Pet Grooming Orange County

Fall Safety for Cats

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Fall Safety for Cats

Our pets rely on us to keep them happy, healthy and safe. There are several things that can be dangerous to your feline companion during the fall. The following tips can help keep your cat safe.

Outdoor Hazards

Most of us already know the potential dangers of letting cats outdoors. Cats that spend time outdoors are susceptible to injury or worse from vehicles, wildlife and more. Outdoor cats face additional challenges during the fall.

Toxic mold often develops in fallen leaves this time of year. This is also when snakes begin looking for a safe place for winter. Poisonous snakes are becoming more and more common in Orange County, especially in areas of new development. If your cat spends time outdoors, make sure that you clean up fallen leaves around your home. Keep a close eye on your cat and regularly inspect areas around your home for snakes.

Indoor Hazards

Outdoor cats aren’t the only ones at risk this fall. Indoor cats face several potential dangers as well. Cleaning products can be toxic to pets. Scented products such as potpourri and scented candles can irritate your pet’s senses and cause them distress. If your cat is sneezing, it’s important to remove all scented products from your home.

During the fall, rodents might move inside to keep warm for the winter. Take care when treating for rodents in your home. Mouse and rat poison can be deadly to pets and traps can cause serious injury. Live traps are the safest option.

Holiday Hazards

Holiday decorations may be tempting to cats. Unfortunately, these decorations can be extremely dangerous. Holiday lights can cause electrocution if chewed. Candles can be knocked over by curious pets. Tinsel and other ornaments can lead to a life-threatening blockage if ingested. Be careful when decorating for the holidays. Watch your cat closely and try to keep decorations out of reach.

It’s also important to keep your cat away from holiday food. Uncooked meat, onions, garlic, sweets and greasy foods can cause serious problems for your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment. Holiday appointments are booking up fast.

Pet-Friendly Decorating Tips

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Pet-Friendly Decorating Tips

The holiday season is officially upon us. This time of year can be dangerous for our pets. While you probably already know the dangers of table scraps and chicken bones, you might not have considered your holiday decorations as a potential hazard for your pets.

Decorating for the Holidays

Many pets find the sights and smells of holiday decorations appealing. Unfortunately, these objects can cause serious problems if ingested. Trees and candles can be knocked down, causing fires and injuries. Wrapped gifts also pose a threat to our faithful companions. Make sure that you keep your pets in mind when decorating your home for the holidays.

Plants and Flowers

Plants and flowers are everywhere this time of year. In addition to decorating our homes, these items are commonly given as gifts. There are a number of plants and flowers that are dangerous to pets including holly, poinsettias and pine needles.

If you decide to decorate your home with plants, make sure that you put them out of reach of pets. Another solution is to use artificial versions instead. Although artificial plants pose some risk of being ingested, pets typically find them less appealing than the real thing.

Christmas trees should be kept in a stable stand. If possible, attach your tree to a window or wall with fishing line.

Electrical Cords

Chewing on electrical cords and lights can cause serious issues for your pet. Electrical cords can cause burns, electric shock and even death. Unplug lights and other cords whenever you leave your home and monitor pets closely when at home.

Ornaments

Glass ornaments, ribbon, yarn, tinsel, string, adhesives and glue all pose a serious risk to your pet. These items can be ingested, causing injury and possibly life-threatening blockages. Keep all ornaments out of reach of pets and never use food to decorate, as this will only tempt your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service pet grooming and mobile grooming services in Orange County, California. Our holiday grooming appointments are booking up fast. Please call us at 714-962-1919 to set up your holiday appointment.

7 Things Your Groomer Wish You Knew

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7 Things Your Groomer Wish You Knew

As Orange County’s premier pet groomer, we’ve seen a lot of pets come and go. As a pet parent, there are a few things you should know about the grooming process. These tips are not only beneficial to the overall health and well being of your pet, they also help make the grooming process easier for everyone involved.

  1. Start preparing your pet for grooming early
    It’s almost impossible to properly groom a pet that is nervous or aggressive. It’s crucial that you begin preparing your pet early. Touch their feet often and socialize them with other pets and people. This not only benefits your groomer, it also helps with trips to the vet and even the park.
  2. Brush your pet regularly
    Unless your pet has very short hair, if they aren’t brushed regularly their coat can easily become tangled and matted. Begin brushing your pet as soon as it comes home and continue doing so at least twice a week.
  3. Keep Calm
    Our pets can tell when we’re anxious and upset. It’s important that you remain calm when dropping off your pet for grooming. Don’t stop in to check on your pet either. This only adds to their anxiety, making the grooming process more difficult and lengthy.
  4. Be specific
    Keep in mind that your groomer sees a lot of pets throughout the day. All of these pets will be getting something different. Be very specific with what you want. If you are hoping to get a specific haircut, a picture can help.
  5. Listen to your groomer
    Your Groomer is specially trained to take care of your pet. They know what will work and what will not. Even if you have an idea of what you would like, it’s important to listen to your groomer’s suggestions and concerns.
  6. Matted pets will be shaved
    Matted fur is unattractive and painful for your pet. Mats often hide sores and skin conditions. Matted fur must be shaved. De-matting is both dangerous and inhumane.
  7. Prices can change
    We always do our best to be up front about the costs involved with grooming. However, sometimes it’s impossible for us to know the condition of your pet’s coat until we’ve begun the grooming process. The same is true for your pet’s temperament. While we will always attempt to contact you, it’s important to remember that price quotes can change.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

 

 

Our Flea Free Policy

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Our Flea Free Policyflea free policy

Sooner or later every pet parent has to deal with fleas. If you know how to properly treat and prevent fleas, your pet will be happier and healthier. As a respected Orange County grooming shop, we feel that it is important to take action against fleas.

