About
Scruffy Joe's Cat Grooming was established in 2001. I have owned Persian cats for over 20 years and realised many owners struggled to main their longhaired cats' coats. My very first Persian Joe was the face of the the business (sadly he passed away a few years ago, aged 19) When he was a kitten his fur used to stick out every which way, earning him the name Scruffy Joe! Since Joe, I have been owned by many more Persians, some as kittens and some as rescues/rehomes - up to 14 at one point! After the heartbreaking losses of my last 3 cats, Tootie in July 2018, and Ebony and Pockets in November 2020 (within a week of each other) I thought - no more, but of course a house without a cat (or two!) is not a home anymore and the emptiness was just too much to bear - so, in February 2021, two retired Persian breeding girls Gypsy (6 years) and Chelsea (3 years) came to live with me and have brought joy back to the house.
I groom holistically, no restraints or muzzles, working with your cat in a low stress environment. I encourage owners to remain with their cats during the groom session. It has been my experience that cats are much happier and relaxed with their owner present. I offer regular de-shedding maintenance grooms, bath and blow dry, claw clipping and hygiene trims. See for more details about the services I offer.
I groom holistically, no restraints or muzzles, working with your cat in a low stress environment. I encourage owners to remain with their cats during the groom session. It has been my experience that cats are much happier and relaxed with their owner present. I offer regular de-shedding maintenance grooms, bath and blow dry, claw clipping and hygiene trims. See for more details about the services I offer.
The Holistic Approach |
 Fluffy gets fed tuna by her owner, while I get on grooming her tummy!
So what is holistic cat grooming you may ask? Well, I like to take the time to make your cat feel 'at home' and put a lot of effort into making my grooming studio a calm and relaxing place to be. I use feline pheromone products such as Feliway, low-stress handling techniques, incorporate play and last, but not least, offer food treats which can be a useful distraction! So, to me, holistic cat grooming, means considering the needs of each individual cat and tailoring my service accordingly, working within their comfort zone to ensure a positive experience.
I was particularly inspired by the late Dr Sophia Yin, a veterinarian, who sought to promote better handling practices amongst animal professionals, and whose book 'Low Stress Handling, Restraint and Behaviour Modification of Dogs & Cats' was a groundbreaking work on the subject. I am also proud to be a member of the Holistic Cat Groomer's Alliance, which is an organization founded on the philosophy of compassionate grooming care for all cats. Proud to be 'Scruff Free'
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Qualifications & Ongoing Training |
 Honey relaxes during her colour and crystal therapy
Until very recently, there was no recognised cat grooming qualification here in the UK. In 2012/13 an industry recognised qualification was at last introduced - The Certificate of Competence in Cat Grooming, offered by the Pet Industry Federation. In 2014 I was assessed at KD Grooming Studio (one of the PIF centres) and was very pleased to be awarded my Certificate.
I started cat grooming 20 yrs ago and had a lot of help in the beginning from Audrey, the breeder of many of my own Persians. Although I have developed my own techniques over the years, I continue to learn and seek new ways to compliment these techniques, such as the use of holistic therapies in the cat grooming environment. I've attended a workshop run by Lisa Rendall of Kathverena Groomers & Animal Healing Centre, to learn about these, including crystal and colour therapy, which was absolutely fascinating to see how cats responded to the therapies. I have recently (2019) refreshed my Feline First Aid skills with Animal Love Pet First Aid, run by vet Sophie Bell. This courses are full of important info, not just about cat first aid, but cat safe products and all things cat related! Sophie makes the course entertaining and interactive - well worth attending.
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