But no one does this.
No one else in the world offers a fully mapped, trauma-informed, multi-phase coat restoration at this level.
More than a groom. A return to the cat beneath it all.
We call it the Total Reset™ because that’s what it is:
A full-body transformation, performed with the skill of a surgical team and the soul of a sanctuary.
This isn’t just a deshed or a demat.
This is a coat restoration from the cellular level out.
Built for Cats Who Deserve More.
Becoming a Certified TANDEM Cat® Groomer at Cats in the City isn’t a two-week online course. It requires over 8,000 hours and 12,000 hands-on grooms across four years—including behavioral mastery, medical-adjacent care, and precision handling under expert supervision.
This is not entry-level work—it’s mastery-level training, equivalent to clinical licensure or skilled trade certification.
Our team includes a neuroscientist, an animal-assisted social worker, feline behavior and wellness specialists, and elite TANDEM Cat® Groomers. Together, we bring a rare combination of science, compassion, and specialized expertise to every appointment.
This is more than grooming. It is synchronized, trauma-informed feline care, thoughtfully designed around your cat’s comfort, dignity, emotional wellbeing, and long-term quality of life.
And if you’re thinking, “My cat would never tolerate all of that,” we understand.
In fact, our entire system was built for cats who are sensitive, fearful, medically complex, aging, reactive, or who have been turned away elsewhere. With a 99.99% completion rate, we specialize in helping cats succeed where conventional approaches often fall short.
Why?
Because we recognized a need that wasn’t being met and committed our careers to developing a different way forward—one that prioritizes trust, reduces stress, improves quality of life, and strengthens the bond between cats and the people who love them.
Below: One of our real grooming cases—showing what happens when a cat has gone without care too long. TANDEM™ grooming restores comfort, dignity, and health.
Felting doesn’t just damage the coat—it restricts a cat’s ability to move, stretch, and jump. It creates a body casing that locks down the skin and silently causes chronic pain. What looks like a grooming issue is often a hidden mobility crisis.
Cats become withdrawn, less playful, or even grumpy due to chronic discomfort.
TANDEM™ Grooming restores freedom, dignity, and comfort—giving cats the chance to move like themselves again.
Certification as a TANDEM Cat® Groomer reflects advanced training in feline-specific grooming, behavior, handling, and trauma-informed care. It signifies a commitment to a higher standard of practice—one built specifically for cats and grounded in safety, observation, compassion, and clinical excellence.
Cats are not small dogs. They experience grooming differently, communicate differently, and often require a completely different approach to handling and care. TANDEM Cat® certification equips groomers with specialized skills in feline behavior, somatic observation, stress reduction, coat restoration, matting intervention, and low-stress grooming techniques designed specifically for the feline patient.
The TANDEM Cat® methodology emphasizes understanding the whole cat—not just the coat. Our training integrates behavioral awareness, body language interpretation, environmental management, and trauma-informed handling strategies that prioritize comfort, dignity, and emotional wellbeing throughout the grooming process.
This approach has been refined through the care of thousands of cats, including seniors, medically complex cats, fearful cats, and cats who have been turned away or deemed unsuitable for grooming elsewhere. The result is a grooming experience designed to reduce stress, improve quality of life, and support the long-term relationship between cats and the people who love them.
As Certified TANDEM Cat® Groomers, we are committed to ongoing education, professional development, and the advancement of feline-centered care. We are honored by the trust families place in us and are dedicated to providing every cat with the specialized attention, respect, and expertise they deserve.
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
Sellwood
Powell
Beaverton
