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Cats, for the most part, simply do not like having a bath. This can result in them becoming very agitated and possibly biting or scratching you during the grooming process. Improperly restrained, a cat can also be injured during the bathing process. A professional cat groomer knows how to humanly restrain a cat, and can efficiently bathe it with a minimum of stress to your feline.

Two reasons, it's dirty and it will help minimize shedding.

Dirty you say? Yes dirty, while a cat may spend a major portion of its life grooming itself there are times when a cat will get into a situation where it is beyond its power to clean itself up quickly. A quick trip to the groomer's will have the kitty smelling sweet, with a minimum of fuss and stress – for the both of you.

The second reason to bathe a cat is that washing a cat helps remove any loose hairs. This cuts down on the amount of hair that you need to vacuum up, as well it can help cut down on hairballs.

Ok, really there are three reasons to bathe a cat. This third, and less obvious reason, is human allergies. Most people assume that when a human has an allergy to a cat, it is due to their hair. Scientific evidence has shown that most people, who are allergic to cats, are allergic to the cat's saliva, not its hair. This misconception arose because when cats lick themselves, they are coating their hair with their own saliva. When an allergic person is exposed to the fur, they often think that it is the fur making them sneeze. Rather it is the dried saliva on the fur that is the culprit. Cat dander (dead skin flakes) can also cause an allergic reaction in some people, as can urine that dries on the fur. When a cat is bathed, all these irritants are washed off, helping to minimize the reaction that an 'allergic' person will have with your cat.

While a cat may tolerate being petted, most will take offense if you try to brush them or worse – remove briers or try to cut out matted hair. A professional cat groomer knows how to restrain a cat so that the grooming process is not overly stressful to it.

Brushing the cat's hair will help reduce shedding. A groomer can also trim your cat's hair if it is long or straggly. They can also remove the entire coat if it is very matted.

Cats have very delicate skin. Pulling on their hair to remove mats can easily rip their skin. As well if due care is not taken, their skin can be cut or torn if brushed roughly or while their hair is being cut. A professional groomer is aware of these concerns and has the experience to work on a cat, with a minimum of damage to the skin.

In addition to bathing and brushing your cat, a professional cat groomer will be able to clip your cat's nails, clean its ears, brush its teeth if needed, and give it a flea dip.

Your best chance of finding a good cat groomer is to simply ask around. Ask your vet, ask your friends, ask you co-workers, and ask everyone you meet for recommendations.

Then go to the groomer's establishment and talk to the groomer. Find out if they have experience dealing with cats – almost all groomer's have experience dealing with dogs, but not all have experience with cats.

Also, find out what their policies are concerning cats. Most groomers are willing to take the extra time and care required to work on a cat that has all its faculties about it. However, because cats tend not to be overly fond of grooming, some groomers will only work on cats that have been tranquilized.

Be sure to ask about the fees involved. When you are given a price, make sure that you understand what that includes so that you don't get any nasty surprises when you get the bill.