Is it normal that a pet groomer would trim a cat's whiskers as part of the grooming?

[Anne T]

We arranged for my kids' cat (indoor only) to get groomed and shaved, since her fur had become matted in her lower back/tail area. When the kids went with their dad to pick up the cat from the grooming appointment, they found the cat's whiskers had been cut down to about 1/2 inch in length!!! I have NEVER heard of a groomer cutting a cat's whiskers, as I always believed their whiskers were necessary for balance. I am very upset and would like to confront the groomer, but I want to make sure I have my facts straight....Is this considered an acceptable procedure?.

[Peter D]

for god's sake, for the love of christ, for the love of budda, for the love of alla, for the love of jesus, for christ sakes, one word - no.

[dances with cats]

cats do not use their whiskers for balance. wherever did everyone get that idea???? cats use their whiskers to judge the size of ings before venturing into them. if a cat can't easily get it's head and whiskers through an ing then it's body will become stuck. cats lose whiskers all of the time and don't just flop over or fall off of shelves.

the groomers should not have cut your cats whiskers or even trimmed them unless the ends were badly damaged. yes, I would report the groomer.

[Scooter]

They probably did it on accident and didn't want to tell you.

[Thuglife Fizz]

they need there whiskers so they know what they can fit though, however i normally trim my cats whiskers, and i pluck her eyebrow whiskers!!!! lol

[Violet Wisdom]

NO!!!!!!

This is very harmful to your cat. Cats need their whiskers for balance. Cutting them can cause other negative symptoms such as dizzyness and food issue (throwing up after eating). Cats use whiskers to help them get in and out of small places. Unfortunately your kitty is going to have issues and be uncomfortable/not feel like themselves until they grow back. You should call the groomer AND speak/complain to the manager. This is very serious and detrimental to your kitties health and well being. Your kitty is NOT feeling good right now. You should request your money back and ask the groomer folks if they are certified to do what they do - because any certified groomer KNOWS better! Who knows what else they have done to your cat or other peoples companion animals. They may be using harmful products, who knows. The fact they trimmed your kitties whiskers is a HUGE red flag that they may not be certified or that they need to be reported. Seriously. My kitties are my babies and I'm telling you I'd totally go off on them and check their certification to do what they do. That's so wrong it lingers on abuse. - not on you but by them. Cutting a cats whiskers are similar to cutting a persons eyelashes, the skin on their finger tips, or removing their eyelids except eyelids can't grow back.

Complete shame on the groomers. I truly hope you do your part as well to properly complain and ensure they don't do this to any other cats and/or check their certificates.

[Melissa D]

no they should never do that.
a cat not only needs their whiskers for balance but they also use them as a measuring tool. as in to know if the rest of their body will fit through small spaces.
if their whiskers are cut then their balance is off and their little god made measuring tool is void also.
call and complain and have that animal abuser fired.

[Percy-and-Penny]

Absolutely not. And I would be reporting this groomer to your local animal control and finding out who he or she is licensed with and letting them know as well.

And why on earth do you have a longhaired cat if you can't be bothered to keep up on her grooming? How very sad that you shaved her coat off. That's very cruel as a cat's fur insulates it from both heat and cold.

FYI - the responsibility for this cat being groomed is YOURS - not your kids. It's not your kid's cat - YOU are the adult in the home.