Practicing with Tigers

Well, maybe just one Tiger! Tiger is a very affectionate (to the point of being annoying) Domestic Shorthair that belongs to my good groomer friend, Andie. He lives at her shop and I was given permission to use him for any type of creative grooming I want to try. In return, I bathe him every so often, even if I'm not clipping or coloring him. I haven't colored him yet, actually, but there's a rumor he should show some Ravens pride so purple might be in his future!

Anyway, last month I decided to do some Abstract Runway practice while Andie was away. Now, most cats tend to lay on the table, either on their bellies like little bread loafs, stretched out flat on their sides or recline somewhere in between.

But not Tiger. Oooh, no. Tiger rules the shop and has gotten the idea that he can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Which isn't that uncommon for a cat! So for the first 15 minutes, Tiger stood. It is very difficult to groom a standing cat. Way hard. Trying to clip in some type of abstract pattern? Really, really hard!

irregularly shaped circles

 harder to clip than one would think!

Now it wasn't that Tiger minded being groomed, or didn't like it, or whatever, it was just him being a sassy redhead cat. But the funny thing was that after some time had passed, I asked him to lay on his side. And he did. Just stretched out and let me clip away. 

Swirls are much easier!

The entire time I was clipping his swirly side, he was laying on his side, purring contently and kneading and waving his paws. He certainly didn't care what I was doing, he was happy!

Oh hey, are we done???

 we're done!

Andie came back from her vacation (I had emailed her and told her I had no idea what had happened to her cat!) and had to explain Tiger's interesting appearance to all her customers...at least until she got tired of it and tucked him away out of sight! Most people loved it. Everyone else at least acknowledged that it was interesting and unique and quite obviously didn't phase Mr. Social Butterfly. 

After a week or so, I was in Andie's shop, bathing Haiku. Someone came in to pick up their dog and saw Tiger. Naturally, they inquired. And Andie turned around, pointed dramatically at me at stated, "Her! She did it!" 

I think she'd waited all week for the opportunity! 

The competition is tomorrow evening. Tomorrow morning I will do a final bath and groom with Sara, then we head to the land of chocolate! Wish us luck!

I Love My Cat

This cat. I love her.

Yes, I may have cussed her out from 5-6:30am

when she was leaping around, licking my eyelids, shoving her paws in my nose

and otherwise being obnoxious

(she's like that every day, twice a day. Yay, steroids.)

Feed me, puny human. NOW.

But yesterday I slept through both alarms and the only reason

I woke up was because of the THUMP WHUMP THUD

of her body slamming and tumbling against the door.

I even made it to work before I was "late".

Sleeping peacefully now that her tummy is full

Just a minute ago she jumped onto my lap

leaned against me and started purring.

And purring. And purring.

And she looked at me with that look only contented cats have.

The one of pure bliss, that says

"everything is right with my world"

Then she nipped me on the wrist and ran away.

I love cats <3

especially mine

Flooffy Ragdoll

I have been super busy recently. Lots of greasy, matted, nasty cats coming in my door - with just as many squeaky clean, beautiful kitties leaving!

My last few grooming days I've forgotten to bring my camera, which is such a shame. I've had some very interesting cats that I'd love to have shared. Bad groomer!

I can't remember this Ragdoll's name, but she was a hoot!

Meowing, tumbling and loving nonstop for her entire groom.

Taking pictures was almost impossible

A rare moment of stillness

This kitty had the personality of most of the cats I groomed this week. Happy, enthusiastic and loving. So much so that she was almost hard to groom! But I'll take a happy cat over a grumpy one any day, even if it's hard to clip a belly in mid tumble!

Rainy Days are Good Days

Good day for snuggling up in a fuzzy blankie

Maybe a snooze on the sofa

Or wherever you find a comfy spot

But don't forget to be careful

some spots are safer than others!

I hope you have a happy Friday!

If it happens to be rainy and stormy, please cuddle up

with your favorite pets, enjoy a good book

a favorite movie or tv show

or just listen to the rain. 

Oh hey, Sara...!

What? I'm trying to nap in the Amaryllis. 

I have something to tell you! 

And besides, you know Amaryllis are toxic to cats...

Napping. Not eating. 

Now what do you want?

You know how I like to practice creative grooming with you?

Remember the time I did some random ramblings for that Open House?

Yes...weren't you trying for autumn leaves?

 No one likes a smart-cat, Sara.

Besides, I called it Abstract Fireworks. No one knew.

Until now.

ANYWAY - 

That's a poodle, Beth. I'm a cat.

Shhhh...

Following the Best in Show awards and for the first time at Groom Expo, groomers will have the opportunity to showcase the beauty in simplicity by entering Saturday evening’s abstract runway competition. Taking place between Saturday’s dinner and the Barkleigh Honors Awards, the competition features beautifully sculpted, simple abstract designs that use minimal color, if any. These designs should be doable in one day and be appropriate for a client’s dog or cat. Without any elaborate scenery or costumes, contestants will rely on their designs and complementary stylist’s attire as they compete.

