Grooming
Cat first grooming.
Not every request is accepted. Ben grooms with nearly a decade of certified experience — gentle, fear-free, and unapologetically selective about the aesthetic and the animal in front of him.
Understanding Grooming at XMMO
Consent, not convenience.
Booking a service does not mean it will be performed. If a cat shows fear, stress, or refusal, we stop or decline immediately — no exceptions. We’re not a salon that “does whatever you pay for.” We groom with consent, dignity, and respect, always.
01 — Services & Pricing
Pick a package, or build the visit your cat actually needs.
Every service below includes the groomer reading your cat before anything else. Prices are the same whether it’s a first visit or the fiftieth.
Tools are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitised with F10SC between every appointment — no exceptions.
02 — Fear Free Certified
We read the cat before
we pick up a clipper.
Ben is a Fear Free Certified Professional, which means every groom is scored against how the cat is actually coping — not just how the appointment is scheduled. Considerate handling, gentle control, and slow, staged touch come before technique, every time.
0–5
The Fear, Anxiety & Stress scale we assess every visit against
3
Tools we use in order, before any tool touches the coat
Forever
How long a bad first groom stays with a cat
01
Considerate Approach
How we enter a cat’s space matters as much as what we do once we’re in it — quiet movement, no looming, letting the cat clock us before we clock them.
02
Gentle Control
Minimal restraint, maximum support. We hold only what’s needed to keep everyone safe, and never more than the cat is telling us they can tolerate.
03
Touch Gradient
We introduce contact in the smallest possible steps — a hand near, then a hand on, then a tool — checking the cat’s body language at every step up.
Why we sometimes pause — or decline — a groom
If a cat arrives already at FAS 4 or 5, we won’t push through it for the sake of the schedule. We might slow the appointment down, split it into shorter sessions, or ask to reschedule for a calmer day. This isn’t us turning away business — it’s us refusing to be the reason a cat dreads grooming for the rest of their life. A humane groom is one the cat can come back from, not just one that gets finished.
03 — What’s Included
Every wash & cut service includes.
- Nail clipping
- Eye and ear cleaning
- Full body haircut
- Premium double shampoo
- Gentle cat-safe dry
- Premium conditioner
- Paw hair trim
04 — The Cuts
Four signature styles, each finished by hand.
These involve full-body clipping and aren’t always suitable for first-time grooming cats — training and tolerance matter here.
Lion Cut
A short-to-skin cut with a pom-pom tail. — Only choice suitable for cats with matting.
Teddy Bear Cut
A rounded, plush carpet length with a round face look. — Not suitable for cats with matting.
Winter Cut
A longer cut that keeps warmth while reducing bulk. — Only available for long-haired cats with no matting.
Cropped Jacket Cut
A plush, full mane up top paired with a sleek, close-clipped body — like a tailored jacket.
Deshedding Wash is often the best first grooming experience — a full bath, blow-dry, and up to 10 minutes of brushing and undercoat removal. We don’t brush all shedding out in one sitting; we recommend a routine every 8–10 weeks instead.
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05 — Meet Ben
Ben Kim, Master Groomer
Certified in feline education since 2019, across the USA, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Read Ben’s story →- Fear Free Certified Professional, USA
- Certified in Animal Communication, Australia
- Certified Feline Groomer, International Society of Feline Cosmetologists Asia (ISFC), Singapore
- Scissoring and Styling Master Course, ISFC Singapore
- Professional Cat Grooming Course, National Cat Groomers Institute (NCGI), USA
- 3rd Place, Scissoring Pet Grooming Competition (ISFC), Singapore
- Professional Pet Grooming, A Touch Of Class, Australia
- Pet Grooming Asian Style Workshop, Yury Tseytlin, Australia
- Pet Style Asian Academy — Korean Style with Jayson Mai, PSAA Vietnam
- Intensive Cat Grooming Course, MGC Vietnam
- Feline Business Management Seminar, Australia
06 — Policies
A few things worth reading before your visit.
Matting policy
Matting requires extra time, care, and risk management, so it’s always charged separately — even when booked with a shave.
- We don’t accept full-body severe matting, especially on first appointments
- We don’t sedate cats — severe matting should go to a vet-based grooming service
- Only Lion Cuts are suitable for cats with matting; Teddy Bear and Winter Cuts require zero matting
- If matting is found on the day, we’ll consult you while assessing the best option
- We reserve the right to decline a shave on the day if a cat shows signs of extreme stress
Breed-based recommendations
These are general guidelines — individual temperament always comes first.
- British Shorthair — Deshedding wash & dry + sanitary trim, every 6–8 weeks
- Ragdoll — Belly tidy-up + deshedding wash & dry, every 6–8 weeks
- Persian — Teddy Bear Cut + wash, every 10 weeks
Fleas policy
XMMO is a flea-free salon.
- If a cat is found with a heavy flea infestation, we may stop the service and return the cat home
- If you suspect fleas, apply a topical treatment at home first
- Book a wash 4–5 days after treatment to remove flea dirt and residue
- A flea cleaning fee may apply if live fleas are still present
Handling, behaviour & safety fees
Some cats bite or scratch. In these cases:
- A special handling fee of $30 to $70 will apply
- This fee has limits — if a cat is too aggressive or distressed, we’ll stop the service
- We reserve the right to decline any haircut if a cat is clearly showing fear, distress, or refusal
Cat first, every time.
Gentle, fear-free grooming from a Fear Free Certified Professional — and the right to say no when it's not right for your cat.