My older kitty was severely matted and rejected by two groomers and a vet, who couldn't safetly put her under anesthesia to dematt her. I have been worried sick, and decided to book my appointment here, despite living 2.5 hours away. I am so glad I did, because they were able to complete the job and even gave me a discount because we traveled so far. Their methods and set-up are less traditional than many other groomers I have been too, but they know what they're doing and made the process as stress-free as they could have under the circumstances. The animals in the lobby are well behaved and I even enjoyed hanging out in the lobby with them. read more

I had a disappointing experience and would not recommend this business. - I brought my cat in for grooming. Devin was very friendly and welcoming. When I came back to pick up my cat a couple of hours later, he said that my cat had had enough for one day and I could bring him back for a free 30-minute follow-up. I could see that my cat still had a ton of excess fur -- plus, oddly, a number of matted/clumped areas that he hadn't had before, which I thought were just damp areas but actually persisted even days after the appointment -- but Devin proactively acknowledged that there was a lot more fur to brush out, and I assumed we'd sort it all out at the follow-up. (The process of bringing my cat in is time-consuming for me and traumatic for the cat and I'd much prefer to get it done in a single visit, but I was willing to defer to Devin's professional judgment on this and he had mentioned at the outset that it was a possibility.) - I scheduled the free follow-up. The morning of that appointment, Devin texted to say that he had a conflict and asked if I could reschedule. Not ideal for me because of the disruption to my schedule, but not a big deal; I told him when I was available over the next two days and we agreed to move it to the following day at 3 pm (even though this was slightly outside of my stated window, which ended at 3 pm). - I drove over with my cat for the new time the next afternoon. When I was almost there, I saw that I had received a text from Devin about 20 minutes earlier at 2:30 pm (just 30 minutes before the appointment and after I had started the process of collecting my cat and heading out the door) saying that he was running late and asking if I could do 5:30 pm (2.5 hours later than the agreed-upon time) instead. I responded saying that that wasn't OK because I was already en route, and that 5:30 pm was outside of the availability window I had already shared. - I arrived to an empty shop and had to go back home. I didn't get a follow-up, so I texted again that evening to express (in polite but direct language) that I was unhappy about the last-minute change and that it had wasted my time and caused my cat unnecessary distress. I never heard back. I can see that Devin and his team love animals and I wish them well with their business, but cancelling at the last minute on an appointment that had already been rescheduled -- and then not following up to apologize and make it right -- made me feel like I wasn't being treated with respect, especially given the premium price that I paid for their service. read more

I would not recommend this business, especially for cat owners. I brought my cat in for a bath, undercoat deshedding, and a trim, but the environment was completely unprofessional and unsafe for a pet. Upon walking in, the first thing my cat saw was an 50 lb pit bull mix and about 10 cats running loose. My cat immediately felt threatened and began hissing. The "business" itself looks like a dirty apartment where someone is living--there was a motorcycle in the living room, a gaming setup, and cat hair everywhere. It sends a very mixed message when a grooming business is this unhygienic. I waited for two hours, only for the groomer to hand me back a cat that was still damp and hadn't been brushed or trimmed. She didn't do the nails, the sanitary trim, or the undercoat--which was the main reason I came. To make matters worse, she then sent me an invoice claiming my cat was "pretty chill." If she was so "chill," there is absolutely no excuse for why the service wasn't finished. The owner expected me to come back a week later to "finish" the job. I am not going to subject my pet to that level of stress a second time, nor do I have the time to waste on a business that can't provide a calm, professional atmosphere. Save your money and take your pets somewhere that actually prioritizes cleanliness and basic professional standards. She also dumped Dawn dish soap directly onto my cat's back without even checking for fleas first, claiming it was 'just in case.' This stripped my cat's coat and is completely unnecessary for an indoor pet. To top it off, she used a loud blow dryer without protecting my cat's sensitive ears. I could have provided a better, safer, and cleaner experience at home for free. It sounds like this company really lived up to its name because it was a total catastrophe Then, after I complained the owner, Steve called me and chewed me out on voicemail and then he left me several very long text messages, calling me all sorts of names and accusing me when he never acknowledged anything that I told him that I thought was wrong with his business as a customer. Zero respect from the owner do not ever take your pet here ever ever ever.! And then the owner wants to reply with all sorts of lies. I believe that the owner and his girlfriend are delusional. read more

