Find out what sets us apart!
Shawn Lioyryan is a feline behavior specialist, trauma-informed grooming innovator, and the founding architect of Somatic Medicine in Feline Clinical Care. He serves as co-founder of Cats in the City, a feline service provider, and the TANDEM Cat® Institute, the standards and credentialing body governing Somatic Medicine in feline care. Shawn holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and provides clinical grooming and educational services through Cats in the City that are certified under the Doctor of Somatic Medicine (DSM) certification program, administered by TANDEM Cat®. His work draws from a background in clinical social work, behavioral intervention, and somatic healing, bridging grooming, environmental design, and trauma-responsive handling—grounded in the principle that grooming is not cosmetic, but clinical. As a Certified TANDEM Cat® Groomer (CTCG) and the first practitioner certified under the DSM standards, Shawn co-developed the TANDEM Cat® methodology: a hands-on, science-driven training system that reframes grooming as a diagnostic, consent-based wellness intervention. His approach replaces sedation with somatic literacy, and restraint with choreography—meeting each cat not with demands for compliance, but with body neutrality, mutual pacing, and clinical attunement. In his role with TANDEM Cat®, Shawn provides leadership, authorship, and administrative oversight of certification standards and professional pathways. In his role with Cats in the City, he delivers DSM-certified services in practice. Together with his husband and co-founder, Dr. Daniel Lioyryan, he continues to develop the TANDEM Cat® publication canon and train trauma-informed feline care teams. At the heart of his work is a singular vision: To reframe grooming as an act of emotional repair— and to ensure that no cat is misunderstood at the point of touch.
Dr. Dan is a neuroscientist, feline behavior specialist, and co-founder of Cats in the City and TANDEM Cat® Grooming. With deep expertise in animal behavior, stress physiology, and neurodevelopmental disorders, Dr. Lioyryan has dedicated his career to advancing feline care through science-backed, trauma-informed, body-based intervention. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Vollum Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where he launched and led the Animal Behavior Unit—a cutting-edge research facility investigating the mechanisms of stress, movement, and neurological disease. Prior to his work at OHSU, Dr. Lioyryan trained at the University of Rochester and published extensively in premier journals including Nature, Nature Neuroscience, The Journal of Neuroscience, and PNAS. Dr. Lioyryan’s scientific contributions—including landmark discoveries in Rett syndrome and neurodevelopmental stress responses—have been cited worldwide. Today, he brings that same scientific rigor to the field of feline clinical care. At Cats in the City, he co-developed the Certified TANDEM Cat® Grooming Program, a structured system built around somatic mapping, trauma recovery, and cooperative handling without sedation. TANDEM Cat® Grooming remains the only fully synchronized, science-based, trauma-informed care model designed specifically for feline needs. Dr. Lioyryan’s work advances not only the practice of grooming, but the broader understanding of how cats can be supported, regulated, and respected at the point of care. His driving mission is simple but transformative: To replace force with fluency—and restore dignity at the point of care.
Raised in a bustling family with 8 siblings, Naomi's nurturing nature extends beyond her bustling home to the feline residents at Cats in the City. When not charming cats, she and her wife devote themselves to their daughter and three fabulous feline companions. With a professional background in veterinary clinics, Naomi brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to ensure the cats at Cats in the City receive nothing short of purrfection in care. Naomi's practical expertise guarantees the highest quality cat care, making her the feline champion we all adore!
Certified TANDEM Cat Groomer™ is a certification mark owned by TANDEM Cat, LLC and indicates that the individual has met established training and competency standards for trauma-informed feline grooming. Sam is an experienced feline care professional whose background includes managing a high-volume canine daycare and providing dedicated care to her own cats, including Heronomous (“Ron”) and a miniature Maine Coon named Todd. To deepen her expertise in feline-specific handling and grooming, Sam completed a 2,000-hour apprenticeship at Cats in the City under the direct mentorship of Shawn and Dan. Through this intensive, hands-on training, Sam has provided care for more than 3,000 cats, developing strong proficiency in consent-based handling, stress-aware grooming, and feline emotional regulation. She brings consistency, attentiveness, and technical skill to every session, ensuring that each cat’s comfort and safety remain the priority. Sam is committed to delivering calm, respectful, and trauma-informed grooming services tailored to the individual needs of each cat.
