How to Open a Cat Grooming Business (2026 Guide)

KKBy Kashif Khan, Founder of Pupline

Updated May 30, 2026·12 min read

Cat grooming is one of the most underserved niches in the entire pet industry — most groomers refuse cats — which makes it a low-competition business with real pricing power for anyone willing to learn feline handling. With roughly 46–49 million US households owning a cat (APPA) and grooming's cat segment growing faster than any other, a trained cat specialist fills a calendar fast.

This is the 2026 guide to opening a cat grooming business: the feline training that sets you apart, choosing a model, equipment, pricing, and where your clients come from. (Already groom dogs? See how to start a dog grooming business — but know that cat work is a genuinely different craft.)

This is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Licensing, facility and zoning rules vary by state, county and city. Confirm specifics with your local authorities and a licensed insurance agent.

The short version — to open a cat grooming business:

1. Get feline-specific training and (ideally) CFMG certification.
2. Choose your model — cats-only studio, mobile, or a vet/cattery add-on.
3. Register your business and form an LLC.
4. Get insured — liability plus care, custody & control.
5. Buy your (minimal) cat-specific equipment.
6. Set your prices and estimate your startup costs.
7. Win clients through vet referrals and local search.

Why cat grooming is a smart niche

The opportunity is exactly the thing that scares most groomers off: cats are different. They stress quickly, their skin tears easily, and they often need a quiet, dog-free space and specialised handling. So the typical dog groomer opts out — leaving owners of long-haired, senior and overweight cats (the ones that genuinely can't keep themselves groomed) with few options and a real willingness to pay.

• Low competition, high demand. Cat owners often drive past a dozen dog salons to reach one cat specialist.
• Pricing power. Per session, cat grooming is frequently priced at or above the equivalent dog service.
• A realistic income. Cat groomers average around $49,000 a year; self-employed and mobile specialists commonly earn $30,000–$75,000 solo, more with multiple vans.

For the full picture of the services involved, the concurrent guide What do cat groomers do? is the best primer.

Step 1: Get feline-specific training and certification

This is the real barrier to entry — and your biggest advantage once you're past it. Dog-grooming skills don't transfer directly: feline anatomy, behaviour, restraint ethics and coat types are all different, and cat grooming is closer to a careful medical-adjacent procedure than a cosmetic one.

• The recognised credential is the NCGI Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) from the National Cat Groomers Institute. Grooming is unregulated, so it's voluntary — but differentiating, partly because fewer than 500 groomers worldwide hold it (NCGI).
• The CFMG path is rigorous: nine exams (four written, five practical), each requiring 85%+, with exams about $585 total plus membership, an optional $1,197 training syllabus, and hands-on prep with certifiers (commonly $500–$750/day).

You don't need to be certified to start, but you do need to be genuinely cat-savvy — and certification is the fastest way to earn trust (and vet referrals).

Step 2: Choose your model

• Cats-only studio — a quiet, dog-free space; the on-trend specialist model.
• Mobile / in-home — one cat at a time, lowest stress, commands a premium.
• Add-on to a vet clinic, cattery or cat café — built-in referrals from day one.
• A separate quiet room in a traditional salon — workable if you keep cats well away from dogs.

Step 3: Sort the legal basics

Same essentials as any grooming business: a business licence, an LLC (recommended — scratches and bites are real liability), and a DBA if you trade under a name. A home or mobile studio is zoning-sensitive — check home-occupation rules and any facility permits with your city.

Step 4: Insurance and equipment

Insurance: general liability plus care, custody & control (animal bailee) — cats scratch and bite and their skin tears easily, so injury claims are real, and general liability excludes the cat in your care. Budget roughly $300–$600 a year to start.

Equipment is refreshingly light — one of the best parts of cat-only work: a cordless clipper with a 5-in-1 blade, cat-safe nail clippers, a variable-speed dryer, fine combs and de-shedding tools, and gentle, low-restraint handling aids. The ethos that defines safe cat grooming is "do no harm": no scruffing, pinning or forcing — you work with the cat's natural positioning.

Step 5: Set your prices

Typical 2026 US cat-grooming prices (often a premium over equivalent dog work):

Set yours with the Cat Grooming Cost Calculator, which scales by coat, condition and add-ons.

Step 6: What it costs to start

A cats-only studio is one of the cheaper grooming businesses to open; mobile costs far more because of the van. Switch between them below:

A home or cats-only studio commonly starts around $2,000–$5,000 and rises to $10,000–$20,000 fully certified and equipped, while a mobile operation runs $25,000–$90,000+. Compare every option with the Pet Business Startup Cost Calculator.

Step 7: Welfare first — and never sedation

Cat grooming is built on welfare. Screen for age and health before booking (sedation-free handling is exactly why owners of senior cats seek specialists), keep sessions short, and recognise that a reputable groomer never sedates a cat — only a vet can. It's a question worth answering for clients up front; the guide Do cat groomers sedate cats? covers it in full.

Step 8: Get clients and run the business

Vet referrals are your number-one channel — vets routinely send out the matted, senior and overweight cats they don't groom. Partner with clinics, cat-only vets, rescues and catteries, then add a Google Business Profile with reviews and local SEO for "cat grooming near me."

Behind the scenes, Pupline keeps a cat practice organised from your phone — reusable service templates that price each coat and service, vaccination records with expiry warnings, tidy client and pet records, and branded invoicing with no cut of your earnings.

Learn the craft, lead with welfare, and lean into the scarcity — cat grooming rewards specialists like few other pet businesses do.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need certification to groom cats?

No US state legally requires it — grooming is unregulated. But because dog skills don't transfer and cats are easily injured, voluntary certification like the NCGI Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) is the recognised standard and a strong differentiator, since fewer than about 500 groomers worldwide hold it.

How do I become a certified cat groomer?

Through the National Cat Groomers Institute: join, study (an optional syllabus is about $1,197, plus hands-on training around $500–$750 a day), then pass nine exams — four written and five practical — each requiring 85% or higher. The exams cost roughly $585 in total.

Is cat grooming profitable?

Yes — it's a low-competition niche with pricing power. Cat services are the fastest-growing segment of pet grooming, and specialists fill their books quickly through vet referrals while charging at or above equivalent dog prices. Cat groomers average around $49,000 a year, with self-employed specialists often earning $30,000–$75,000 solo.

How much does it cost to open a cat grooming business?

A home or cats-only studio can start around $2,000–$5,000 and reach $10,000–$20,000 fully certified and equipped. A mobile operation runs about $25,000–$90,000+, with the van the biggest cost. Cat-only tooling itself is minimal compared with dog grooming.

Why won't most groomers do cats?

Cats stress quickly and can be injured or injure the groomer, have fragile skin, and need a quiet, dog-free space, specialised tools and often more time. Many dog groomers feel cats are better served by feline specialists, so they decline them — which is exactly what makes cat grooming an underserved niche.

How much do cat groomers charge?

In 2026, a basic groom is about $50–$120, a lion cut $60–$180+ (more if matted), a sanitary trim $7–$30, and nail caps $30–$60. De-matting adds $25–$100, and mobile or in-home service adds roughly $10–$30 on top.

What insurance does a cat groomer need?

General liability plus care, custody & control (animal bailee) coverage, since general liability excludes injury to the cat in your care — and scratch, bite and skin-tear claims are real. Expect roughly $300–$600 a year to start.