Hot, Hairy Kitties

A week of 90-degree days is enough to make anyone break out short sleeves, but we hairless humans have it easy. Imagine, if you will, a world where the only escape from scorching summer temperatures is a full-body shave. This reality exists, and your cat lives it every time the heat bears down. Thankfully, Beth Swanzy, owner of Amazon Park Professional Pet Grooming, has your kitty’s back, and she makes the job look easy.

“I’ve been grooming cats for 30 years, ” says Swanzy. “I’ve had this shop since ’87. So basically if I can’t do it, you wouldn’t really want to go anywhere else.”

Swanzy runs the practice largely by herself — with help from only a few others — but it’s clear immediately from the energy she exudes, and the way the animals respond to her, that she’s passionate and skilled when it comes to grooming.

“They’re not like dogs where they stand up straight,” she says. My long-haired cat, Ernest, fidgets worriedly beneath Swanzy’s fingers, but a few quick strokes (and a bit of kitty-baby-talk, because who doesn’t do that, let’s be honest) and she’s able to calm him down. First, she clips Ernest’s claws — a task that has left me bloodied in the past — but she obviously knows what she’s doing. Ernest responds with a struggle, but Swanzy shows great patience and care. “A lot of groomers don’t groom cats, for obvious reasons,” she says. “For a lot of people, it’s not worth the risk.”

Next come the electric clippers. Ernest seems perturbed, but Swanzy’s technique is caring and swift, so it’s all over quickly. As a long-time all-breed groomer of both cats and dogs, Swanzy understands the trade, but more importantly, she understands the customer:

“Even though I learned all breeds [at first], I didn’t really know anything. It takes years. It’s looking at a face and seeing a dog with an underbite versus a dog that doesn’t, and the creativity that comes with it later on is awesome. You can know the fundamentals, but it takes time. You need to get a feel for the temperaments.”

You could take your cat to the vet and have it shaved, but that requires anesthesia, and your cat is unlikely to come out looking quite so cute. Swanzy’s practice is to a vet what a private salon is to Perfect Look. And it’s not too pricy. For about $50 your pet gets the royal treatment. Ernest came home looking like a majestic little lion, and he feels much better with the heat off his back. Lane County is littered with cat and dog groomers. Call for prices and ask questions to make sure your cat or pup gets the care and cut you are looking for.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!