Oh, I get it now.

Are you smirking or winking? 

Yes. 

Kinda creepy, Sara.

Would you prefer I recline gracefully on a table while looking

shyly off in the distance?

Yes. That's perfect!

Anyway, what do you think? We'll go, I'll clip a pattern, we'll walk down a runway together,

everyone will admire you and you know you love going to shows.

I do like when everyone makes a fuss over me...ok, let's do it!

How are you doing to clip me?

I was thinking some swirly. I tend to be good at swirls. 

Are you going to practice this time?

Well...not on you. Not enough time. I'm sure I can find someone to practice on.

It'll be fine!

Goody. 

You're very supportive. Maybe YOU should wear the fancy dress 

and I'll wear the fancy haircut!

Unlikely.

*I* will lounge on the table, allow you to clip me as I take in the sights

and allow my fans to gaze upon me. 

Thanks, Sara. Sounds like a plan! We're going to have a great time.

Not a problem. I'm looking forward to being a star!

Hey, can I go back to my nap now?

Sure, good ahead. Enjoy your snooze.

Beauty sleep, not that I need it!

And that's how Sara and I decided to compete at Hershey Groom Expo in just a few weeks. Five. 

Five weeks. Not that I'm counting. 

Time to start sketching out designs!

Hmmmmmmmm

I was looking for a particular picture someone wanted to borrow, and while I haven't found it yet, I did find something that made me laugh. Apparently I had groomed two blue point Himalayans on the same day. They look remarkably similar, at least in pictures, and I'm surprised I didn't get them confused. Since I have no recollection of this, I guess they were different enough in person!

Mystery Blue #1

Mystery Blue #2

Now, they look pretty different in their Before pictures. Partly because Mystery Blue #1 has some horrible Nikon color cast I just couldn't get rid of. (I groom in a closet.) But it's really the After pictures that are hard to tell apart. Can you tell who's who?

Mystery Blue 1...or 2?

1...or 2?

argh! I can't tell!

1 or 2...1 or 2

you sound like an optometrist 

I am not amused

Mystery Blue #1 or #2?

Doesn't matter!
That is one good looking cat!

In Between - The Medium Hair

Lately I've had a bunch of cats with medium length coats. Often mislabeled, it seems many people have a hard time deciding if their cat is considered a short haired or a long haired cat. And, often, the answer is neither! If your cat seems to be longer than a 'short hair' but not quite a 'long hair', they just might be considered a medium hair. Usually this coat length shows up in your everyday moggie, to borrow a term from our friends abroad, or domestic cat, as we most often call them here in the US.

So what do *I* consider a Domestic Medium Hair Cat to be? A cat with 'medium' length hair. Yes, really. Usually these cats are silky and fine coated. Undercoat may be thick, but is rarely 'fluffy' or bushy. The coat is long enough to be flowing, but not to the length of your long haired cat. Shorter on the back, there is usually some fluff around the neck and rear. Tails are often long and feathery.

The lovely Ash

it's easier to see the length of his hair prior to 

his bath and blow dry

After grooming the coat appears short haired length on top

but the long tail and fluffy pants point towards a medium length coat.

The coat is long enough to lay smoothly 

and appear flowing

but is without a fluffy undercoat.

elegance without the bulk

Comparisons!

Domestic Short Hair

although this cat does have a longer coat

(especially over his spine)

he's still considered a short hair. Note the lack

of excess hair on the mane, tail or rear.

Domestic Long Hair

Although she has a fine, silky coat, the length in general

and the uniformity of length over the entire body

indicates a 'long hair' cat.

Usually it's the domestic ("mutt") cats that have hair length confusion, since we classify them by coat length. Does it really matter? No, not really. It is, of course, more correct to call the first three cats pictured Domestic Medium Hairs. But let's be honest, we are talking about crossbreed cats, most of which are strays,  'found' cats or 'alley cats'. Some professionals don't even bother with the term medium hair, and would just consider them to all be Domestic Long Hairs. 

As for me, I prefer to classify them as DMH (Domestic Medium Hair). In my mind, that term is linked to the appearance of the first three cats pictured. If I have a DMH on my list, I expect a cat like Ash. It's not a huge deal to me if they are mis-presented as a DSH (Domestic Short Hair) or DLH (Domestic Long Hair), as I find it a fairly easy coat type to work with. Price-wise, for professional grooming, I charge my standard long hair price, since these cats are longer coated and do take more time, effort and product than a shorthaired cat. If the cat is especially thin coated, I may charge closer to the short haired price. I think the Domestic Medium Hairs may be my favorite domestic length. I enjoy the feathery bit of flash coupled with a shorter body. It's sassy!