks? Join Sarah Warner, the Queen of Clean, for an eye-opening session that will help you groom smarter, cleaner, and with confidence.
Social Media Success for Cat Groomers
Lynn Paolillo, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Cat Naps Cattery
Struggling to come up with social media content? Not sure what to post or how to stay consistent? This seminar will show you how to make content creation simple and stress-free, so you can showcase your cat grooming skills without spending hours online. Learn easy ways to generate ideas, create engaging posts, and build a posting schedule that works for you. Whether you’re just getting started or want to stay more consistent, this session will give you the tools to make social media fun, effective, and manageable—no burnout required!
Stuff You Can Take to the Bank
Danelle German, President & Founder of National Cat Groomers Institute
This lecture will be very interactive and cover such topics as:
- How to figure out your potential and maximize it
- What specific things to focus on to effectively grow your business
- Pricing structures
- Identifying problems and creating real solutions
Bring YOUR questions, problems, and frustrations. We’ll work toward creative solutions as we cover some common grooming business topics and a whole lot more!
Weird Sh*t You See in the Cat Grooming Salon
Lynn Paolillo, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Cat Naps Cattery
🤯 Mystery Gunk, Strange Skin, and Other Feline Grooming Oddities
From crusty tails to mystery lumps, cat groomers see it all—but do you always know what you’re looking at? This eye-opening session dives into the strangest, grossest, and most baffling things that show up in the grooming salon. Learn to spot hidden health issues, when to flag concerns for a vet, and how to handle those “WTF is that?” moments like a pro. Bring your weirdest stories—we’re all in this together!
Videos & Demonstrations
Inside My Cat Boarding Facility: Lessons Learned
Mel Brink, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Club Meow Inc.
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Club Meow Inc. in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with Mel Brink! See how she built her cat-exclusive boarding and grooming facility and learn valuable lessons from her journey. Stick around for a live Q&A at the end, where Mel answers your questions about running a successful cat boarding business!
Comb Cut Demo and Q&A
Melissa Hall, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Touch of Class
Watch Melissa Hall demonstrate a beautiful comb cut on a cat, sharing expert tips for achieving a smooth, even finish. Join the live Q&A afterward to ask your grooming questions and learn pro techniques straight from Melissa!
De-Shedding Shorthaired Cat Demo and Q&A
Lynn Paolillo, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Cat Naps Cattery
Learn Lynn’s de-shedding tricks for even the hairiest of cats, then stick around for her Q&A.
Fast & Flawless Shaving Demo and Q&A
Chelsea Waddell, CFMG, CFCG, Certifier, Owner of Catty Canines Inc.
Watch Chelsea Waddell demonstrate her expert speed clipperwork, achieving a flawless finish in less time! Learn pro tips for efficiency without compromising safety or quality during her Q&A after.
House Call Grooming Demo and Q&A
Mercedes Schenk, CFMG, Owner of the Meow Mobile
Mercedes, an experienced housecall cat groomer, shares her inside tips and techniques for grooming in small or limited spaces. Learn how to work efficiently and keep cats comfortable in a home setting. Join the live Q&A afterward to pick her brain!
Registration
Early Bird Tickets: $247.00 USD
- Early Bird Registration Dates: March 23-30, 2025
- Includes Conference T-Shirt Shipped to Attendee
Regular Tickets: $347.00 USD
- Available After March 30th through June 23
- No Swag T-Shirt
📣 Meet the Experts: 9 Bad Ass Cat Groomers!
Get ready to learn from 9 top cat groomers sharing their expertise, techniques, and insider tips at the this year’s conference! From live demos to business strategies, these industry pros will help you level up your skills and confidence.
👕 Snag Your Free Conference Tee!
Early bird registrants get an exclusive Bad Ass Cat Groomers Conference 2025 t-shirt—FREE! 🎉 Sign up early, represent your badass grooming skills, and wear it with pride!
🌍 Join from Anywhere!
No travel needed—just log in from anywhere with internet access and be part of the Bad Ass Cat Groomers Online Conference 2025! Whether you’re at home, in your salon, or on the go, you won’t miss a moment of the action. Learn, connect, and grow—wherever you are!
🍿 Replays for 6 Months!
Can’t catch it live? No problem! Enjoy unlimited access to replays for 6 months after the conference wraps. Rewatch your favorite sessions, take notes, and learn at your own pace—whenever it works for you!
Meet the Speakers
Melinda Brink, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Club Meow Inc.
Mel Brink is the president of Club Meow Inc in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She became a CFMG in 2015 and a Certifier in 2019. Club Meow Inc serves SW IA and SE NE as an award winning luxury feline exclusive grooming, boarding, adoption and groomer education hub. Mel offers 10 day grooming school sessions several times per year and PPI upon request. She enjoys helping students become confident in their craft. Her favorite grooms are major transformations and seniors. Prior to opening Club Meow Inc, Mel was an animal control officer for 11 years and trained horses. Whenever possible she enjoys hanging out on a beach with her husband and 2 boys, Jude and Fynn.
