Better Care for Cats Starts With the Right System
Cats in the City is a feline-only care system built for cats who are anxious, aging, medically complex, matted, shutdown, or previously turned away elsewhere.
Through the TANDEM Cat® model, we replace force-heavy handling, sedation-first assumptions, and fragmented care with trauma-informed grooming, medical-aware boarding, in-home support, and structured transition care.
- Behavior is treated as clinical data
- Environment is part of treatment
- Support replaces force-heavy restraint
- Complex cats are built into the model
What Cats in the City Actually Is
Cats in the City is the public-facing practice built around the TANDEM Cat® model: a feline care framework that integrates grooming, boarding, sitting, and transition support under one system.
Instead of treating these as disconnected services, we treat them as different environments where the same clinical logic applies: read the cat, reduce burden, support regulation, and intervene before preventable deterioration occurs.
Choose Your Care Path
Matting, Coat Burden, Hygiene & Recovery
For routine grooming, severe matting, sanitation care, deshedding, claw work, and cats who do not tolerate standard grooming models.
Open grooming services →Boarding for Senior, Fragile & High-Needs Cats
For diabetic cats, seniors, anorexia risk, medication support, and cats needing more than standard boarding supervision.
Open medical boarding →In-Home Continuity of Care
For cats who regulate best at home and need professional feline-only support in a familiar environment.
Open cat sitting →Lower-Stress Transition Care
For mobile claw trimming, structured transitions, and cats who need a calmer path into care.
Open mobile support →This Is a Care Model, Not a Menu
Different Environments, Same Clinical Logic
The service changes, but the model stays the same. Whether a cat is boarding, grooming, resting privately, or re-entering regulation after stress, the goal is always the same: reduce burden and protect stability.
What Makes This Model Different
Most grooming and boarding systems focus on visible problems—matting, behavior, or missed meals. TANDEM Cat® focuses on what happens before those problems escalate.
These pages explain how we identify early signs of coat burden, somatic stress, and behavioral withdrawal—and how we intervene safely, without sedation, across thousands of cases.
TANDEM Cat® Groomed Awake
How 1,790 high-risk cats were safely groomed without injectable sedation using trauma-informed, team-based care.
Read more →Pre-Felt Somatic Entrapment Syndrome (PFSES)
Why some cats become physically uncomfortable before matting is visible—and how that hidden coat pressure is released.
Read more →Transitional Stress Anorexia (TSA)
How early food withdrawal in boarding is recognized and reversed before dehydration or metabolic decline begins.
Read more →What This System Has Made Possible
Cats That Need More Than a Standard Model
TANDEM Cat® Specialization
Start With the Right Plan
Tell us what you’re seeing—matting, medical conditions, boarding concerns, behavioral sensitivity, claw issues, or past grooming difficulty. We’ll guide you to the safest next step.
Cats are masters of concealment, and their coats often tell the story before their behavior does. What looks like a medical issue—dandruff, shedding, skin irritation—may actually be the result of missed or delayed grooming care.
That’s where trauma-informed, clinical grooming comes in.
When a cat is too sensitive for traditional grooming, TANDEM Cat® Grooming fills a much-needed gap. We specialize in care that meets cats where they are—emotionally, physically, and medically.
This is about restoring comfort, relieving hidden burden, and preventing the slow buildup of distress. Our approach is grounded in support, not blame—and built to keep cats thriving, even when life gets complex.
Imagine an old rug that has never been cleaned. Over time, it traps dust, dirt, and oils—acting as a filter for its environment. Instead of cleaning it, you assume it has a problem:
- You diagnose it with "allergies" and prescribe antihistamines.
- You put it on a lint-control diet to “reduce debris.”
- You ban shoes in the house to limit dirt exposure.
Will the rug ever be clean? No. It simply needs to be cleaned.
Your Cat’s Coat is No Different
Without routine TANDEM Cat® Grooming, dirt, oil, and dead skin build up—leading to chronic skin irritation and false medical concerns.
HOW CLINICAL GROOMING RESTORES COMFORT: Supporting Feline Well-Being with TANDEM Cat®
Sometimes what looks like illness is actually something more treatable.
Excessive shedding, dandruff, skin irritation, odor, and changes in coat texture are often signs that a cat’s grooming needs have outpaced what traditional care can provide. When this happens, even veterinarians may mistake these signs for medical decline.
That’s where TANDEM Cat® Grooming makes the difference.
Our trauma-informed, clinical grooming model is designed to restore comfort, release hidden tension, and bring clarity to the body. In many cases, what seemed mysterious or chronic resolves within a single session.
Because for sensitive or fragile cats, grooming isn’t optional—it’s essential care.
We can resolve:
- Matting and skin irritation mistaken for chronic pain
- Dandruff and oil buildup misdiagnosed as allergies
- Mobility restriction mistaken for arthritis
At Cats in the City, we don’t just board cats—we care for them. Every feline is unique, and their well-being depends on structured, attentive care that goes beyond the basics. That’s why we’ve developed specialized Cat Care Options, ensuring each cat receives the ideal balance of attention, enrichment, and support tailored to their individual needs.