Liz's journey at Cats in the City kicked off in the boarding program, but little did she know, she was about to become the cat whisperer extraordinaire! With a dedication to rival a cat's focus on a laser pointer, Liz swiftly ascended to a leadership position, turning her passion for felines into a full-blown career. Whether she's orchestrating the purr-fect cat care routine or efficiently managing a bustling feline kingdom, Liz is the unsung hero of Cats in the City. With her at the helm, every cat gets the royal treatment, and every client knows their cat is in the hands of a true feline virtuoso!
Armed with an AAS in Collision Refinishing and a soft spot for four-legged buddies, Chris has danced through life surrounded by pets. Shaping signs and wrapping vehicles, their career canvas has been nothing short of a vibrant masterpiece. One day, Chris stumbled into the enchanting realms of cat boarding and grooming, discovering what felt like their true calling! CITC injected a burst of joy into their daily routine, and now, Chris confidently juggles a myriad of roles. From orchestrating whimsical boardings to crafting purrfection in grooming sessions, Chris is here to sprinkle magic into every cat's day!
Phil is head over paws in love with his feline companion, Nala! Phil is no stranger to the call of the wild. Whether it's scaling mountains, hiking hidden trails, or simply basking in the beauty of nature, Phil and the great outdoors are a match made in adventure heaven. Phil's love for Nala knows no bounds. He's not just a cat owner; he's a compassionate handler, ensuring that every whisker twitch and tail flick is met with the care and accountability that Nala deserves. So, if you're seeking a cat whisperer who can effortlessly switch from outdoor adventurer to gardening virtuoso, look no further than Phil! Your cats will thank you for inviting this multi-talented dynamo into their world.
Tara brings a grounding presence and a deep understanding of feline behavior to her role as a Feline Wellness Expert at Cats in the City. With a natural ability to connect with cats and a calm, intuitive handling style, she specializes in creating emotionally safe experiences for even the most sensitive feline guests. Her approach blends observation, empathy, and hands-on expertise to ensure each cat’s comfort, dignity, and overall well-being. Whether assisting with specialized care routines, managing environmental stressors, or supporting post-groom recovery, Tara’s insight and presence make a noticeable difference in the lives of the cats she serves. Known for her gentle demeanor and unwavering focus, Tara is a trusted part of the Cats in the City care team—someone who understands that wellness is more than physical health; it's also emotional peace.
Feline Enrichment & Boarding Specialist There’s no mistaking the love between Lisa and her feline companions—it’s written all over her smile (and that Maine Coon kiss of approval!). As a cornerstone of our Care & Boarding Program, Lisa brings warmth, consistency, and an intuitive understanding of feline comfort to every shift. Her gentle presence helps even the most reserved cats settle in, while her attention to detail ensures every whisker, nap schedule, and play session is just right. With Lisa, cats don’t just board—they feel safe, seen, and adored. Whether it’s a cozy cuddle, a well-timed treat, or a soft-spoken reassurance, Lisa delivers Better Care for Cats with every interaction. Her calm energy and dedication to feline well-being make her a favorite among both guests and their humans.
Laura brings calm, clarity, and a deep love for cats to her leadership role at our Sellwood location. As Manager and Lead Cat Sitter, she oversees day-to-day operations with the perfect blend of professionalism and heart. With years of hands-on experience in feline care, Laura ensures that every cat feels safe, understood, and genuinely cared for. Her strong organizational skills keep our systems running smoothly, while her gentle presence creates a peaceful, low-stress environment for our guests. From coordinating care plans to comforting first-time boarders, Laura brings consistency and compassion to everything she does. Her dedication to excellence and intuitive approach to cat care make her an indispensable part of the Cats in the City family—and a trusted guide for every cat parent we serve.
