s a professional cat groomer, having a well-stocked bathing room is crucial to providing top-notch grooming services for feline clients. Ensuring you have the right supplies on hand can make the bathing experience more comfortable and efficient for both the cats and yourself. In this article, we will explore essential items to stock in your bathing room for cats, including ear and eye cleaning, bathing products and finishing touches.

Cats may accumulate gunk or debris around their eyes. Gentle eye cleaners can include plain saline solution (available at most pharmacies or grocery stores) or cat-specific eye cleaners. They should be free from harsh chemicals and fragrances so as not to irritate the skin around the eyes or the eyes themselves.

Certain cat breeds, such as Persians and Himalayans, may develop staining around the eyes due to excessive tearing. In such cases, a small amount of eye powder can be lightly applied to the hair below the eye area with a small makeup brush. Be careful to avoid contact with the cat’s eyes.

High-quality ear cleaners gently and effectively break up any waxy buildup, preventing ear infections and irritations. There should be a drying agent in the ear cleaner; however, alcohol-based ear cleaners can sting ears that may already be red or irritated. In those instances, a small amount of saline solution or an alcohol-free ear cleaner can be used instead.

For all of these cleaners, clean cotton balls or pads should be used for each individual eye and ear in order to prevent cross-contamination. Only clean the areas that are visible from the outside, as using q-tips or digging too deep inside the ear can cause discomfort or injury to the cat’s inner ear.

Unless the cat is being bathed every week or two, they will most likely need a degreaser type of shampoo as the first wash. A high-quality degreaser is an essential tool for breaking down excess oils and grease, leaving the coat clean and fresh. Degreasers can be applied before getting the coat wet, especially to areas like the lower back and base of the cat’s tail. The overproduction of skin oils in this area is commonly referred to as “stud tail.”

A separate cat-safe facewash can help remove dirt, debris and stains from the facial area. Opt for a mild and fragrance-free (or minimal fragrance) formula specifically designed for cats. Take extra care to avoid getting products directly in and around the eyes, ears, nose and mouth.

After degreasing, follow-up shampoos can be used for general cleansing or skin, coat or color enhancement. Each cat’s coat type, color and even their haircut can affect which shampoos should be used. For example, a full-coated Persian may benefit from a cat-safe color-enhancing or volumizing shampoo, while a cat who has received a lion cut due to matting may need a hypoallergenic or over-the-counter medicated shampoo to prevent any additional skin irritation after mat removal.

With cats, the general rule of thumb is to stick with the most gentle options first and then additional products can be used as you learn more about the cat’s skin and coat needs, any potential allergies and their tolerance of the bathing process.

Conditioners are not needed in cat coats during general grooming sessions. Even diluted conditioners can cause cat coats to return with additional matting and visible greasiness at their next visit a few weeks or months away.

Finishing sprays or powders can add a bit of fragrance or coat manageability at the end of a groom; however, keep in mind that cats are notorious for self-grooming so the potential for ingesting any products left behind in the coat can be a concern. Only small amounts of cat-safe products should be used, and only when needed. More products are available when prepping cats for show, as they are washed out after the show completes.

A finely milled powder can be used after the bath and blow-dry in any areas that are still a bit oily or have the potential to not dry fully. This can include the stud tail area, behind the cat’s ears, or under the tail of a cat with chronic irritation or that is overweight. The eye powder discussed earlier or a bit of cornstarch can be used if no other cat-safe powders are available.

An anti-static spray can be lightly misted onto your comb before the last comb-through if your area or the time of year is causing additional frizziness or static in the cat’s coat. A spritz of a scented finishing spray can add a bit of light scent or shine, but too much will weigh the coat down or cause it to become stringy, so a little bit goes a long way.

Just like with people, any cat has the potential to be sensitive or allergic to individual products or ingredients. In general, products should be labeled safe for cats, have limited harsh or heavily scented ingredients, and leave-in-type products should be avoided or used sparingly.