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I have been going to Steve for years. I used to drive from San Francisco to Livermore (1.5 hours each way on a good day) just to take my cat to this groomer. I am so glad they are in Berkeley now. Steve is amazing. He is so gentle with my cat and always has his well being in mind. My cat is an exotic short hair more in touch with his Persian side. So it does take a while and I usually go back a second time to finish the job (follow up is free). They don't want the cat to get too stressed which I understand. The Berkeley studio is very nice. Looking forward to coming here for many years. read more

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I visited his Berkeley location which was organized and clean. The owner was a gentleman who was super enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly! He accommodated me for an appt an hour later for my 2 sphinx kittens. They are my first pets ever and I reallly appreciate how he took the time to explain every step of everything he was doing and also recommended some products that weren't expensive for them! On the phone he was really kind and enthusiastic to meet my little babies and in person it was even better, he is an award winning groomer who is totally passionate and I 100% trust him taking care of my little kittens. He allowed me to stay the whole appt and honestly it was so cool to see how happy he was to meet my baby kittens! His prices were extremely fair! No upselling or games at all! I definitely recommend his Berkeley location for any cat grooming needs. Thank you! read more

Being that it was the first time I was an anxious parent. But right away when I walked in Steve helped calm my nerves as well as my cat. Highly recommend anyone who has a cat that needs grooming to book an appointment here. Steve explained step-by-step the whole process and what to expect. And for first time clients when you book online, even though you may have selected certain Services, he's only going to charge you for what truly needs to be done. I never imagined how well this could have gone. Thank you, Steve. Definitely looking forward to coming back. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Back from his grooming appointment - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Catastrophe Cat Grooming is one of the few places that will come in and groom your cats essentially at any time! They essentially work on call and They are a little pricey especially for long haired cats but what you're paying for is a peace of mind that your cat is in good hands and they will be groomed properly and smell fantastic afterwards. They have a passion for helping animals and they are great at what they do my two kitties are comfortable with them and don't fight the grooming process we will continue to come here for Remy and Fifi. read more

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I'm somewhat new cat owner but long time animal lovers. I love how Steve and Davin are always so nice, they show me how they take care of my kitten - bathing, clipping and ear cleaning. They own a few wonderful cats and a super friendly dog - my kids and I love to play with them! read more

My wife found out about this spot and took our cat, Steve and Dee did such a great job, our cat cutie was relaxed and pampered, i don't think he minds going back, for a feral cat form E. Oakland it was spawtastic!! It was worth the drive form Oakland. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Spawday for cutie - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

We have a senior cat that hates getting her claws trimmed. Our vet finally gave up and said they won't trim her claws anymore. We found Catastrophe and decided to give them a try. They did an excellent job trimming her claws, and did it very quickly. Our cat complained as expected, but it was done quickly and she was no worse for wear. If you have a cat that hates getting her claws trimmed, I highly recommend Catastrophe. P.S. our cat is actually quite sweet, but just hates getting her claws trimmed. read more

We booked a sanitary trim for 745. They called & said they couldn't make it until 755. We decided to cancel bc they couldn't honor the original time. We also thought about using the money for the grooming to do it ourselves. Once we cancelled they texted several times for our business. If someone wants to cancel bc they can't meet for their appointment don't continue to contact them. They seemed really hard up for the cash. While Devin really knows how to handle cats & she did a great job grooming at the last minute, they're very disorganized when it comes to running a business. She also never bothered to clean the shavers after each client. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Looks like she's in jail - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

