HOW TO HIRE · PETS

How to hire a cat groomer in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Cats need specialist handling, and no licence applies. Here is what to ask.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a cat groomer in five steps

  1. Find cat experienceA groomer who works with cats regularly.
  2. Describe coat and temperamentLong or short, matting, nerves.
  3. Ask about mattingA shave-down may be kinder than combing out.
  4. Ask about sedationA groomer cannot sedate; a vet can, for badly matted cats.
  5. Check skin at homeNicks show on thin cat skin.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

Anyone may trade as a cat groomer: England's 2018 Regulations list the licensed animal businesses and grooming is not among them, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have no grooming licence either. Welfare law still applies while your pet is with them.

Ask to see the salon or van and how pets are restrained and dried. legislation.gov.uk →

Welfare while being groomed

A cat groomer takes on a legal duty, not just a job. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales) a person in charge of an animal on a temporary basis is responsible for meeting its needs — diet, environment, protection from pain and disease — with equivalent duties in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Ask how they would spot illness in your cat and what they would do. legislation.gov.uk →

Insurance

No law makes a cat groomer carry insurance, but public liability and cover for animals in their care are normal for a business. Ask what the policy pays if your cat is hurt, falls ill or goes missing while with them.

Ask to see the current insurance certificate.

VAT

Grooming a cat is standard-rated: VAT at 20% applies to the brush-out, the bath, the lion cut and the dematting. Over the £90,000 registration threshold a trader has to charge VAT and show it separately, next to its VAT number.

Ask for the VAT number, and whether the groom and the dematting charge already include the 20%. gov.uk →

“Do you groom cats regularly?”

A good answer: Yes — cat-specific experience.

“How will the cat groomer handle a nervous cat?”

A good answer: Calm, quiet, breaks when needed, stopping if it is too much.

“What if my cat is badly matted?”

A good answer: An honest view; a clip or a vet visit.

“Will the groomer bathe my cat?”

A good answer: Only where suitable.

“How will the groomer dry my cat?”

A good answer: Towel and low-noise dryer, never unattended heat.

“Is the cat groomer insured?”

A good answer: Yes.

“What if my cat needs sedating for grooming?”

A good answer: That is a vet's job, not a groomer's.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends to your cat on the table — the groomer named, or a salon colleague, employed or subcontracted
  • Brush-out, bath, clip or lion cut
  • Dematting charge
  • Nails and ears
  • Cancellation terms
  • The VAT number, and VAT on the cat groom shown as its own line

Walk away if

  • Offers to sedate your cat
  • No experience with cats
  • Forcing through mats
  • Cuts on the skin
LOW
£30
TYPICAL
£90
HIGH
£150

What a cat groomer costs: £30–£150 per groom

Cat grooming is priced per groom, by coat length and condition, with lion cuts and dematting priced separately. Cat Grooming price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Cat groomers near you, with the badges that matter shown

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Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. AssessCoat and temperament checked.
  2. BrushCoat combed out where possible.
  3. ClipMats clipped or a lion cut as agreed.
  4. Bath and dryOnly if suitable.
  5. FinishNails, ears, a final check.

Lion cut
Body clipped short, mane and tail tip left.
Matting
Dense tangles that pull on the skin.
Comb-out
Removing loose fur and small tangles.
Sanitary trim
Clipping around the rear.
Undercoat
The soft fur under the outer coat.
Sedation
Calming drugs, given only by a vet.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check the skinThin cat skin nicks easily.
Let your cat settleQuiet space at home after the groom.
Plan regular combingTo prevent new mats.
Your reviewSay what was done and how it turned out; under four stars, the groomer first gets the chance to make it right.

STEP 1Tell the groomer, in writingDescribe what happened to your cat during the groom and what you want. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the cat groomer must still work with reasonable care and skill.
STEP 2Let Locufy follow it upRate the cat groomer under four stars and Locufy asks if you want the groomer to have the chance to fix it before the review is published; we follow it through.
STEP 3Escalate itWith no register for a cat groomer, escalation runs through the consumer helplines, which can pass cases to Trading Standards: Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Money still in disputeA claim over a cat groomer can go to the small claims track in the county court up to £10,000 in England and Wales, to simple procedure in the sheriff court up to £5,000 in Scotland, or to the small claims court up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland — no solicitor needed.

Hiring a cat groomer: questions people ask

No. Grooming is not licensed in any UK nation.

No. Sedation uses medicines that need a vet; for badly matted cats, ask your vet.

Yes, while in charge; welfare law requires an animal's needs to be met.

Typically £90: the range is £30–£150 per groom. The cat grooming price guide breaks it down; put in your postcode above to compare cat groomers near you.

Daily combing at home, with professional grooms as needed.

See your vet and tell the groomer in writing; the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires reasonable care and skill.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in pets

How to hire: Cat SittingHow to hire: Cat BoardingHow to hire: Nail ClippingHow to hire: Pet BathingHow to hire: Dog GroomingHow to hire: Mobile VetHow to hire: Pet TaxiHow to hire: Small Animal CareAll 701 hiring guides →

Cat groomers near you

Cat groomers in LondonCat groomers in ManchesterCat groomers in BirminghamCat groomers in GlasgowCat groomers in BelfastAll cat groomers on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, schedule 1
  2. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 3 — responsibility for animals
  3. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — duty to ensure welfare
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  5. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  6. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  7. nidirect — small claims process
  8. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  9. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register