Amanda Henry, CFMG | Certified Feline Master Groomer Spotlight
Location: Merrillville, Indiana, USA
Business: Chatty Cats
Website: Chatty Cats
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Amanda has been grooming cats since 2018 and opened Chatty Cats in 2026, one of only a handful of cat-exclusive grooming salons in Indiana. Her journey from mobile dog grooming to feline-exclusive practice shows how specialized education can transform not only your skills, but your confidence and career.
How long have you been grooming cats, and what led you to pursue CFMG certification?
I have been grooming cats since about 2018-2019. I would say spite led me to pursue my CFMG certification. It's not a bad thing!
I'm a petite woman, so grooming large dogs alone in a mobile salon was very difficult for me. It took one too many of those "farm animals," and I'd had enough. I decided I was no longer going to do that. Instead, I was going to replace those large breeds with cats.
There's not a cat I can't lift. So if I was going to replace dogs with cats, I figured I had better get really good at it. I'm not allergic to them, they're much easier on the body, and cat owners tend to be far more appreciative than dog owners.
There seems to be a dog grooming shop on every corner, so dog groomers are often viewed as a dime a dozen. I say that with lots of love because the majority of my friends are still dog groomers, and they're worth their weight in gold.
Pursuing cat grooming and earning my CFMG certification was, hands down, the best thing I could have done for myself and my career... so far. 😉
What changed the most for you after becoming certified?
I became certified in the fall of 2021.
My skills, knowledge, confidence, and ability to earn my clients' trust all grew exponentially. The more you know, the more confidence your clients have in you.
Because cat grooming requires specialized knowledge and carries greater responsibility, we're able to charge appropriately while providing a safer, more efficient service.
On a personal level, becoming certified also built my self-esteem. People now come to me for my expertise. I never have to question whether I'm a bad ass. I know for a fact I am.
What is one grooming or handling technique that made the biggest difference for you?
Without a doubt, lap grooming. What a game changer!
What is one business shift that significantly improved your cat grooming services?
One of the biggest business decisions I've made was opening the first cat-exclusive grooming salon in northwest Indiana. I believe I'm only the fifth cat-only groomer in the entire state of Indiana.
I opened Chatty Cats in June 2026, and it felt like the right time. Starting something new is scary, especially since I'm a first-time business owner and no one in my family has ever owned a business before.
What gave me the confidence to take that leap was the incredible support and advice I've received from my fellow CFMGs. My CFMG friends are some of the most amazing women I know, and I'm honored to call them my friends.
What would you say to a groomer who is on the fence about investing in proper cat grooming education?
I'd ask them why. What's making them hesitant?
I was hesitant once, too. Just a few months after I bought the Syllabus, COVID hit. By the time I was ready to schedule my Personalized Private Instruction (PPI), everything had shut down and certifiers weren't able to take students for quite a while.
Looking back, there couldn't be a better time than now to invest in your education.
I also tried taking courses through other programs, but I always walked away feeling defeated, like I was still missing something or wasn't doing things correctly. That experience taught me that if I'm going to invest in continuing education, it needs to be the right kind.
Certified Feline Master Groomers don’t guess. They groom with intention, education, and confidence.
Get the program that gave Gianna the knowledge and tools to become such a confident and skilled cat groomer. 👉 Complete Cat Groomer Training Syllabus
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