Shedding a Light on Cat Grooming

Maureen O’Connor, the self-declared cat lady of Moore County, is here to dispel the myth that cats don’t need TLC just because they groom themselves. Maureen didn’t have a single cat until a few years ago — now, she has nine and they’re living large. After some mild cat-astrophes with dog groomers who claimed to “do cats too,” Maureen decided to learn how to become a groomer and attended the National Cat Groomers Institute. “I feel the feline community is underserved,” she says, “but there are people who want to pamper and give their cats just as good of a life as their dogs.” So she started The Catty Shack, a cat grooming service.

The business began as a part-time operation out of Maureen’s home, but it has grown this last year and now has a physical location at 1050 N. May St. She says the space couldn’t be more purrfect, as it was a former hair salon and offered storefront parking.

How does it work? You’ll book online (no, you can’t just walk in with your cat) then arrive for a full consultation. Maureen will look at the undercoat and skin conditions because yep, there’s a shampoo for everything. She does nail trims, ear cleaning, baths and more, and even has a fancy blow dryer / de-shedding machine. Appointments typically run 45-60 minutes. Besides the obvious benefits, cat grooming can also help reduce allergens, she says.

Once your kitty becomes a client, Maureen keeps a file of what products to use. And if you’re worried your cat has a bit too much cattitude, she says, “My level of what I call aggressive is not what you think is aggressive. Cats aren’t all afraid of water. You just need someone who knows how to handle cats.” We’ll take her word for it. To book or learn more, visit the website.