Pet Grooming Orange County

Cleaning Pet Stains with Household Products

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Cleaning Pet Stains with Household Productsduchess

If you have pets then you probably have had to deal with pet accidents. When not cleaned properly, pet accidents can leave behind unattractive carpet stains and odors. Even though there are several retail products available to clean up pet messes and remove carpet stains, these products are often expensive and contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to you and your pet. Pet stains can be cleaned with common household products. These highly effective, inexpensive and natural ingredients remove pet stains quickly and eliminate the odor that is sometimes left behind.

Vinegar

Vinegar works to break up the ammonia in pet urine, killing bacteria and neutralizing odor. To clean up pet messes with vinegar start by blotting up as much of the pet stain as possible then pour the vinegar directly onto the stained area. Use a scrub brush to work the vinegar into the entire area, making sure that it reaches the underside of the carpet as well. Let it sit for ten minutes and then blot with a clean towel. Allow the area to air dry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to absorb pet stains and eliminate odors. Using a clean towel, blot up as much of the stain as possible. Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the entire area. Allow it to sit for fifteen minutes and then work in the remaining baking soda with a scrub brush. Prepare a spray bottle with one part vinegar and one part water and spray the vinegar solution over the stain. Work the solution in with a scrub brush and then blot up any excess wetness. Once dry, use a vacuum to remove any leftover baking soda.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove pet stains, however it can sometimes cause discoloration of the carpeting. Always spot test in an inconspicuous area before attempting to clean carpet stains with hydrogen peroxide. Before cleaning, you will need to absorb as much of the stain as possible with a clean towel. Sprinkle a thick, even layer of baking soda over the entire stain. Next, soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide. The baking soda will bubble up. This reaction is completely normal. Allow it to sit for five minutes and then absorb the leftover peroxide with a clean towel. After the area has dried, use a vacuum to remove any leftover baking soda.

We hope this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality pet grooming for both dogs and cats. For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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Common Cat Haircuts

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Common Cat Haircutsclaire_anderson

A cat’s coat is important for a number of different reasons. It keeps the cat warm and allows it to regulate its temperature. Most of the time a cat will keep its fur groomed on its own. However, sometimes the fur might require extensive grooming and clipping. Grooming a cat’s fur can contribute to the overall health and comfort of the cat, especially if the coat has become matted. There are many different grooming styles for cats. Let’s take a closer look at the most common cat haircuts.

Stripped

Also known as shaving or clipping, a stripped grooming style involves shaving the cat’s fur close to its body. This style of grooming is necessary if your cat’s fur is extremely matted.

Lion Cut

The lion cut is a grooming style where the cat’s body is clipped short but the fur on the head, feet and tail are left alone. This type of haircut is extremely popular for cats as well as some breeds of dogs.

Sanitary Haircut

A sanitary haircut does not affect the overall appearance of the cat’s fur. In fact, most people will not even notice that this type of haircut has been given. A sanitary haircut is a functional haircut. Cats with longer fur sometimes get excrement stuck in their fur. A sanitary cut trims down the fur in such a way that this will not become an issue.

Partial Haircut

A partial haircut involves clipping the fur on the cat’s inner thighs, armpits, chin, tail and sanitary area. The fur on the cat’s back, sides and tail are left as they are. This type of grooming neatens up the cat’s appearance.

Peekaboo Haircut

A peekaboo haircut involves shortening the fur on the cat’s underside and blending the length into the longer fur on the cat’s back. While this type of haircut gives the cat the appearance of a full coat, it reduces the work necessary to maintain the cat’s underside which can easily become matted and full of debris.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming Orange County’s cats and dogs since 2001. Our experienced groomers understand that grooming can be stressful for cats and know how to reduce that stress while providing them with excellent care. We will be happy to discuss with you which type of haircut is best suited for your feline friend. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

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Is your Cat Over-Grooming Itself?

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Is your Cat Over-Grooming Itself?11_07_07

Cats groom themselves for several different reasons. The most common reasons are to remove dirt and debris from their coat, to regulate their body heat and to remove themselves from a stressful situation. However, sometimes the grooming becomes excessive. If your cat is over-grooming one particular area or if it is beginning to remove its fur, your cat could be suffering from something more serious such as fleas, allergies or too much stress. The best way to determine why your cat is over-grooming itself is to consult with your veterinarian. Let’s take a closer look at the most common reasons that cats over-groom.

Fleas

Both outdoor and indoor cats can come into contact with fleas. Fleas attach themselves to a cat’s skin and suck their blood. When a flea’s saliva comes into contact with the cat’s skin, it can cause an allergic reaction. The cat will over-groom itself, sometimes removing its fur, to relieve the itching. Eliminating fleas on your cat and in your home is the only way to stop this type of over-grooming.

Pregnancy

Female cats that are pregnant will constantly groom their genitals in order to prepare themselves for the impending birth. Although this type of grooming might seem excessive it is completely normal.

