Grooming Definitions, Pictures, & Policies

From pampered Persians to medical emergencies, TANDEM Cat® Grooming is where cosmetic care meets clinical-level compassion.

Grooming Definitions

Bath, Dry, & Brush Out

Your cat is bathed using hypoallergenic solutions, dried, and brushed to remove dander, tangles, and loose fur. We require a bath and nail trim with most primary services. We will withhold a bath upon request, though it does not reduce the cost of the overall charge.

De-shedding (Before Bath)

Using patented tools we proactively remove as much of your cat’s loose shed and undercoat as possible, eliminating the cause of matting, and reducing the amount of fur your cat ingests, so fewer hairballs and less fur around the house. De-shedding your cat as part of routine cat grooming will prevent matting before it begins.

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De-matting (Dreadlock Removal, Before Bath (See Video)

We built our practice solving matting issues. Using patented tools we gently remove the knots and tangles from car fur, essentially rescuing your cat’s coat, and bringing it back to life without the need to shave. Although a cat’s cat can reach a state in which a shave is the only choice. De-shedding as part of routine cat grooming will proactively eliminate matting before it begins.

Lion Cut (Before Bath)

A lion cut on a cat is a close trim shave, similar in length to a man’s buzz cut. It can be done with a natural or tapered lion mane, booties, and pom-pom on the tail. A tapered mane is $25 extra.

Bison Cut (Before Bath)

A bison cut on a cat is a close trim shave on the back half of the body of a cat, similar in length to a man’s buzz cut, while leaving the full length coat on the front half of the cat. The bison cut can be done with a natural or tapered mane.

Teddy Bear Cut (Before Bath)

A teddy bear cut on a cat is similar to a lion cut but with a rounded face tapered similar to a bear cub. This cut is modified for cats with matted fur.

If your cat has an imperfect coat (tangles, knots, compaction), you can still get a teddy bear cut but the fur requires preparation at an additional cost in order for the tools to work for this cut.

Matted Shave (Before Bath)

We have thirteen years experience shaving cats that would otherwise be sedated and shaved at a vet. We have shaved thousands of cats who were severely matted without sedatives. We have groomed over 35,000 cats in our tenure and we built our practice on solving the most severe matting issues.

Velvet Cut (Before Bath)

A velvet haircut is a shave that is aesthetically similar to a teddy bear haircut with a rounded head and a layer of fur similar to a sheet of velvet.

Dino Cut (Before Bath)

A Dino Cut is our newest style offering. It is a short shave, leaving the mane and Dino spikes down the back.

Squirrel Cut (Before Bath)

A Squirrel Cut is a teddy bear cut with a full length tail like squirrel.

Sanitary Trim & Fecal Removal

A sanitary trim is shaving the private area and sometimes the back of the legs, in order to keep kitty sanitary while using the litter box.

Fecal Removal. Sometimes it happens. Some pretty yucky waste becomes stuck and needs cleaning of fecal matter to become sanitary.

Nail Trim & Ingrown Claw Removal

Your cat’s nails can’t be ignored, either. Unclipped nails curl and thicken, injuring your cat’s paw pads. Unclipped nails can also catch and stick to carpeting, scratching posts, and furniture, potentially injuring paws. Cats in the City can maintain the health of your cat’s paws by safely clipping the front and the back nails periodically. We recommend clipping nails every 6 to 8 weeks for indoor cats. Does your cat scratch your furniture and floors? We can help with that, too!

The red line is the nail trim cut line.

Removing ingrown nails and wound care for damage paw pads is an additional cost.

Need Mobile Nail Trims? Use our mobile claw trimming service and we will trim your cat’s claws in your home:

Trim Paw Pad Fur

Leaves paw pads smooth which decreases the amount of litter that is tracked throughout the home.

De-Flea & De-Skunk (During Bath)

De-flea is an enzyme concentrate that naturally kills fleas on contact by compromising their outer-shell (exoskeleton).

De-Skunk is a patented cleanser that significantly reduces and/or removes horrible smells.

Grooming alone will not solve a flea infestation. We’ve done our part. The rest is up to you!

Fleas are invasive. They spread prolifically and undesirably. Fleas have existed since the time of the dinosaurs, they survived the comet that caused the mass extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs, and to this day fleas are resistant to eradication. Fleas have evolved to survive. Ridding fleas from your pet and home once there is an observable problem is difficult, frustrating, time consuming, and expensive. Using a routine flea prevention treatment is the best way to keep fleas off your cat.

Cats in the City grooming is just one component to ridding your home and cat of fleas. You have several actions and responsibilities in order to keep fleas from returning. All the money and effort expended today will be wasted and for not without you taking the following additional steps:

We have fully groomed your cat and we have neutralized the fleas living on your cat, and living in the eye sockets and nostrils of your cat.
You will see dead flea bodies on your cat. The fleas latch on to your cat tightly at the time of death. The fleas grip will loosen in the coming days and the flea bodies will shed naturally on their own.
The grooming process included a flea dip, which neutralizes fleas on contact. We administered an oral treatment called Capstar to neutralize fleas in the eye sockets and nostrils. We also applied a monthly flea treatment called Cheristin.
The treatments we used are not enough to solve your flea infestation alone. The treatments we used are not guaranteed and repeated grooming sessions may be required to fully solve your flea infestation.
The source of the fleas in your home must be eradicated. Fleas can travel from neighbors who live upstairs, downstairs, and next door. Fleas can live in yards, basements, crawlspaces, attics, walls, bedding, litter boxes, and voids created by furniture. While treating your home yourself with home foggers and sprays is possible, remember that fleas survived the comet and fleas are likely to survive your efforts as well. A licensed exterminator is most skilled and best equipped to solve flea infestations in your home.
Keep your cat on a monthly flea prevention treatment. You have two months of additional flea prevention treatments. Each monthly prevention treatment should be applied on a monthly schedule beginning one month from today. Please purchase additional flea prevention treatments before you run out of treatments. Any lapse in applying flea prevention can cause the flea infestation to return.
Two additional oral Capstar treatments have been provided in case you see additional flea activity. Do not use Capstar more often than once per 24 hour period.

