Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you're curious about course offerings, tuition fees, or prerequisites, we've got you covered.

Our FAQ section is designed to provide clarity and address any uncertainties, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your grooming education.

1. What certificate do I get?

You will receive the Cat Grooming School Certificate of Completion of Advanced Cat Grooming Level and the Master Cat Groomer level.

Please note that all our courses are in continuation progress towards the Master Cat Groomer certificate and therefore there will be no certificate awarded on Foundation and Intermediate levels.

There is no nationally recognized qualification in cat grooming industry at the moment, but we are working towards getting a national accreditation.

The Pet Industry Federation has produced a course of their own, called Competence in Cat Grooming. Some students have joined the Cat Grooming School following their training program and we have found them to be trained to the equivalent level of our Foundation – Intermediate Cat Grooming Course (Level 1-2).

You can find testimonials from these students on our website here.

2. How much and how do I pay for the course?

As soon as we receive your application form, we will send you an email confirmation and invoice with payment instructions. If you have any queries you can email or call us and a member of our team will be happy to help.

  • The Foundation module lasts for 2 days and costs £549.00
  • The Intermediate module lasts for 2 days and costs £599.00
  • The Advanced module lasts for 15 days and costs £4125.00
  • The Master Cat Groomer module lasts for 5 days and costs £1499.00
  • Business Cat Groomer module lasts for 4 days and costs £1499.00

3. How to book your course and payment plans

The Cat Grooming School designed its own cat grooming course to be followed continuously from Foundation to Master Level.

The course consists of a 2 day Foundation course, 2 day Intermediate course, 15 day Advanced course and 5 day Master Cat Groomer qualification. You will find all the information about the dates, cost and what you will learn under each course information tab on our website.

To become a Master Cat Groomer you need to complete all parts of the course.

Payment Plan:

– Option 1

The first option is to follow each course date as it states on the website and you pay as you go. Please note that to secure your place we will require 25% non-refundable deposit at time of booking and an outstanding non-refundable balance to be paid three weeks prior to the course.

– Option 2

We do understand that the course dates on the website may not be suitable for everyone due to work or family commitments. Therefore, we are delighted to offer our most devoted students, who want to complete the whole course, a second option – one-to-one tuition at no extra cost. The number of days per week and/or per month attended are completely and totally flexible but shorter blocks of 2-4 days per week would be recommended. The dates will be co-originated, agreed and confirmed between student and school in advance.

The whole course is based on 24 days (10am-3pm = 120 hours). We can also offer you 8am-4pm on your preferred days, as long as you complete 120 hours.

For those who wish to do the complete course from start to finish on one-to-one tuition, we would require a deposit of £1000, prior to organising any dates. We would require a further payment of £2000 three weeks before the course starts. We then require the outstanding balance to be paid on the first day of the course.

If you are booking your course over more than 3 months, we can arrange a more personal price plan.

All payments are non-refundable.

4. Which course is right for me?

Our cat grooming course has four stages of progress towards the Master Cat Groomer certificate.

The Foundation module is aimed at students with little or no experience of working with cats. If you think you have more than basic knowledge or have experience working as a groomer, but are unsure which course would enhance your understanding, we also provide an opportunity to demonstrate your level of expertise with a written assessment and a practical exam. This assessment takes place at the Cat Grooming School and lasts up to 4 hours, costing £250. There are no set dates for these assessments, so please call us direct to set up a day and time.

It is advisable you bring your own cat and equipment. However, if this is impossible we are able with advance notice to provide you with a cat and equipment for an additional fee of £50.

5. I work full time, do you do part time courses?

We understand that taking time off work and juggling family commitments can be difficult. For this reason we are happy to work with you to produce a specially designed course structure to meet your requirements. Just call or email us and we can discuss your options.

6. What do I need to bring with me to the Foundation & Intermediate Course?

Please bring along any equipment, tools and products (or pictures of them) so that we can have a look at them and discuss their merits. If you don’t have anything, please don’t worry, as we will provide you with everything you need for this course!

Uniform:

If you are not sure whether you will continue to the next level of training, then we do not require you to bring a professional uniform. You can borrow a uniform from us which is not new but clean and disinfected, or you can bring a spare top and trousers for yourself.

