When the fur balls start to collect and your favorite tabby starts to ruin every pair of panty hose you own, where in Braintree can you turn for a good cat groomer?

I was somewhat daunted by this task recently, so after numerous tries at "Googling", "Yahooing" and "Yelping" which came to naught; I pulled out the trusty phone book to see just what was available.

It seems that cats owners are an under-served population. The first name on my list yielded a phone message stating that the number had been disconnected. Strike one.

The second business listed was the Pet Spa at 970 Washington St. in South Braintree. A very chipper voice answered the phone immediately. I asked for the cost of the "works" for a long-haired cat: bath, blow-dry, nails clipped and fur cut to the "lion cut" style, which is like a kitty Mohawk, only with hair left around the mane, ankles and a little pouf at tail's end. I was instructed that the "works" cost $60 with a $10 first-time customer sale!

For short haired cats, the cost is $40 and for a long-haired cat "comb-out," the price dropped to $50. The very nice man on the other end of the line, Tom,  was quite helpful and let me know that his store is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday from  8:00am to "whenever" and on Sundays from 10am until 6pm. With hours and prices like those, I put the Pet Spa at the top of my "to try" list.

The next name on my roster was that of a national chain, Petsmart, which is located at 250 Grossman Dr. in Braintree, adjacent to Borders. I got a recorded message and when I pushed the number for grooming, a young woman answered, who told me that the groomer only works two days a week, which necessitated my calling back on a Tuesday or a Thursday. When I asked for the price of cat grooming, she "thought it was $75.00," but couldn't provide me any details. I did not call back, but checked the website and could find no actual prices. My hesitation in using this big box store's service is my fear that my cat would "give them the slip" and end up in Kmart's parking lot or worse, on Route 3!

My last hope for my well-appointed Sheeba was Zoomin' Groomin', a mobile pet grooming service which serves towns south of Boston. I spoke to a very well- informed, helpful agent, who answered all of my questions and more. The cost for a cat grooming was quoted as "between $75 and $90" and that includes everything: bath, brushing or clipping, nails, ears -- the works. When I asked  about how they prevent fleas (after all, the grooming is in a large van), she told me that all of the animals are checked before the grooming takes place for fleas, wounds, and signs of illness. If fleas are present, then a mandatory flea dip is offered prior to the grooming. They will not groom cats with signs of disease or open sores either.

Zoomin' Groomin' is open every day from 7:30am until 7:30om. Because you are getting a dedicated appointment, there are no cages, short grooming durations (1/2 hour to 1 hour) and no tears! This all happens  out in your own drive way, and you can even watch! I was offered a Halloween discount of 10%, which the operator extended until Thanksgiving.

These Braintree salon choices allow for many factors: budget consciousness, time constraints, convenience to home, and feline-psychological aspects. With only three options in town, it merits trying them all. For those of you in the pet grooming biz, I think I see some opportunity here in Braintree!

If any businesses are out there that did not pop up on the Internet or the phone directory, please contact me and I'll be happy to update the list!