“There is nobody else who does cats only” says self-proclaimed ‘crazy cat lady’ Wendy ShortPublished May 01, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 5 minute readEver try to groom a Maine Coon? Wendy Short has and it’s quite a challenge. That’s why she’s hoping to open a cat-specific grooming facility in St. John’s. As a breeder of Maine Coons — one of the world’s largest breeds of domesticated cats — Wendy Short says that many clients pose the same question to her when they are about to take their pets home: “How am I supposed to take care of these cats and their luxurious long fur?”“They become pretty dirty and matted up pretty fast, and I noticed there was really nobody to help them,” the St. John’s woman told The Telegram.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“Anywhere I did go, the only option was to shave them. I was like, ‘Oh my god, what am I going to do?’ People who are getting our cats and kittens were asking us, ‘How do we get them clean? What do I do?’ I didn’t know what to tell them.” If all goes well with her application currently in front of the city, Short will be able to assist her clients as well as cat owners across St. John’s as she aims to open the city’s first cat-focused grooming and boarding facility, the Crazy Cat Lady Hotel and Spa, at 262 Newfoundland Dr.“Right now, I’m just in my house, and my location is really small,” said Short, who is originally from St. Anthony.“There’s really no way to have more people in here, only me and one other person. I want (the new location) to be very upscale. When it comes to the cat grooming, I hold it to a very high standard already, so that’s not going to change. Cats can be very difficult.”‘Nobody else who does cats only’ St. Anthony native Wendy Short is looking to open the province’s first feline-specific grooming salon and hotel on Newfoundland Drive in St. John’s. CONTRIBUTEDWhile attending Academy Canada’s two-semester animal grooming program, she quickly identified a gap in both the curriculum and the marketplace, as much of the programming and services available were focused exclusively on dogs. Article content“They offered 95 per cent dogs,” she said of the training program.“There was the bathing of a cat, but it was totally different from how it should be done. There’s a way it should be done so you’re not just throwing a cat in a bathtub. There is nobody else who does cats only. It’s a completely different approach to it.” When she realized she still didn’t know how to properly groom her kitties following the completion of her program, she sought out specialized training in the United States with the goal of bringing an advanced level of cat grooming and care to the province.“I was already in touch with an institution in the United States called the National Cat Grooming Institute, where they do felines only,” Short explained.“This lady founded the company in the ’80s, maybe. She built it up from the ground. She started out with cat breeding as well, with Persians, and then went on to groom them.” While she still has to finish her practicum to complete this specialized program, she quickly accrued enough expert training to begin operating a small cat spa out of her east end home. Article contentTwo short years later, she has outgrown her home space and decided it was time to make her dream of a full-service public cat hotel and spa a reality, complete with full grooming services, multiple spacious enclosures for boarding and separate areas for families who need to drop off multiple cats, or for nervous kitties who may need a little extra space to get comfortable in their new surroundings.“There’s nowhere really to board cats,” she said.“I think there’s one or two places where people do it out of their house, and they either use a cage or a basement area. My vision is not a basement. Being involved in breeding myself, I don’t cage any of my animals. Some people cage them into kennels and stuff like this, not big enclosures, which is what my vision is.”Short promises a friendly, open atmosphere and wants to assist pet owners with the correct, specialized service and education to meet to meet the needs of both owners and their pets.“We work very closely with our vet, as well,” she said.Article content“We’re very medically oriented, I guess you could say. Our vet might actually look at putting a spot in there as well. That would be huge. I’m very easy and outgoing and up front with everybody and try to educate them on what should be and what shouldn’t be. I don’t stress them out. It’s a one-on-one environment if need be.” ‘City great to deal with’ With a council decision date set for May 20, Wendy Short is hoping all goes smoothly to allow her to open her cat spa ahead of the NL Pet Expo. Photo by City of St. John’sShort’s application to the city is requesting a change of non-conforming use to convert the space from a pharmacy into her dream cat spa and hotel, and proposes to operate from Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a minimum of one staff member present for any overnight boarding. St. John’s City Council has set a decision date for May 20, and is welcoming public feedback on the project until May 13.Read More ‘I’ve seen dogs cry and cry because their owner is gone’: NL pet owners forced to surrender pets due to housing challenges ‘Employee of the Month’: Meet Irving, The Seed Company’s resident tabby cat and pest control expert in downtown St. John’s Article contentShort says that early feedback on the project has been positive, and she’s hopeful that things continue to go smoothly so she can open the doors quickly upon receiving full approval.“Everything seems to be going as planned with the city,” she said.“From what I’ve seen, it looks like everything is positive. The feedback looks great. There is really nobody else who does anything like this.” Short says the City of St. John’s has been good to deal with on this project and has her fingers crossed for an expeditious final approval process, as she hopes to be able to promote the opening of the city’s first cat hotel and spa while attending the upcoming NL Pet Expo in June.“I’m hoping if everything goes through with council in May that we will be open before the Expo and be able to promote even more at the Expo,” Short said.“That’s what we’re looking at. That’s the plan. Time is pretty much the biggest factor that’s in play and the biggest obstacle. The city is great to deal with. The biggest struggle really is time. It’s almost like everything you send in, they would like some more information.” Article content
‘Crazy Cat Lady’ opening St. John’s first cat grooming spa and hotel