However, if you would like to buy your own new uniform, please have a look at the links below or just Google “pet groomer uniform”. We would advise you to buy only one outfit to begin with.

Shoes:

You are required to wear flat, comfortable shoes which cover the tops of your feet for your own protection.

Notebook:

Please bring a pen and notebook so you can take notes and refer back to them.

Laptop:

If you are staying in a hotel whilst on the course, we think it is a good idea to bring a laptop with you if you have one, in order to type up and store your course work and notes if you want. Of course, you can also store them on a computer later on if you need to.

While you are attending the Foundation Course you will have the opportunity to see, touch and discuss what kinds of equipment, tools, materials, products, uniform, shoes etc. work best and that you need to buy. Please don’t worry, you will be provided with all the information on what to buy and where to buy!

Cameras and Mobile phones:

Please note that we have a strict policy that no pictures or videos are allowed to be taken while you are on the Foundation course. Pictures may be taken by your tutor, at your request.

Food & Drink:

We provide tea and coffee, milk and biscuits during your time on the course. However, we encourage you to bring your own lunch and drinking water. If you have specific food requirements, please bring them with you, as we cannot cater for all needs.

7. What do I need to bring with me to the Advanced and Master Level Courses?

Uniform:

You are required to have your own uniform and we advise that you have two sets so you can change when required.

Shoes:

You are required to wear professional shoes.

Tools:

You are required to bring your own professional tools. Following your Foundation and Intermediate Courses, you will receive the list of things to bring with you. Equipment and some materials with products will be provided until the end of the course.

Notebook:

Please bring your pen and notebook so you can take notes and refer back to them.

Laptop:

If you are staying in a hotel, we encourage you to bring your laptop, if you have one, so you can do your homework.

Cameras and Mobile phones:

You will be encouraged to ask your tutor to take as many pictures as possible for your portfolio. You may prefer to bring your own camera rather than a phone, if you wish. Please keep in mind that it would benefit you to have as many pictures as possible for your business, so please ask your tutor to assist you! In return we will ask you to provide our school with 5-6 of the best photos of yourself in training.

Food & Drink:

We provide tea and coffee, milk and biscuits during your time on the course. However, we encourage you to bring your own lunch and drinking water. If you have specific food requirements please bring them with you, as we cannot cater for all needs.

Please make sure you take care of yourself and eat and drink when you need to. Do not hesitate to speak to your tutor.

8. Can I buy equipment at the Cat Grooming School?

We do sell some products, equipment and materials that we use at the School. However, you are not obliged at all to buy from us and our advice is completely impartial.

9. Can I bring my own cat?

It is not a problem if you’d like to bring your own cat on one of the training days, please let us know in advance. However, the course requirements state that you must learn to groom a variety of different cats so that you can learn the skills to deal with cats that you are unfamiliar with. You will be provided with three to five cats per training day.

10. Is there any reading I can do before the course?

It is advisable to read books published by Cat Grooming School before you arrive, but it is not essential.

11. Accommodation and Travel information

You will be studying in Pet Universe Cat Grooming Salon, Clayhall branch which is based in East London at 51 Atherton Road, Clayhall, Ilford, Essex IG5 0PQ. Our surrounding areas: Chigwell, Gants Hill, Barkingside, South Woodford. Ilford is about 20 minutes away by bus.

Many of our students come travel a long way, but fortunately there are some nice hotels and bed & breakfast places nearby – please see the links below:

These properties below are within 20 -30 minutes walking distance, or pick up and drop off can be arranged from the following hotels for a small fee.

4* Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell:

http://www.menzieshotels.co.uk/hotels/london-home-counties/london-chigwell-prince-regent

Travelodge:

https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/454/london-chigwell-hotel

Please note that we aren’t responsible for the hotels, and it is up to you to make all bookings and handle payments.

If you come by car, there is free private parking available at the Cat Grooming School.
The Cat Grooming School is easy to access from the A12, the North Circular and the M11. Coming via public transport, we are based in east London – the nearest station is Gants Hill (Central Line, Zone 4). Bus number 123, 179, 169 will bring you to the School.