Danelle German, President & Founder of the National Cat Groomers Institute
Danelle German, CFMG, CFCG, founder and president of the National Cat Groomers Institute and the world’s first feline-exclusive grooming school, speaks worldwide on a wide variety of cat grooming and business topics. Danelle has authored books, study guides, certification standards, and articles for various publications and is the inventor of the Catty Shack VacTM drying system as well as Chubbs Bars shampoo for pets.
Melissa Hall, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Touch of Class
As a second generation groomer, Melissa began her pet grooming journey within her mother and sister in 1996 in Apache Junction Arizona. When not leading her team of stellar employees at her own successful salon in Yuma Arizona, she does have standard poodles she enjoys spending time with and her Persian cats. In 2014, she moved into the world of cat grooming by completing her certified feline master groomer certification and began showing one of her Persian cats as well. Now Melissa shares her incredible wealth of cat grooming knowledge as a Wahl Animal Brand Ambassador, NCGI Certifier, and hosts private grooming instruction at her salon for cat groomers from around the world. October of 2023 she expanded the current Yuma location and added another location and Arizona first Cat Exclusive, luxury feline boarding, and grooming facility.
Lynn Paolillo, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Cat Naps Cattery
As one of only a few hundred Certified Feline Master Groomers worldwide, Lynn does a lot more than just groom for the kitty population of central New Jersey. With more than 13 years of grooming experience, she’s obsessed with improving the lives of both cats and their owners through creating a positive relationship through grooming. Based in Hamilton, NJ her cat only business, Cat Naps Cattery provides a quiet, calm (and bark-free) environment for cats of all ages and breeds. When not up to her eyeballs in cat hair, she travels and teaches cat grooming around the U.S. at trade show events, private workshops and seminars as a Certifier and Instructor for the National Cat Groomers Institute and Brand Ambassador for Wahl and Refuresh.
Chris Raimo, Owner of Happy Cat Hotel & Spa Franchising
Chris is an 18 year entrepreneur, founder of the Happy Cat Hotel & Spa, and has spent the last five years helping others get to “happy” by cultivating a franchise system of coachable, hard working, dream living, success driven business owners with Happy Cat franchising – named the World’s Greatest cat hotel.
Mercedes Schenk, CFMG and Owner of The Meow Mobile
Mercedes Schenk is a Certified Feline Master Groomer who exclusively works with cats, specializing in house call grooming services. With a strong focus on anxious cats, Mercedes is committed to providing a calm and compassionate grooming experience while educating both groomers and cat owners on the importance of safe and gentle handling. As the owner of The Meow Mobile, a mobile grooming service tailored to felines, she ensures cats receive high-quality care in the comfort of their own homes. Mercedes is also the founder of The Association of Holistic Feline Specialists, where she works to promote holistic approaches to feline care and support the education of professionals in the field.
Chelsea Waddell, CFMG, CFCG, Certifier and Owner of Catty Canines Inc.
One of NCGI’s Canadian Certifiers, Chelsea Waddell is the owner of Catty Canines Inc in Edmonton, Alberta. She is a Certified Master Dog Groomer with CPPS, Certified Feline Master Groomer and Certified Feline Creative Groomer with the NCGI. She became a CFMG certifier in 2021 and CFCG certifer in 2023. In 2024 she expanded her salon to have both a dog exclusive grooming bay and a cat exclusive grooming bay located side by side in her commercial building. When not juggling her busy salon, 5employees, and grooming pets in both standard and creative grooms, you’ll find her spending time with her pets and at the barn riding horses. With a passion for education, she hopes to inspire other groomers to pursue taking their skills to new heights!
Jackie Warbis, CFMG, Certifier and Owner of Happy Cat Hotel – Alexandria, VA
Jackie Warbis has dedicated over 35 years to working with animals across various settings, from shelters and animal hospitals to mobile dog grooming. Since 2021, she has been a Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) and now owns and operates Happy Cat Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, VA. Jackie is an official Certifier with the National Cat Groomers Institute, allowing her to proctor and guide NCGI students through their CFMG certification journey.
Sarah Warner, CFMG, Certifier
With 23 years in pet care—nearly a decade focused on feline-exclusive grooming—Sarah Warner is a leader in cat grooming education. After selling her award-winning salon in 2024, she now dedicates her career to training groomers, refining industry standards, and curating top grooming tools and products. A Certified Feline Master Groomer, Remote Trainer, and Certifier, Sarah is a two-time Barkleigh Honors Foreign Speaker of the Year nominee and a featured writer for Groomer to Groomer Magazine. She has presented at Groom Expo West, Intergroom, and the Bad Ass Cat Groomer Conference and serves as a brand ambassador for Petway Petcare and Refuresh. Sarah travels internationally to train groomers, educate pet owners, and expand her expertise, ensuring she brings the latest in grooming and business knowledge to professionals worldwide.