Optional Follow-up Grooming Session If you find live fleas on your cat within 30 days of today’s grooming appointment. The De-Flea grooming package includes an optional second grooming session with a flea dip within 30 days of today’s appointment. Not all cats require a second grooming session, especially if you’ve hired an exterminator to eradicate the source of fleas in your home. Grooming alone is not enough to solve most residential flea infestations, and this followup grooming session is likely to fail as well if you haven’t involved additional professionals like a licensed exterminator and veterinarian. Most cats will not need this followup grooming session, so it is only for those cats who have a recurring flea infestation within 30 days of today’s appointment.

De-Flea Grooming Package – $649

Total Package Grooming Session with Flea Dip Oral Capstar Administered Today, and 2 Additional Doses of Capstar to Use at Home Cheristin Monthly Flea Preventative Applied, and 2 Additional Doses of Cheristin to Use at Home on a Monthly Basis Starting One Month from Today
An Optional Second Total Package Grooming Session within 30 Days of Today’s Appointment

If you see live fleas on your cat after today’s grooming appointment, your flea infestation is much bigger than grooming can solve. Your flea infestation will need to be solved by a licensed exterminator and a veterinarian.

Dandruff Treatment/SKin Therapy (During Bath)

It’s common to find low levels of dandruff in a cat’s coat, especially in darker coats. However, excess dandruff in your cat’s coat can be a sign of dry skin caused by the overproduction or underproduction of skin oil called sebum. Grooming and bathing your cat can address excess dandruff production and we can help! In addition to grooming, increasing Omega-3 fatty acids in your cat’s diet will improve skin health.

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Degreasing (During Bath)

Cat hair can accumulate oil and appear greasy even after a bath. When grease and oil has fully encapsulated your cat’s hair strands, it acts as a water repellant so water and bathing product do not penetrate the hair, resulting in poor outcomes. We achieve clean results by using an advanced hypoallergenic formula that is gentle and safe.

Ear Flush (During Bath)

Using a veterinary formulated sterile solution, we flush the ears clean of debris and apply antiseptic powder, which keeps the ear dry and creates an environment more hostile to infection.

Eyes & Nasal Cleanse (During Bath)

Using a veterinary formulated sterile solution, we flush the outer eyes, nose, and face clean of debris.

Teeth & Oral Cleanser (During Bath)

Using a veterinary formulated antiseptic solution, we flush the teeth, gums, and mouth clean of debris, and brush visible teeth, resulting in a cleaner mouth and fresher breath. Bad breath can be caused by infection. We will refer you to a vet if infection is suspected.

Soft Paws Nail Coverings

Now offering Soft Claws nail covering. Each application includes nail trim, nail caps, and application for a combined cost of $70. Each application lasts 4 to 6 weeks.

Policies & Requirements

Grooming Session

We require a bath and nail trim with most grooms. Grooming related needs may be discovered during the session that were previously unknown or not discussed. We address such needs during the grooming session and actual services performed are charged at checkout. Grooming sessions start at $129 and most grooms are capped at $259.

Claw Trims

For the safety of kitty and our team, we perform claw trims on most cats. We trim claws to just before the vein in the nail bed, which is harmless to cats. Claws regrow and sharpen within 2-6 weeks.

This Isn’t Just Better. It’s Necessary

Most grooming models were never designed for cats. They were adapted from dog grooming standards—models built for speed, restraint, and sedation. But cats are not small dogs. They’re complex beings with sensitive nervous systems, fragile trust, and unique physical needs.

That’s why we built something entirely different.

TANDEM™ Grooming isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity for cats with anxiety, arthritis, heart conditions, respiratory sensitivities, trauma histories, or simply a low tolerance for stress. Even healthy, well-adjusted cats deserve better than rushed, one-size-fits-all grooming on cold tables and chaotic schedules.

We didn’t tweak an old system.
We reimagined what grooming should be.

Two-person teams trained in feline behavior
Padded, horizontal surfaces that respect natural posture
Soundproof suites and calming environments
Trauma-informed touch backed by neuroscience and compassion
12,000+ grooms required to certify—because trust and skill can’t be rushed

For many cats, TANDEM™ isn’t just the best option—it’s the only humane one.

We created this standard because cats needed it.
We uphold it every day because your cat deserves it.

Cats Groomed

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Our Certification as TANDEM™ Cat Groomers reflects our commitment to excellence and professionalism in the cat grooming industry. It signifies that we have completed comprehensive training in TANDEM™ cat grooming techniques, equipping us with the specialized skills necessary to groom cats with the utmost care, precision, and compassion.

Cats require a unique approach to grooming, distinct from other pets. Our TANDEM™ certification equips us with advanced techniques specifically tailored for feline grooming, including handling challenging cats and understanding feline behavior. The TANDEM™ methodology also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between two groomers to ensure a safe, efficient, and low-stress grooming experience for your cat. This collaborative approach allows us to provide meticulous attention and gentle handling, ensuring that each cat receives the care and comfort they deserve during grooming sessions.

We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in cat grooming and are excited to offer you the exceptional care that comes with being Certified TANDEM™ Cat Groomers. Thank you for trusting us with your feline friends

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Caring for Cats in the Portland Metro Area

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!

NE Tabor

415 NE 80th Ave.

Sellwood

2036 SE Tacoma St.

Powell

5528 SE Powell Blvd.

Beaverton

4690 SW Hall Blvd.