In her book, "CLAWS: Confessions of a Professional Cat Groomer," Anita Kelsey depicts an honest and entertaining look into a world few people ever enter.
After a successful career in the music business singing backup to acts including The Spice Girls and Boy George, Anita Kelsey made a drastic career change. The sudden death of a loved one changed her outlook on life, and she was inspired to focus on a life-long passion: cats. In the introduction to her debut novel, Kelsey writes,
"After turning my back on music, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. I am eternally grateful the winding path eventually led to that second dream job, which allows me to work with cats every day, and has delivered a few surprises along the way, including a university degree and the publication of this book."
Image provided by Anita Kelsey
Ending every day coated in cat fur, being scratched, bitten, and taken to the hospital may not sound like a dream job, but Kelsey's book accurately puts her life into perspective. The book itself is a collection of short stories each recounting a memorable experience with a feline client. Her stories are as charming as they are harrowing, and they delve into the real reasons Kelsey loves her job.
Not only is Anita Kelsey an experienced cat groomer (a job every cat owner knows is never easy), she also holds a degree from Middlesex University in Feline Behavior and Psychology—the first of its kind to be awarded in the UK. She uses her understanding of feline behavior and emotions to keep her cat grooming business completely holistic. She never resorts to face masks or tethers, and her main priority is always the cat's health and well-being.
Image provided by Anita Kelsey
"CLAWS: Confessions of a Cat Groomer" goes into detail about the specific challenges of de-matting a finicky feline and bathing a cat that would rather do anything other than get wet. She starts off by telling the story of Buddy the "kitty cat shark" that sent her to the hospital in need of surgery. Then there's Tubbs, an overweight cat Kelsey is forced to get creative with in order to safely de-mat his hindquarters. A Siberian Forest cat called Eric spent the entire grooming session dropping stink bombs, and a senior cat named Smokey had the odd habit of flinging his feces around the room. A personal favorite is a story about Lucky, a cat who was lost in the London Underground and miraculously survived only to be in serious need of a bath.
The 20 cats featured by Kelsey represent a successful career in helping those who don't always want to be helped. Kelsey responds to desperate cat owners who struggle to keep long fur from becoming dirty and matted. With the short stories, she includes helpful tips for cat owners and shares a few secrets to her success as a holistic cat groomer.
Image provided by Anita Kelsey
The writing flows easily from page to page, and each story is different with its own lesson to offer. Kelsey lets her passion for her work shine through her words as she shares with readers why, despite the challenges, she's happy and proud to be a professional cat groomer.
If you're looking for a quick, entertaining read about the everyday antics and personality quirks of your favorite type of furry pet, "CLAWS: Confessions of a Cat Groomer" won't disappoint. Order your copy on Amazon or receive a personalized signed copy through Etsy.
Are you going to read "CLAWS: Confessions of a Cat Groomer?" Let us know in the comments.
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