TANDEM Cat® Care Overview

TANDEM Cat® Somatic Care Overview

Trauma-Informed. Clinically Grounded. Feline First.

At TANDEM Cat®, we don’t offer services—we offer systems of safety. Every session, every protocol, every touchpoint is part of a larger care ecosystem designed specifically for cats: their physiology, their psychology, their relational and environmental needs.

What Is TANDEM Cat®?

TANDEM Cat® is a feline-exclusive clinical care model integrating:

Somatic observation and mapping

Trauma-informed handling

Evidence-based grooming and boarding practices

Environmental design for emotional regulation

Proactive and rehabilitative protocols

for medically fragile, behaviorally sensitive, or systemically shut down cats

It’s much more than grooming. It’s not veterinary. It’s TANDEM—a third path built for cats who fall through the cracks of conventional care.

Key Principles of TANDEM Cat® Care

1. Somatic Insight Before Action

We don’t ask “What’s wrong?”—we ask “What does the body remember?” Our sessions begin with full-body somatic scanning to identify areas of shutdown, guarding, or pain memory—many of which cats can’t voice in a clinical setting.

2. Trauma-Informed at Every Layer

Supportive holds. No compliance tests. Cat-based pacing.
We read subtle signals, respond without escalation, and offer care in rhythm with the cat’s nervous system—not our schedule.

3. Consent-Based Handling

We don’t just touch cats—we ask for permission. We believe in co-regulation, not domination.
In our system, a tail flick matters. Stillness is a story. And withdrawal is not defiance—it’s data.

4. Stabilization Through Infrastructure

TANDEM locations are built inside former medical offices and dental suites. Each site is:

Safety is structural, not just procedural.

TANDEM Care Is Ideal For…

Cats with a history of shutdown, aggression, or hypervigilance
Elders who cannot tolerate traditional grooming
Medically complex or post-surgical cases
Cats that need pelt removal, experiencing a claw bed infection, or living with cone dependency
Guardians seeking preventive care that matches emotional nuance with physical outcomes

Modalities Within TANDEM Cat® Care

Our services are layered, not linear. Each cat may receive a tailored blend of the following:

TANDEM touch™ Sessions

10-point tactile handling to support cats of all ages and body types

Cold Laser Therapy (PBMT)

Non-invasive light therapy for pain, inflammation, and proprioceptive reawakening

Somatic Grooming

Not only cosmetic—this is restoration of sensory integrity through trauma-informed coat care

Clinical Boarding Protocols

For diabetics, anorexic cats, or those needing intensive co-regulated support

Environmental and Wrap-Based Interventions

Comfort Hoodies™, towel nests, and pressure-based support options that regulate without restraint

What to Expect

Pre-session consultation to determine appropriate care path

Session pacing based on behavioral and somatic feedback

Charted observations —not just what we did, but what your cat showed us

Ongoing care planning , including recheck recommendations or veterinary referrals when needed

Why “TANDEM”?

Because we walk in tandem with your cat—not ahead, not behind.
We don’t override their system—we help them return to it.
And we believe that healing doesn’t have to look heroic. It just has to be real.