They did a great job on my ragdoll! 10/10 recommend to any cat owner. Dumpling looks and feels noticeably better! read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Dumpling (dumpy) - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Pet owner beware!!!! I took my Persian here just before Christmas, now he is dealing with Dermatitis and Ring Worm. The place is a make shift printing shop and someone's mess! There was no explanation of sanity or cleanliness but the place was a huge disaster!!! The only external foreign animal contact during the relevant period. This timeline aligns perfectly with the established 7-21 day incubation period for dermatophyte infections. Dermatophyte spores persist on surfaces for 12-18 months and transmit through multiple pathways in grooming facilities: contaminated tools, surface contact, airborne dispersal via high-velocity dryers, and cross-contamination. Commercial grooming environments present elevated risks due to shared equipment, high animal throughput, and potential asymptomatic carriers. The facility's claims that absence of symptoms in staff/resident animals proves no transmission risk demonstrates misunderstanding of fungal epidemiology. The controlled exposure history and precise symptom timeline provide strong epidemiological evidence supporting facility-acquired infection, highlighting the need for comprehensive antifungal protocols in commercial grooming operations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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My cat got matted up so I took her because I had seen the live instagram videos. She usually is shy and timid around anyone else other than me so I was worried but around both people who cared for her she was more calm than usual other than a few meows. When I picked her up after an hour or two she seemed totally okay and happy given the new to her experience and to my surprise they referred to her as chill. It's always stressful leaving a pet with strangers but they definitely took care of her while I was gone. I initially booked the maintenance brush out and sanitary trim but I verbally agreed to the shampoo and other things which ultimately doubled the price but I think it was worth the kitty's comfort. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Baby Grogu checking out this new dryer box after her warm bath - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I cant thank Catastrophe Cat Grooming enough. They are amazing. They're so gentle with the cats. I just rescued 2 cats. One is a kitten and an other is a one year old. And they both did amazing. I was there for the first 20 min. They make you feel so comfortable. And they give amazing tips. With our family being first time cat owners they gave us more tips than the vet. They truly go above and beyond. Thank you so much will be coming back soon. read more

I contemplated about leaving a review for this place. But this one is long overdue. I brought my cat in for her very first grooming appointment, and the service was quite disappointing. First, I was charged a $100 aggressive handling fee, which I wasn't expecting -- especially considering it was her first time at the groomer and she had no history of aggression. There was no communication beforehand about this fee, and no attempt to discuss how she was behaving or to ease her into the experience. What's worse, they bathed her inside her carrier, which I found completely unprofessional and concerning. And to top it off, they didn't even dry her. She came home soaking wet, visibly stressed, and I had to dry her myself. I understand cats can be challenging, but this was a poor excuse for professional grooming. I will not be returning and cannot recommend them based on this experience. read more

Are you taking appointment if so please call me 510 9093272 We'll see I have grooming appointment today My Teddy looks and feels soft great job thanks read more

I was searching for a place to get my cat groomed & bathed last minute & was able to get a same day appointment, which was very convenient! Steve & Devin were so friendly and welcoming and I really appreciated how they walked me through the process. I was a little nervous bc my cat had never been to a groomer before & I didn't know how he would react, but they handled him so well & were so gentle & kind and my cat had no issues whatsoever. You can tell they are both very knowledgeable and are good at what they do, and are great with animals!! When I came to pick my cat up after his appointment, I was expecting him to be a bit distressed (again he's never been to a groomer & I've never left him with anyone outside of the home before!) but he was calm and drying off in the cat dryer! He looks very clean and seems very pleased with his bath. Price was a little steep, but I don't think it's any different than other cat groomers, so it wasn't something I didn't expect. I didn't realize there would be an extra charge for him being a senior cat, but on their booking site it does state that extra fees may be applied for various reasons, and I think this was the "special needs kitty: age related health issues" fee, which is listed on their website, so I wasn't too surprised. Overall I was very pleased with my experience and would definitely bring my cat back for his next grooming service! Thanks guys! read more

