Veterinarians and cat groomers are a match made in heaven. Too bad many veterinarians are blind to this perfect pairing. They treat cat groomers as if we were foie gras, a weirdly decadent extravagance of no real benefit to anyone. In fact, we are more like corn on the cob or string beans.
Injuries and conditions I have found while grooming cats include . . .
Collar so tight that fur underneath has worn away
Obesity to the extent that the cat looks like a massive meatloaf of discomfort
Ear infection
Eye infection
Third eyelid swollen
Ingrown claws
Urinary tract infection
Arthritis
Tooth decay
Nicks that have turned into open wounds
An average cat grooming visit lasts 60 minutes. An average veterinary clinic exam lasts 15 minutes.
Yet there are still veterinarians, and those fierce guardians of the veterinary clinic known as receptionists, who openly scoff at cat grooming. They tell owners, “You can do the grooming yourself,” without noting that few owners WANT to do the grooming.
These are the same veterinarians who eagerly scan articles titled, “How to Make Your Clinic Feline Friendly.” They sign up for workshops where they study ways to lure cat owners to their premises, complaining that out of the thousands of cats in the city, only tiny percentage will see a veterinarian.
Here’s a brilliant way for veterinarians to lure cat owners into a veterinary clinic. Support the work of the groomers who act as your eyes and ears.
