Groomingdales for the Holidays

Do I get polish with this pedicure?

“They’re never good for mommy.” That’s what Jill, the cat clipping and grooming lady, said to me today when I took in our two cats to have their nails trimmed. I apologized to her in advance of the blood bath that I assumed was to come. Whenever my husband and I clip our cats’ nails one of us ends up getting scratched, bitten or hissed at by an angry feline. Jill didn’t seem concerned and said that Alice and Annie would do just fine.

But I was still a little worried. The place was crawling with dogs. Fortunately (or unfortunately, I couldn’t decide which) they were mostly little dogs. A terrier barked from a stackable crate in the tiny waiting area near the main desk; a Pomeranian slept all squished up next to the phone on the front counter; and at least three other little dogs were running around the floor of “Groomingdales.” They appeared desperate for the attention of Jill and Rachel, the sweet and jolly looking proprietors of the grooming shop.

“Go away — be quiet!” Jill barked (kindly) at the most persistent little dog trying to scramble up to the table where one of our cats was waiting for her turn. I couldn’t imagine how we were all going to get out of this place unscathed. Even a relatively quiet veterinarian’s office has our kitties trembling and shaking. But I trusted the good Yelp reviews of this place that I had just read online, and waited patiently.

I watched Jill pull Alice out of the carrier like a lump of clay. Pardon the cliché, but Alice was seriously like putty in her hands. “You’re so pretty, such a beautiful Tortie,” Jill crooned while expertly clipping all 20 nails in about ten seconds. Where was the hissing, scratching and biting? The whole amazing thing repeated itself moments later with our second cat, Annie. I was hooked. And only 10 dollars per cat! A bargain considering how much Alice and Annie have been starting to get stuck on the furniture, screens and curtains because of their dagger-like nails.

“Twenty dollars, please.”

“Oh sure. By the way, do you take Visa?” It dawned on me that I was unprepared without cash, as usual.

“Oh sorry, hon, we don’t.”

I offered that they could temporarily keep the kitties (and my two kids!) as collateral until I could drive down the street to the ATM machine. “Oh, no, sweetie, just bring the money some other time when you happen to be in the neighborhood!”

Really? She doesn’t even know me! Are people really this nice anymore? Or am I really that cynical?

I ended up insisting on running to the Wells Fargo down the street to give Jill her money right away. I took the kitties and the kids with me, figuring they’d probably prefer that. Eventually I found the cash machine, settled our bill and drove away.

It’s definitely true what they say about kids (and cats, apparently) being better behaved for others than they are for their mommies. I’ve experienced this many times with my two boys.

But anyway, how could Alice and Annie not adore Jill? She is my new favorite grooming buddy.