September 19, 2008 3 a.m. EDT
The Professional Cat Groomers Association of America aims to create set standards of grooming for the various feline styles and handling techniques.
“In the dog grooming industry, the dog associations have done a tremendous job in settings standards, setting everything even across the board,” said President Kim Raisanen, a certified master cat groomer. “But with cats, there has never been a standard set and that was the problem we were running into.”
The association, which Raisanen said is the first of its kind, offers educational study guides and awards certification to members who successfully complete the certification process. It also offers continuing educational seminars at grooming trade shows, at the association’s headquarters in Lakewood, Ohio, at members’ salons and other locations throughout the year.
Membership is open to both dog and cat groomers who want to add or increase the cat grooming segment of their business.
“It’s open to dog groomers, because that’s where a lot of cat groomers are coming from,” said Raisanen, who also owns Creature Comforts Cat Styling Salon in Fairview, Ohio.
So far, the association has 10 members, some of which are nationally certified master dog groomers, Raisanen said.
For more information, visit the association’s website.