Everything went well! Devin is Amazing! We are fostering this cat who was fighting off his pawdicure violently. We arrived, me with 4 bandaids from claw puncture wounds and the cat with not one nail yet trimmed. 2 minutes later Devin had all 16 claws neatly trimmed and the cat was calm throughout. I even calmed down too. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Cat - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Appointments too far between and it's pretty expensive so I would assume people are grooming their cats once or twice a year which is also worth it but at the same time very expensive read more

Steve and Devin are wonderful! I was able to book a same-day appointment over the phone, and they encouraged me to stay for my cat's first bath, which I really appreciated. They walked me through each step of the bathing process, and I came away feeling much more confident about giving my cat a better home bath experience next time. It's clear that Steve and Devin are both skilled and passionate about what they do. I was a little skeptical about the prices at first, but after seeing the care and expertise they put into their work, I can honestly say it was money well spent. They even post videos of their grooming sessions on Instagram, which was so fun to see afterward! They also had several cats in the space, including some kittens up for adoption, an adorable bonus to an already great visit. read more

Brought my long haired cat in for grooming since he had a couple of small mats that we couldn't get out. My cat thoroughly enjoyed his spa day and will be back! He got a full bath, deshedding, rear shave, and nail trim. He has never been this soft! He seems happier with less undercoat. Over all 10/10 experience. I was expecting to pay way more too. Thank you!!! read more

I called them with an unusual request. My daughter's rabbit needed his teeth trimmed and I couldn't find anyone in this area who could do it. Since I wasn't willing to drive to Chico to have it done, I was up for anything. Steve and Devin were amazing. Bubby wound up getting a full spa day! Thank you so much for letting Bubby be your first rabbit (aka rare weird cat.) read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I drove for miles to get my cat groomed here and she did an amazing job on my long hair. She really has a gift in making my otherwise bath resistant kitty amiable and happy read more

If I were to rate this business based on our initial visit, I would rate it 4-5 stars. Devin definitely knows how to handle cats and gave our baby the 6 month old treatment. He looked gorgeous at the end of it. We then booked the free 30 minute follow up appointment since everything was not completed at the first visit. We booked online and received confirmation of our appointment by email. We even received a secondary email to confirm the night before and we reconfirmed again. We don't live local and drove out to our appointment and arrived on time. Unfortunately the store was closed and no signs of anyone inside except for their cats. We did also text stating we had an appointment and we were in front of the store. We even returned two hours later after walking around downtown. Still no one and no response til now, 8 hours later. I understand things come up but customer service and communication is key and reading from other reviews, this isn't an isolated case read more

My wife and I have a Norwegian forest cat that had a few areas in her fur that were matted and couldn't be brushed out so we decided to seek professional grooming services. We were pleasantly surprised that Catastrophe Cat Grooming was able to offer a same-day evening appointment. We dropped off our cat and made sure she was comfortable before taking off to grab dinner near by in the downtown plaza. I can assure you that your cat is in good hands at Catastrophe Cat Grooming. We were walked through every step of the grooming process that would occur that evening and shown the various types of equipment that would be used. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to see some parts of the grooming process through a livestream. About an hour later when we wrapped up our dinner and headed back, the grooming was not fully completed so we waited around in the lobby for things to wrap up. I really love the care and attention here. Grooming can be a very nervous process for any pet parent and we felt like this was a great experience. Definitely would stop by again. read more

Groomer rescheduled my appt, was late and couldn't manage my difficult cat. She asked me to hold her down and my cat was so stressed she pooped on the table. She then said to ask for two groomers next time. I thought this place knew how to deal with difficult cats? Just moved to the area and won't be coming back. She didn't charge me for clipping the back paws but this was the worse experience I have ever had. Place is a dump too. read more