Any pet that arrives for grooming with one or two visible fleas will be given a bath in our citrus-based flea shampoo. This shampoo is safe for pets, but deadly to fleas. It will not damage the pet’s skin like other over-the-counter flea shampoos can. This basic flea treatment is complimentary.

Pets with several fleas and/or flea dirt present must undergo our full de-fleaing process. Pets with fleas are given a Capstar pill immediately. These pills are safe for dogs and cats over four weeks of age. They work hard and fast, killing adult fleas in as little as 30 minutes. After the Capstar has gone into effect, flea-infested pets are bathed in our citrus-based flea shampoo. The pet must sit in this shampoo for 10 minutes to ensure that it is able to work effectively. After the shampoo is fully rinsed, we apply a Dead Sea mud conditioner that stays on for another 20 minutes. This deep conditioning replenishes any lost moisture and soothes irritated skin. After the conditioner is rinsed, all dead fleas are removed before grooming is continued. The entire process takes approximately 80 minutes to complete, therefore an additional $25 charge is added for this service.

When we check in your pet it is sometimes difficult to tell if there are fleas present. It is greatly appreciated if you let us know if you suspect fleas when making your grooming appointment. If we discover fleas on your pet, we will do our best to try to contact you. However, for the safety of our other customers, any pet that arrives for grooming with fleas MUST be de-fleaed before we complete the grooming process.

We take a lot of pride in our grooming shop and keeping it clean and flea free is extremely important to us. Not all grooming salons take these steps to prevent your pet from bringing home fleas.  We take the time necessary to sanitize everything after a flea infested pet has visited our shop. We even have our salon treated monthly by Preferred Pest Control. Preferred uses a pet-safe spray to kill and prevent fleas and other insects.

Please keep in mind that we can only handle a part of the problem. To rid your pet of fleas you must treat your home as well. We use and recommend Orange County based Preferred Pest Control.  Claws N Paws Day Spa does not sell or recommend flea products such as Frontline or Advantage. We encourage you to talk with your veterinarian about safe and effective flea control products such as Comfortis.

We have developed this flea free policy in order to maintain our reputation as a respected Orange County grooming salon. We want every customer to have peace of mind knowing that their pets will not bring fleas home after grooming.

We thank you for your understanding and we hope that this makes you feel more confident about choosing us as your pet’s groomer.

For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

 

Does My Cat Need To Be Groomed?

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Does My Cat Need To Be Groomed?catshave

Cats groom themselves regularly in order to keep their bodies cool and remove dirt and debris. Most people believe that since cats spend so much time grooming themselves they do not require professional grooming. However, regular professional grooming can significantly reduce shedding, ingestion of hair (hairballs) and matting of the fur.

Long-haired cats can become severely matted if they are not brushed regularly. When their fur is dirty it is even more likely to become matted. When a cat is matted, bathing them can actually make the knots worse. This happens because as their fur dries, the knots tighten against the skin. This causes your cat severe discomfort. Any knots or mats must be removed prior to bathing with the help of good quality clippers and NEVER scissors!

A cat’s skin is much thinner than a human’s or a dog’s skin. It is so thin in fact that if it is accidentally nicked with a clipper blade it can tear just like tissue paper. This is why using clippers on a cat should be left to a professional groomer that has experience working with cats.

Cats have very different grooming needs than dogs. Only certain shampoos are meant for use on cats. Using the wrong shampoo can cause severe skin irritation and other major health issues. For example, certain flea shampoos designed for use on dogs can enter your cat’s bloodstream through their pores, poisoning their body from the outside in. Similarly, if the shampoo is not properly rinsed then your cat will likely ingest the residue when they groom themselves after their bath. Professional cat groomers know which shampoos are best for use on cats.

Cats must also have their nails trimmed at least every four to six weeks. Regular nail trims reduce the sharpness of claws, decreasing the amount of damage that your cat can do to your furniture.

Cats have very special needs when it comes to grooming. An ideal cat groomer understands these needs and knows exactly how to make your cat’s grooming experience as stress-free as possible. One way of accomplishing this is by designating a special area that your cat is familiar with. A cat carrier provides a safe place where your cat can relax away from any dogs that are being groomed at the same time. When you provide your own cat carrier for your cat groomer, your cat can rest in an area that is free from any unfamiliar scents. Another excellent option for cats is mobile grooming.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has many years of experience grooming cats in Orange County, California. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

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