Stress

One of the leading causes of over-grooming in cats is stress. Stress grooming, or psychogenic alopecia occurs during an extremely stressful period in a cat’s life such as a move or the introduction of a new pet. During stressful times, a cat might focus on one specific area and lick the spot excessively, sometimes removing its fur or causing injury. Cats that suffer from this type of condition typically focus on their abdomen and the inside of their legs.

Ticks

Like fleas, ticks can cause a cat to obsessively groom one area. Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to a cat’s skin and drink their blood. This can cause an allergic reaction that leads to over-grooming.

Food Allergies

Cats commonly develop allergies to the ingredients in commercial cat food such as chicken, fish, corn, wheat and beef. These allergies can appear without warning in cats as young as five months or as old as fifteen years. Giving a cat the same food every day for several months or several years makes it more likely that your cat will develop allergies. When a cat develops a rash from food allergies it will obsessively lick at its paws, legs and stomach.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been grooming dogs and cats in Orange County, California since 2001. For more information or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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Brushing Your Cat

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Brushing Your Catjessica0808_2

Healthy cats will typically spend several hours each day grooming themselves. Regardless, every now and then they will need your help maintaining their sleek or fluffy appearance. Regular brushing and combing helps remove dirt and prevent tangles from forming. It also helps to spread out your cat’s naturally produced oils, keeping their coat shiny. These important oils also keep your cat’s skin free from irritations.

Cats that have long hair will require more grooming assistance than short-haired cats. Long-haired cats can easily become matted and get things tangled in their fur, especially if they are allowed to go outdoors. Long-haired cats should be brushed and combed every single day. Short-haired cats really only require brushing once a week unless they have a habit of collecting things in their coat.

Brushing is especially important during season changes when your cat tends to shed more fur. While outdoor cats will shed in the spring and autumn, indoor cats tend to shed all year long. This is caused mostly because of the amount of time that your cat spends in direct daylight vs. artificial light, and less because of temperature changes. When a cat is shedding and it grooms itself, it will ingest the hair. This can quickly lead to hairballs. Regular brushing removes the loose fur before your cat has a chance to ingest it.

There are a large number of brushes and combs available for use on cats. For short-haired cats, you can use a short metal comb to remove loose hair or a rubber brush which is perfect for removing loose hair and giving a soft massage at the same time. Fine toothed metal combs can be used to lift any fleas from their coat. When selecting a brush or comb, just make sure that the comb is short and delicate enough so that it does not damage your cat’s skin. Start at the head and slowly work your way to the tail, carefully brushing the legs as well.

For long-haired cats you should use a larger comb and a longer pin brush. When brushing a long-haired cat it is extremely important to remove any tangles, but you should never tug on the tangles too hard. Hard to remove tangles should only be removed by a professional groomer. Brush your cat’s fur all the way through, making sure that you brush the cat’s tummy and legs.

After brushing, it’s a good idea to use a damp cloth or a wet hand to carefully remove any remaining loose hair.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s cats since 2001. For information on professional cat grooming or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call us at 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

Why Pet Grooming Costs So Much

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Why Pet Grooming Costs So Much

Today, consumers everywhere are trying to make sure that they are getting the most value for their money. When it comes to pet grooming, it’s difficult to see the value when you only see the end product and your pet can’t exactly tell you about their grooming experience. This leads many pet parents to wonder why pet grooming costs so much.

What most people do not realize is that being a pet groomer is a skilled profession. Professional pet groomers must go through several years of training and experience in order to become a professional in the industry. Charging between $40 and $80 per groom is normal for a professional pet grooming salon. We understand that this is typically higher than what it costs to get your own hair cut. Let’s take a closer look at why:

Time and Endurance

If you’ve ever bathed your pet at home then you probably already know that it’s not an easy task. They don’t sit still, they attempt to jump out of the tub and they scratch and paw the entire time. This process can take up to one hour per pet and might even require the assistance of additional employees because of how physically intensive it can be. From shampoo to towel dry, grooming a pet takes much more time and is far more physically demanding than cutting a human’s hair.

Skill and Technique

A pet groomer must clip and cut your pet’s hair in multiple directions. This is because a pet’s hair does not grow in just one direction or two. It grows in hundreds of different directions and each must be tended to individually during their haircut. One example would be your pet’s armpit fur which grows towards their stomach while their leg hair grows towards their rear. Both of these areas are directly next to each other, creating quite a challenge for your pet’s groomer.

Services Provided

When you bring your pet to the groomer they don’t just bathe your pet and cut their hair, they also provide many other services as well. They trim your pet’s nails, clean their ears, pull out their ear hair, express their anal glands and inspect their skin for irritations and parasites. If you were to add up all of these services for a human it would total much higher than what it costs to groom your pet.

In order to keep your grooming costs as low as possible, you must get your pet groomed regularly and keep their fur properly maintained. If you show up for your grooming appointment with a matted pet, your groomer will have no choice but to charge you for the extra time it takes to insure your pet’s safety and overall quality of their groom.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality professional pet grooming in Orange County, California. To schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!