More Than a Stay—A Better Care Experience
Start Here
New to feline grooming or not sure what your cat needs?
Explore our Cat Grooming Guide & Coat Care Resource for a structured overview of matting, deshedding, claw care, senior grooming, medical-sensitive care, and when cats need more than routine maintenance.
Choose the right location for your cat
Both locations are feline-only and structured. Medical monitoring level differs—use this to route to the correct place fast.
Sellwood – Advanced & High-Needs Care
Overnight staff on campus. Diabetic boarding and the highest-need medical cases are supported here.
Mt Tabor – Calm Care for Stable Needs
Great fit for many cats with stable needs who benefit from a quiet, feline-only environment.
Medical & Special Needs Boarding Hub
Condition-specific guides that explain what we monitor, what to prepare, and where your cat should board.
Diabetic boarding and highest-acuity cases are supported at Sellwood with staff on campus overnight.
Cat sitting should be more than just food, water, and a quick litter scoop. At Cats in the City, we redefine cat sitting as structured wellness care, ensuring your cat receives the attention, enrichment, and expert handling they need while you’re away. Our cat sitting services are designed to support:
Emotional Well-Being
Reducing stress, monitoring behavior, and ensuring companionship.
Coat & Skin Health
Preventing matting, excessive shedding, discomfort, and addressing any grooming related "emergencies."
Mobility & Comfort
Checking for stiffness, pain, or early signs of health concerns.
Routine & Stability
Maintaining a predictable environment to reduce anxiety.
Expert Care for Every Cat’s Unique Needs
- Feeding & hydration support
- Litter box hygiene tracking
- Behavioral & mood check-ins
- Gentle coat maintenance
- Comfort & mobility assessment
- Play & enrichment based on temperament
- Senior & mobility-sensitive care
- Specialized handling for anxious cats
- Medication administration & health monitoring
- Extra grooming attention for long-haired breeds
More Than a Sitter—A Better Care Experience
Because your cat deserves more than just a safe place to stay—they deserve the highest standard of comfort, care, and attention.
Our in-home service eliminates the anxiety of travel and unfamiliar environments, ensuring a calm and controlled session every time.
- Stress-Free Experience – No carriers, no car rides, no waiting rooms. Just expert care in your cat’s familiar space.
- Quick & Efficient – Our skilled technicians complete the trim swiftly, minimizing stress for your cat.
- Private & Controlled Environment – We work alone in a quiet, enclosed space—typically a bathroom or laundry room—ensuring a calm and predictable experience.
- Professional & Insured – We are bonded and insured, giving you peace of mind that your home and beloved feline are in expert hands.
- Convenient Even When You’re Away – With prearranged access, we can trim your cat’s claws even if you're not home—so they get the care they need without disrupting your schedule.
Book Mobile Claw Trimming Services Today
Cats in the City
Book a Service
Choose what you need and start your request.
Cat Grooming
Comfort-focused grooming for coat, skin, and quality of life.
Cat Boarding
Private suites, feline-only, with calm monitoring and enrichment.
Cat Sitting
In-home visits for routines your cat already trusts.
Pet Taxi
Stress-reduced transport to and from appointments.
More Than a Bath—A Transformation in Quality of Life
At Cats in the City, grooming isn’t just about appearance—it’s about health, comfort, and quality of life. Our TANDEM Cat® Grooming method is designed exclusively for cats, providing expert, stress-free care that restores mobility, reduces discomfort, and enhances well-being.
Why TANDEM Cat® Grooming is Essential for Your Cat’s Well-Being
- "She’s playing again for the first time in months!"
- "I thought he was slowing down with age, but it was just the matting!"
- “Her coat is silky, and she’s back to snuggling like she used to!"
Book a TANDEM Cat® Grooming Session Today!
Explore Connected Grooming Hubs
Every page is an entry point. These hubs connect posture, paws, matting, and non-sedated care into a structured system so you can move confidently from question to plan.
TANDEM Cat® Clinical Grooming
The system behind our pacing, positioning, and threshold-first care for high-needs cats.
Cat Grooming Without Sedation
When awake grooming is appropriate, how we pace it, and when we refer.
Natural Body Position Grooming
Restraint-light handling that protects joints, breathing, and nervous system stability.
Cat Nail Trim Hub
Routine trims, overgrowth risk, and the pathways that prevent embedded claws.
Severe Matting & Coat Reset
When coat restriction impacts comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
Grooming Cats with Joint Pain
How we stabilize posture and protect hips, knees, and backs during care.
TANDEM Cat® is a registered trademark. TANDEM touch™ is a trademark (pending registration). © 2026 Cats in the City.
Explore Shedding, Greasy Coats, Hairballs, and Short-Hair Deshedding
Coat problems often overlap. A cat who seems greasy may also be carrying trapped coat. A cat with heavy shedding may also be swallowing more hair. These pages help you start with the pattern you are noticing most.
Shedding
Why Is My Cat Shedding So Much?
Start here for excessive loose coat, constant fur on furniture, or a coat that never seems fully cleared.