Following up with clients. I had a follow up appointment set up for the following Wednesday to get my cat the 30 min after care session. My cat hates being in a crate and driving in a car. The owner never showed up, text me the next day saying he closed the shop at 3pm. My appointment was at 7:30pm, if you're going to close the shop, it would be nice to let the clients in the evening know who were scheduled from the day before. Then we tried to reschedule, my husband reached out and got no response. I have reached out again, and no response. I didn't know a business would ghost their client. read more

I recently adopted my first cat (domestic long hair) and she needed a good grooming. Devin groomed her the first time and Steve the second. They were both so kind. Will be taking my fur baby back here from now on. ‍ read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Jeminii after her first grooming by Catastrophe Grooming - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

I took my 19 year old cat who never had a bath, let alone grooming to Catastrophe for his extreme mats. It took a few sessions, but he's now mat-free and they were very gentle with him!! Cats can be challenging to groom, so kudos to Devin and Steve for making him a very happy cat! read more

My long hair cat gets very matted and does not let anyone brush or bathe him. Catastrophe cat grooming did such a great job making him feel comfortable and getting the job done. I will definitely be brining him back. I am very relieved to have finally found someone in the bay who can care for his grooming needs!! read more

Our 1.5 year old Maine Coon who's 23 pounds was severely matted. I really didn't want to risk taking him to a Vet where they would put him to sleep just to groom him. And although I did find a couple of groomers locally that claimed to groom cats, nothing in their reviews was convincing. So we made the 45 minute drive out to Livermore. It took two visists. Only charged us for the one. Not going to lie - was skeptical at first. Just seemed too good to be true. How can just one guy in the whole Bay Area corner the market on quality "cat grooming"...??? Trust me. He's legit. Our boy is a beast. And initially wasn't having any of it. But with a lot of patience. A lot of love. Tons of experience and NO DRUGS, these guys were able to convince him to trust them. It all took a lot of time. But well worth it in my opinion. Because now my Ichiro understands that grooming is meant to make him feel better and be happier. I expect him to get a little bigger which means he's going to be a lot more cat to handle. So earning his trust early is priceless. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

My Siberian 5 year old had severe matting in a couple of areas. One phone call and the owner answered all my questions, walked me through the process with SAME DAY appointment booking! Not to mention epic energy! I drove an hour to go specifically to Catastrophe! My cat, toothless, is an indoor cat and is pretty antisocial with anyone that isn't family. WELL let me tell you! Cats definitely have a sixth sense because as soon as he saw Steven he immediately felt safe and allowed him to brush him and pet him. I will now be bringing toothless here every 12 weeks for professional, loving grooming care! If I could give this place 10 stars I would! Toothless is one happy feline! Thanks Catastrophe crew!! P.S.S the Live streaming gave me comfort thank you! read more

RAVE RAVE RAVE Today on 6/29 Toulouse went in to see Steve to get a freshen up, so we can maintain his coat looking nice. His first visit with Steve was on May 12th. For weeks after his first grooming session Toulouse smelt AMAZING and still felt super soft almost two months later. He has less mattes and I can tell he's feeling so much better with proper grooming. As a cat mom, Toulouse is my baby and it makes me so happy to see Steve with him. He adores him likes he is his own baby and Toulouse loves him right back! Steve is an absolute cat whisperer! We can't wait to see where Steve takes his business! He's doing such an amazing job!!! ..................................... Original Rave Experience on 5/12: Toulouse gives his experience 4 paws up! We have been looking for a cat groomer for a long time and it's safe to say that we are big fans of Catastrophe! Steve is the nicest guy. His communication is top notch and he made me feel like my baby was in the safest hands. Toulouse has never been so soft or smelt so good! We can't recommend him enough! Check him out if you have a kitty in need, you won't be sorry read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Steve and Toulouse aka Tutu - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

