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Getting a cat ready

How to prepare a cat for grooming

Most of a cat's grooming stress happens before the groomer touches it: the chase to the carrier, the slide across the back seat, the wait in a strange room. All of that is in your hands. Here is a two-week plan for the carrier and the car, what to do about breakfast, and what the groomer needs to hear from you.

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Groomer combing a calm cat

Last reviewed October 9, 2026 · by the Dogtown team

Before you start

Before you start, choose a carrier your cat can walk into and a groomer can open from the top

The AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines ask for a carrier that is sturdy, secure and stable, and they note that a removable top helps with fearful cats, because the cat can be lifted out or examined in the bottom half instead of being tipped or pulled through a door. A hard plastic carrier with a top that unclips does all of that. A soft bag that sags when lifted is less stable, and stability is the first thing the guidelines ask for.

Pick the appointment with the cat in mind as well. A slot that lets you drive at a quiet time of day means less engine noise, fewer stops and a shorter time in the carrier. Book the service that matches the coat, from a $20 nail clip to the $120 Full Service, and note your cat's habits in the booking. Then put a date in your calendar two weeks before the groom; that is when the preparation starts.

  • A hard carrier with a removable top
  • A towel or blanket that smells of home
  • A slot that keeps the drive short and quiet
  • Your vet's name and number for the booking note

The steps

Prepare over two weeks: the carrier first, then the car, then the morning itself

The steps follow the guidelines' advice to make the carrier a familiar part of the furniture at home and to rehearse the trip without the cat before doing it with the cat. VCA Animal Hospitals adds the gradual car plan: sit in the parked car with the engine running, back down the driveway and return, then drive around the block, building up only while the cat stays calm. If your cat shows clear anxiety at any stage, stop and try again another day.

Feeding needs a decision, not a habit. For a cat that drools, cries or vomits in the car, VCA suggests withholding food for up to eight hours before travel, as long as skipping the meal does not add stress. For a cat that travels well, a small breakfast is usually fine. Ask your vet first if your cat is a kitten, a senior, diabetic or on medication, because fasting is not right for every cat.

  1. 01

    Fourteen days out: set the carrier in a room your cat uses, door open or top off, with soft bedding inside.

  2. 02

    Days thirteen to eight: drop treats or part of a meal inside the carrier and let your cat walk in on its own. Never push it in.

  3. 03

    Days seven to four: close the door for a moment, lift the carrier a few inches, set it down and reward. Carry the empty carrier to the car and back.

  4. 04

    Days three to one: sit in the parked car with your cat in the carrier, then take a short drive around the block, with the carrier secured on the floor or with a seat belt.

  5. 05

    The night before: write the groomer's note and decide on breakfast with your vet's advice in mind.

  6. 06

    On the morning: if you use a synthetic feline pheromone spray, apply it to the bedding at least 30 minutes before you leave, then cover the carrier with a towel.

  7. 07

    At the door: carry the carrier level with both hands, keep it closed, and hand it straight to the groomer along with your note.

What to tell the groomer

Tell the groomer about the coat, the body and the cat's history, in writing

A groomer plans a cat's visit from what they are told, and most of what matters cannot be seen through a carrier door. Start with the coat: where the knots are, whether they comb through, and when the cat was last groomed. The ASPCA notes that matted hair can be painful, so point out any spot your cat guards when you touch it. Then the body: age, medical conditions, recent surgery, arthritis, and anything your vet has said about the skin or heart.

Then the history, plainly. How did the last groom or vet visit go, and what does your cat hate most: its feet, its belly, the sound of clippers, being held? Has it ever bitten or scratched someone badly enough to stop an appointment? At Dogtown every cat is assessed by coat condition and temperament before the service, and an honest note shapes that assessment. A cat that cannot be groomed safely is referred to a vet.

  • Where the mats are and when the last groom was
  • Age, medical conditions and any recent surgery
  • What your cat dislikes most about handling
  • Any past bite or appointment that ended early
  • When it last ate, and how it traveled today

Mistakes we see

The usual mistakes are a surprise carrier, a full breakfast and a bath at home the night before

The surprise carrier is the big one: brought down from the attic on the morning of the groom, it tells the cat something is wrong before anyone has picked it up, and the chase under the bed starts the visit at full alarm. The second mistake is a full breakfast for a cat you know gets car sick. The third is opening the carrier at the front desk to show the cat to the room, which only invites a bolt.

Well-meant work at home causes trouble too. A bath the night before to get a head start leaves a damp, irritated coat and a cat that is already tired of being handled. Cutting a mat out with scissors at home risks cutting the skin as well. Leave the knots for the groomer, keep the cat calm the evening before, and let the groom be the only big event of the week.

  • Bringing the carrier out only on grooming morning
  • A full meal before a car-sick cat travels
  • Opening the carrier in the lobby
  • Bathing or cutting mats at home beforehand

When to call us

Call us if the coat has felted, your cat panics in the car or this is its first groom

Book online, in the Dogtown app or by phone; there is no evaluation appointment for cat grooming. Call 978 491-5922 first if your cat's coat has felted into a solid layer, if it panics in the car despite the practice, if it has hurt a groomer or a vet before, or if this is its very first groom. We plan a slot and a service that suit the cat, which may mean something shorter than you had in mind.

Cats at Dogtown are groomed in a quiet room away from the dog areas at 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester. If you are driving in from Rockport, Essex or Manchester-by-the-Sea, keep the carrier level on the floor of the car or belted in, and avoid the busiest part of your day. If your cat vomits on every trip, talk to your vet before the next appointment rather than repeating the drive.

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Cat grooming at Dogtown

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Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Should I feed my cat before a grooming appointment?
A cat that travels well can usually have a small breakfast. For a cat that drools, cries or vomits in the car, VCA Animal Hospitals suggests withholding food for up to eight hours before travel, provided skipping the meal does not add stress. Check with your vet first for kittens, seniors and cats with diabetes or other conditions, and tell the groomer when your cat last ate.
How far ahead should I start carrier training?
Two weeks is a workable minimum for a cat that already tolerates its carrier, and longer for one that runs at the sight of it. The goal is a cat that walks into the carrier on its own because good things happen there. Leave it out as part of the furniture, feed treats inside it, and keep it out after the groom so the work is not lost.
Should I brush or bathe my cat before the groom?
Gentle combing of the areas your cat enjoys is fine, but skip the bath and leave mats alone. A bath the night before leaves a damp, tired cat, and scissors near a mat can catch the skin beneath it. Instead, tell the groomer where the knots are and how long they have been there, so the right service and slot are booked.
Can I use a pheromone spray in the carrier?
Yes, if you already use one. The AAFP and ISFM handling guidelines suggest that a synthetic feline facial pheromone spray can be applied in the carrier at least 30 minutes before transport to help calm the cat. Spray the bedding, not the cat, and give it time to settle before your cat goes in.
What if my cat panics during the car practice?
Stop and try again another day from an earlier, easier step. VCA Animal Hospitals cautions that forcing the issue can deepen the fear, and that getting a nervous cat used to the car may take days or weeks. If the panic is severe or your cat vomits every time, speak to your vet before the grooming appointment.

More questions? Read the full FAQ

Sources

Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.

Keep reading

Cat grooming in GloucesterHow to choose a cat groomerAre cats groomed in the same room as dogs?How do groomers keep cats still? How-to guides All guides

Next step

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