NEWTOWN – Most people think grooming is only for dogs, but Barbara Yu knows better. She has operated the first feline-exclusive grooming salon in Fairfield County for over a year.
“My own veterinarian told me cats hate water. Anytime someone says that, I reply, ‘All dogs do not love water.’ I saw the benefits from my own cats,” said Yu, owner of OutCATS grooming and three felines herself. “Cats benefit from grooming like dogs do. Some feline veterinarian practices do groom, but the cat is still going to the veterinarian. I wanted to open a place for cats to come with no disturbance of barking dogs and where they are not getting vaccines.”
Established in 2024, the 700-square-foot facility is located at 71 S. Main St. Suite 12.
“Bathing a cat is widely rejected,” she said. “Cat grooming is not accepted as dog grooming is. Grooming a cat is treated as an outcast service. The name OutCATS was fitting,” she said. “All cats lick themselves. The reality is, cats are oily, many have dandruff, and shedding fur.
“Add up all those factors and you have an oily, flaky cat with some mats. Bathing a cat washes away the excess oil and flakes. Clean fur does not mat. Clean fur comes from clean skin.”
Services include bath and blow dry, lion cut, teddy bear cuts, belly shave, sanitary trim, de-shedding treatments, mat removal, nail trims, and nail caps. Yu utilizes the best products, high- quality tools, and advanced techniques to remove tangles and mats, degrease coats, remove excess shedding, clean up dirty hindquarters, and other problems cats cannot fix themselves by licking.
“Cat grooming is not for everybody and not for every cat. I work one-on-one with each cat. Each groom is tailored differently for every kitty,” said Yu, who received training from the National Cat Groomers Institute that provides extensive education on the health, safety, and handling of cats along with business modeling. Also, she is a Fear Free Certified Professional that helps Yu offer a positive grooming experience, and has completed requirements for cat and dog First Aid by the American Red Cross. Currently, she is working toward obtaining certification as a Certified Feline Master Groomer.
“My business helps cats feel and look their best. Some parts of the grooming can be scary, especially the first time,” Yu said. “But with my knowledge, I make the cat feel the most comfortable. My clients feel relieved knowing I understand cats and will handle them properly. A groomed cat is a happy cat; a happy cat equals happy owner.”
John Voket, economic & community development director, Town of Newtown, appreciates having a business community full of innovators.
“Our community has been, and is, home to many unique businesses – it’s so cool Barbara is among the growing number of entrepreneurs finding their perfect space and dream come true,” Voket said. “Newtown is full of caring pet owners and many of them provide loving homes to one or more cats. Barbara and OutCATS Grooming provides direct services to not only improve the quality of life for those feline pets, but she also works hard to educate loyal clients and transient visitors about the benefits of regularly grooming their cats.”
May of Yu’s clients are senior cats.
“As cats age, they get more oily,” she said. “They sleep more, groom less. They become arthritic, which leads to pain of grooming themselves. They come in with huge clumps of fur that have turned into a pelted mat. Professional grooming from a young age would prevent the uncomfortable shave downs the seniors have to endure.”
Voket noted the positive impact of OutCATS.
“By drawing cat owners from Newtown and the region to her expert grooming service, Barbara is helping provide exposure, generating traffic, and inspiring new customers to visit her immediate commercial neighbors as well as many other Newtown businesses and restaurants while they are dropping off, picking up, or waiting for grooming sessions to be completed,” he said.
Celebrating the salon’s one year anniversary, Yu appreciates how her background prepared her for being a business owner.
“My family had a beauty supply business from 1996-2022,” she said. “Being in that store six days a week taught me the ins and outs of having a successful business. Building relationships with customers is important to maintain loyalty. Without that experience I would have never had the confidence to open up my own grooming salon.
“Education is key and I’m always happy to talk about cats. Cats live 13-20 years, and I hope to groom cats for their lifetime. My main goal is to help as many cats as I can regain comfort in life. Cats have so much dignity and being clean is top tier for them. Another goal is to inspire other cat lovers to groom cats. There are not enough of us to show the world that it is needed, and it can be done.”