When I called for info I received a message quickly answering all my questions with a phone call. I was able to go in same day & I took my moody Maine coon to get some severe matts removed.They were absolutely amazing. So patient with my very scared boy & they went at his pace and comfort level. I can instantly see the relief in my baby & I know he will feel comfy going back for our next time. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Taz taking a nap on the long drive home - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Be warned, as soon as you walk in, you may be approached by a friendly pit bull... I have no problem with dogs but my cat wasn't excited to encounter such a majestic creature. It really unsettled her and ruined the experience. I really wanted to like this place, but my most recent experience left me feeling completely unsatisfied. I drove over an hour to seek their expertise but what I found was a disorganized and unhygienic work environment, left over cat hair, and it just didn't seem they were prepared for my appointment. I also did find it strange that they weren't asking for vaccination records even after I called about it as it seems like standard protocol. The bath was just drizzles of different soaps and a deep conditioner on my cats back side. I bathed her pretty much myself and although I mentioned she wasn't fully rinsed , the groomer assured me it was probably the deep conditioner I was feeling... my cat is feeling itchy and has flaky skin. The towels seemed stained and random and she didn't get a full dry in the cat dryer. I was re assured I could just let her finish drying on my ride back home as she was already overwhelmed. It took a few hours for the overall appointment and they offered me a free follow up to finish the services in the next week ...but I will not be coming back. Ultimately I asked if I would just be paying for a bath but the full price of the groom was charged at $130 . Essentially that was for a half bath and half dry. My cats experience was very stressful and I've done a better job with grooming her at home... read more

took us in last minute walk in and helped us save a stray male kitten from an infestation of fleas and ticks to the best of her abilities! named him marble! it's been over a month since our visit but this business is definitely passionate about cat care! here's pictures of marble today read more

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Would I come back? Yeah, they treated Gizmo very well and he seemed pretty calm throughout the process. I like how they were transparent with their Instagram Live so we can watch Gizmo get his grooming done. I did not have to worry that they were going to "rough" him up. For the first 15 minutes, my husband and I watched part of the wash and brushing process. We then went out to dinner and could watch the process. I do have to say that the location isn't the cleanest. It's far from a fancy boutique. There are remnants of cat fur everywhere. There's no waiting area, so you can't wait even if you want to. But the people are nice, warm and welcoming. We always get a little stressed when our babies are out at the groomers but being able to watch the process was calming. We came late on a Thursday and were the only client so that was nice. read more

I took my 9 month old cat Midgey to Catastrophe for her first ever grooming appointment! Devin and Steve were super friendly and responsive throughout the entire process. They were clearly experienced and cleaned my cat thoroughly and gently, and they explained every step so I was never worried. Although she wouldn't let them blow dry her, they rinsed, lathered, and clipped her nails without an issue, and she was so much calmer than usual throughout the process. I was really impressed with how much 1-on-1 care they gave Midgey, and they even streamed her blow dry for me to watch and sent me check-in texts during and after her appointment. Midgey was happy, calm, and looked and smelled clean afterwards :) Thank you for doing such a great job, I'm hoping to come back soon! read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Clean Midgey - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My long hair kitty, Baby Boy was a feral as they found him and his brother on the tarmac of the San Jose airport. He came as a pair with his brother because he is an empath cat. He feels things way more than other cats and his brother is the tuff guy. So recently when I noticed Baby Boy had developed some mats I searched and searched online. So grateful to have found Catastrophe Cat Grooming. Steve and Devin are the sh$t!!! We did Baby Boy's mats in two sessions. One side of the kitty each time. This was just perfect as it allowed him to breakup his kitty hair cut and not freak out too much. He came out perfectly shaved on each side and now that he is home he is soooooooo much HAPPIER!!!!! Thank you Steve and Devin! So worth driving all the way from Oakland to Livermore. Highly recommend these kitty whispers. read more

Catastrophe Cat Grooming - Baby Boy say's thank you Steve and Devin for taking my mats off! You rock!! - Pet Groomers Near Me - Berkeley, California