The Day I Butchered a Pomeranian—And What It Taught Me About Cat Grooming
I Tried Grooming a Dog Once… Never Again
(And Why Dog Groomers Struggle With Cats)
As I prep for upcoming lectures across the U.S. and abroad, a small dog named Puff Puff keeps coming to mind.
Puff Puff was a 4-pound toy Pomeranian.
And I butchered him.
Not literally, of course. But let’s just say… my one and only attempt at dog grooming didn’t go as planned.
Here’s what happened—and why this little dog taught me something every dog groomer should know about cats.
🐱 I Groom Cats. Not Dogs.
I borrowed Puff Puff from my sister-in-law for a Catty Shack Vac™ photo shoot. We needed a dog to demonstrate its versatility. Puff was in full coat and completely matted—perfect for the demo, not so perfect for me.
I groomed him like a cat:
- Degreased him like a Persian
- Tried a kitty burrito towel wrap (spoiler: didn’t work)
- Cleaned his ears and eyes the feline way
- Dried and de-matted him using cat grooming techniques
And surprisingly—it worked.
Kind of.
He came out clean, fluffy, and de-matted. I even thought, maybe I could be a dog groomer…
🐾 Then the Photos Were Published
That’s when the laughter started.
But it wasn’t just friendly teasing—it was full-on mockery.
“What happened to his feet?”
“Did you even finish?”
“Did you groom him with your eyes closed?”
Apparently, I had committed a cardinal grooming sin: I left toe tufts.
I had no idea. I didn’t know the breed standard. I didn’t even think to check. I assumed my feline skills would translate.
But to trained dog groomers, I hadn’t just made a mistake—I’d butchered the poor pup.
What This Has to Do With You
If you're a dog groomer trying to groom cats without proper training, you might be making the same kind of mistake.
Except instead of leaving toe tufts, you're:
- Fighting matted coats that keep coming back
- Struggling to finish the groom
- Risking bites, blood, and unfinished sessions
- Sending cats home looking... not great
And like me with Puff Puff—you might not even know it.
🧠 Being Good at Dogs Doesn’t Make You Good at Cats
Dog grooming and cat grooming are completely different skill sets.
- Different coat types
- Different anatomy
- Different handling techniques
- And completely different behavior
Cats aren’t small dogs. And if you’re guessing your way through feline grooms, the results will show—especially to someone who knows what they’re looking at.
What Puff Puff Taught Me
Even as a trained, confident cat groomer, I had no business grooming a dog. I lacked the training, the experience, and the understanding of breed-specific needs.
And dog groomers? You may feel the same way with cats.
That doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job. It just means it’s time to level up.
Ready to Groom Cats the Right Way?
👉 Get the Complete Cat Groomer Training Syllabus
Inside, you’ll learn:
- Safe handling techniques
- Efficient grooming workflows
- Breed-specific coat care
- How to avoid the common (and costly) mistakes most dog groomers make when grooming cats
Don’t butcher your way through feline grooms. Don’t wait until the bite wounds or bad reviews force you to change.
Train now. Be confident. And give cats the care they deserve.