It’s a gorgeous Tuesday morning and I’m sitting here sipping my coffee and going over my Business Management course material. Today is the day I begin my certification to receive my Feline Master Groomer title and nothing eases test-anxiety like a brush up of study materials.

In honor of my Business Management exam today, I thought I’d talk briefly about the Meow Mobile Mission Statement and what separates me from other groomers here in Arizona.

Fear Free Certified Groomer

Taking the “pet” out of “petrified”.

Fear Free is an educational institution which keeps pet professionals at the forefront as true pet health experts. Originally founded in 2016, Fear Free provides unparalleled education on feline and canine emotional wellbeing and enrichment while simultaneously reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. This program was founded by a world renowned veterinarian and its training programs and testing are conducted by lead behavioralists as well as veterinarians.

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National Cat Grooming Institute Member + Trained

I originally discovered the National Cat Grooming Institute in August of 2019. As a pet professional of over a decade, I’ve witnessed first hand how anyone can call themselves a groomer or trainer. There is no legal certification required in the United States to identify as either of these things and it shows. The National Cat Grooming Institute (NCGI) is the first and foremost leading feline experts known internationally. After practically stalking a number of Certified Feline Master Groomers, I reached out to Jacque Opp on Instagram, and we exchanged a number of conversations before I took the plunge and began my formal NCGI education in 2020.

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Cat Exclusive Groomer in Arizona

I am a firm believer in following your strengths and passions. While I have a huge passion for all animals and love working with both cats and dogs, I have a natural gift with grooming cats. It’s not too hard to find a good dog groomer, but it is hard to find a good cat groomer. And it is for this reason alone that I offer a feline-specific specialty service.

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In-Home Mobile Cat Grooming

I am the only cat-exclusive in home mobile cat groomer with my level of education, experience, and professionalism.

In my experience, cats do better in their own environment with familiar scents, sounds, and surrounding. Most first time grooming clients have cats who have never been handled let alone groomed before. It is for this reason that I opted to model my business around an in-home 1:1 format rather than a mobile van or salon.

Because of my business model, I am able to offer more one on one time with each client and their cat, providing education as well as an opportunity for them to witness first hand their cat being groomed. Most groomers do not allow individuals to be present, but I do. If anything, it is encouraged for particularly anxious or matted cats.

The risk of cross contamination of parasites or infectious diseases are essentially eliminated as the space used for grooming is not shared between families.

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Imitated, But Never Duplicated

If you would have told me years ago that the hardest part of owning by own business wasn’t the clients but other business owners, I’d of thought you were crazy. I distinctly remember Danelle German talking about other professionals wanting a “piece of her pie” once she became established and successful. As an artist I’ve had people steal my artwork or concepts but I never thought it could happen in a service based industry.

But it did. And I was devastated. Another local self-proclaimed cat groomer stole my entire website, imitated my education, experience, and business model. It was devastating, but it was also enlightening.

If you’re looking for a cat groomer, whether it is in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Phoenix—Arizona—anywhere—ask questions. Talk to your groomer before scheduling. Make sure that their education is internalized and not regurgitated. Double check their credentials. Remember, there is no certification to call yourself a groomer in the United States. Anyone can say they are a groomer.

Anyways, its time to pound down the rest of this iced coffee, brace myself for this 90 degree weather, and go take my first CFMG exam.

xox, The Meow Mobile