Christine Haldeman, proprietor of Completely satisfied Cat Grooming in Westmont, fastidiously trims Olivia, a 16-year-old home longhair.
Steve Metsch/Shaw Native Information Community
Taking her time, Christine Haldeman fastidiously trimmed Olivia, a 16-year-old home longhair cat who was extremely peaceable regardless of the noisy clipper.
“She’s tremendous well-behaved. The noises scare them typically, so I begin gradual,” Haldeman mentioned. “Olivia, I’ve taken care of over eight years so she’s very good to us.”
“She will get a lion minimize to stop matting. There’s extra hair on her head and legs. That’s the size the proprietor chooses,” mentioned Haldeman, 44, of Downers Grove.
Olivia was the primary consumer on a current Tuesday at Completely satisfied Cat Grooming, which opened on July 22 at 136 N. Cass Ave. in Westmont.
Whereas it’s a brand new location, Haldeman has been within the enterprise since April 2016. That’s when she purchased a cellular grooming enterprise from a lady who was transferring out of state.
“I used to be a cellular groomer, drove a van round. Then I had an accident, totaled the van in March of 2023,” she mentioned.
Groomers are restricted when cellular due to driving time between shoppers, together with unpredictable Chicago visitors and climate, Haldeman mentioned.
“At first I used to be going to get one other van after which determined to go brick-and-mortar,” she mentioned.
Thus far, enterprise has been regular. Being in downtown Westmont helps. Shoppers are close by or from as far-off as south suburban Lansing and Frankfort.
“There’s not lots of people who do cat grooming,” she mentioned. “It’s busy. I’m at all times busy. I attempt to do six (cats) a day, 25 to 30 every week.”
Cats can grow to be nervous or scared whereas getting trimmed and may chunk or claw, Haldeman mentioned.
“You attempt to maintain them. Worst case, I inform the proprietor they’ve to speak to their vet about sedating,” mentioned Haldeman, who has few scars.
“I inform the proprietor, it’s not a foul cat. It’s a superb cat that will get scared,” she mentioned.
Jessica Willer, 38, of Darien, assists Haldeman when wanted.
“I’m not a groomer. I don’t know the way she does it. It’s superb,” mentioned Willer, who wears lengthy sleeves at work simply in case a cat lashes out.
Requested for favourite tales, Haldeman mentioned, “Those who make me proud are the cats which might be very nervous, you suppose you’re not going to the touch them and I get by to them and may work with them.”
“However you need to be so cautious. Cats can get stressed, have respiratory issues,” she mentioned. “My mother’s favourite half is that I take advantage of heat towels. The cats adore it.”
Her mom, Shirley Schultz, 79, of Burr Ridge typically helps with cleansing at Completely satisfied Cat Grooming.
“Very pleased with her. She did this all on her personal. I’m glad she’s brick-and-mortar. When she had the truck, there’s unhealthy climate,” Schultz mentioned.
It takes Haldeman, an authorized feline grasp groomer with the Nationwide Cat Groomers Institute, about 90 minutes to groom a cat.
“I don’t suppose each cat must be groomed. However a number of homeowners do it for shedding. A lion minimize will develop out in three to 4 months. Some are right here each six to eight weeks,” she mentioned.
She trims the cat, provides it a shower after which provides the ultimate minimize as a result of clear hair is less complicated to chop.
Trimming all these felines leaves behind a number of fur. No worries. She sells extra fur to an organization that makes use of it to make allergy serum.
After work, Haldeman is greeted by three cats within the residence she shares with husband Rob.
There’s a home brief hair named Sammie who she took in after its first and second proprietor handed away; Leroy, a home longhair who was hit by a automotive; and Gilly, the pet of a consumer who additionally died.
“I’m such a sucker for previous animals,” she mentioned with fun.
• Completely satisfied Cat Grooming hours are 9 a.m. to five p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. to three p.m. Saturday; and by appointment solely on Wednesday. For extra data, name (630) 432-1799 or go to HappyCatGrooming.com.