Cats in the City wasn’t built overnight—and it certainly wasn’t built just to turn a profit. It was built on sacrifice, conviction, and a relentless, day-in, day-out commitment to Better Care for Cats.
From the beginning, we knew that excellence couldn’t be rushed. We weren’t following a model. We were building a new one.
For the first thirteen years, we worked every single day. That’s not a turn of phrase—no weekends, no holidays, no sick days. Because when you’re responsible for lives—especially lives that depend on routine, patience, and emotional safety—there are no shortcuts. Cats don’t take days off from their needs, so neither did we.
We lived inside the business. Quite literally. We slept in what are now boarding suites for over a decade to fund our future. We turned away instant profits in favor of long-term reputation. We didn’t just offer grooming—we invested thousands of hours building a new method: TANDEM™ Grooming, a trauma-informed, medically aware, behaviorally sensitive approach to grooming cats in a way the industry had never seen.
We developed six levels of care for boarding—not because anyone asked for them, but because cats needed them.
We sat at the vet. We watched. We asked questions. We stayed up at night tracking subtle behavior shifts in diabetic boarders and elderly cats in recovery. We earned our authority by living every layer of what it means to truly care.
In 2017, we attempted our first local staycation. It was a trial run—just a few days, close to home, phones still on. In 2018, we closed our original Sellwood location for a month to take a proper break. When we returned, we gave our staff a month off, too. Because if we were going to build something real, we had to build it sustainably—not just for us, but for the people who would carry this forward.
That became the rhythm: a season of deep work, a season of rest, and a team that grew with us.
By 2025, for the first time in our company’s history, all four Cats in the City locations were fully operational, fully staffed, and thriving—and we took our first real vacation. Not a staycation. Not a test. A true exhale.
I was 45 years old. We started this when I was 26.
One that says cats deserve more than cages. More than conveyor belts. More than being an afterthought in a dog-dominated world.
We built Cats in the City to be a place where:
Cats are seen, understood, and respected.
Behavior and wellness are inseparable.
Grooming is trauma-informed.
Boarding is care-first, not cage-first.
And every team member is trained in science, observation, and empathy.
That’s what it took to build Cats in the City.
And that’s what it takes—every day—to keep it worthy of its name.
Cats in the City • Grooming Knowledge Hub
Severe matting, deshedding, claw overgrowth, mobility limitations, and medical-sensitive grooming are all connected. If you want the full framework behind how we approach feline grooming and coat health, return to the Cat Grooming Guide & Coat Care Resource Center .
The guide connects coat care, matting prevention, claw safety, and behavior-first grooming into a single structured pathway.
Return to the Grooming Guide →
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We highly recommend Cats in the City to any cat parent seeking reliable, professional, and caring cat sitting or boarding services. It's reassuring to know that our cats are in such capable and loving hands when we're away. We recently switched from boarding services to their in-home cat sitting service. Mary S. did a terrific job. We received daily updates with adorable pictures.
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It was our first time using a cat hotel for Moxie. We did a lot of research and selected Cats in The City. The house is clean, cheerful with lots of natural light. The staff genuinely cares for their feline lodgers. The interactive program reduced any separation anxiety our cat might have had. We really appreciated the daily meow messages. We would recommend this hotel for any cat owners.
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Do you want your cat taken care of by the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful humans imaginable? Do you want your trips away to be filled with thoughts of how well your cats are taken care of rather than how mad they must be? Cats in the City is all of that and more! Honestly, they take better care of my cat than I do, reducing the stress of travel for me and my fur dude. Cannot recommend them enough!
We measure our love of cats by how much we are loved by them.
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!
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