Short hair
Short Hair Cat Deshedding
For short-haired cats who still shed heavily, feel dense through the coat, or leave fur everywhere despite looking low-maintenance.
Greasy coat
Why Is My Cat Greasy?
Go here for oily texture, sticky buildup, coat separation along the back, or a cat who seems dirty again quickly.
Hairballs
Preventing Hairballs Through Grooming
Best for repeated hairballs, retching, or cats who are swallowing more coat than they can clear comfortably.
Dandruff
Dandruff Solutions for Cats
For visible flakes, coat debris, or skin-and-coat buildup that seems concentrated along the back.
Overview
Cat Skin and Coat Care
Use the broader overview when the problem could involve more than one pattern at once and you need a wider starting point.
Grooming Services at the Powell and Beaverton Locations
Choose the service that matches your cat’s coat needs. If you’re unsure, book and we’ll guide you during intake.
Cat Dematting
Corrective removal for formed mats already tight against the skin. Skin safety and pacing come first.
Cat Deshedding
Therapeutic undercoat release to reduce shedding, hairball load, friction tangles, and heat retention.
Lion Cut
A comfort-forward coat reset when matting, hygiene breakdown, or coat compaction makes a full coat unsafe.
Teddy Bear / Uniform Cut
Uniform trim to reduce bulk and mat risk while maintaining coverage and an even silhouette.
Senior Cat Grooming
Joint-protective handling and comfort pacing for cats with stiffness, pain, or reduced self-grooming.
Cat Sanitary Trim
Targeted hygiene trims to prevent fecal cling, urine staining, and recurring rear-end matting.
Low-Cost Nail Trim (Portland)
A focused service for routine nail maintenance with calm, cat-safe handling.
Low-Cost Nail Trim (Beaverton)
For Beaverton-area guardians who want an accessible nail trim option in a feline-first setting.
Condition-Specific Boarding Guides
Choose the guide that matches your cat’s needs. Each page explains what we monitor, how we support the condition, and what to prepare before boarding.
Endocrine
Diabetic Cats
Glucose-informed decisions, safe dosing logic, and trauma-informed insulin support.
Endocrine
Cats with Hyperthyroidism
Medication timing, appetite protection, and routine consistency to support stability.
Renal
Cats with Kidney Disease
Hydration signals, renal diet continuity, and calm, consistent care for CKD cats.
Urinary
Cats with UTIs
Litter monitoring, hydration support, and medication adherence for urinary comfort.
Respiratory
Cats with Asthma
Clean-air priorities, calm handling, and inhaler support when prescribed by your vet.
GI
Cats with IBS
Diet continuity, stress minimization, stool monitoring, and early escalation thresholds.
Appetite
Cats That Refuse to Eat While Boarding
Early intervention, step-up feeding options, and hydration-focused observation.
Sensory
Blind Cats
Stable suite layout, scent cues, and low-startle routines for confident navigation.
Sensory
Explore the TANDEM Touch™ Knowledge Hub
These pages are designed to work together: defining solo grooming, explaining restraint architecture, stating the ethical position, and showing why this matters for your cat.
Why We Do Not Perform Solo Cat Grooming
Read TANDEM Cat®’s ethical position on solo grooming, structural harm, and why we will not recreate known risk to validate what is already observable.
Open ethics statementWhat Is Solo Cat Grooming?
Learn what solo cat grooming means, how one-person handling works, and why this model breaks down for high-risk feline care.
Open definition pageWhat Is Restraint Architecture?
Understand how pressure distribution, support structure, equipment, and TANDEM Touch™ choreography determine feline safety during grooming.
Open concept pageWhy This Matters for Your Cat
See how grooming structure shapes stress, shutdown, aggression, matting progression, and your cat’s overall experience of care.
Open guardian pageWhat Our Clients Say About Us
Cynthia L.
Tina Beavers
Alison Greco
Why Choose Cats in the City?
We understand that each cat is unique, with specific needs varying by breed and personality. Our team is equipped with the knowledge and expertise to tailor our services, ensuring personalized care for each feline family member. Moreover, we recognize the diverse circumstances of every family, and we are committed to accommodating your specific requirements.
Choose Cats in the City for an experience that goes beyond mere care – it’s a haven where your cat’s health, happiness, and comfort are our highest priorities.
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Caring for Cats in the Portland Metro Area
Have questions or need to arrange care for your feline friend? We’re here to help! Reach out to us for any inquiries or to schedule our services.
For more immediate assistance, feel free to call us. We look forward to hearing from you and providing the best care for your cat!
NE Tabor - Boarding
Sellwood - Boarding
Powell - Grooming
5528 SE Powell Blvd.
Beaverton - Grooming
Book a Service
Select a service to get started.
Cat Grooming
Professional grooming for comfort, health, and style.
Cat Boarding
Comfortable suites with daily care and enrichment.
Cat Sitting (In-Home Visits)
Trusted in-home care for routines your cat knows.
Pet Taxi
Safe, stress-reduced transport to and from appointments.
Cat Grooming by Location
Looking for feline-only grooming near you? Choose your location above to book a cat grooming appointment.