Middle Georgia’s 1st cat-exclusive grooming, boarding facility is opening in Warner Robins

Building on a successful mobile feline grooming business, Sydney Beers of Warner Robins is gearing up to open Middle Georgia’s first cat-exclusive spa and boarding facility.

Kitty Corner Spa & Boarding is targeted to open March 15 at 2062 Watson Blvd, Suite C, in Warner Robins.

Why cats only?

“Well, for the health of your cat, of course,” says Beers, a member of the National Cat Groomers Institute. “There’s no barking dogs to be stressed out and they get a spacious suite.”

Beers, who is working on her NCGI Certified Feline Master Groomers certificate, aims to transform a 1,021-square-foot empty space into a safe and cozy haven where cats get extra loving while being groomed or boarded.

She’s already completed 60 hours of grooming training at Club Meow Inc., a feline exclusive boarding and grooming facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa. That’s in addition to years of hands-on experience.

The new spot is in a shopping strip anchored by an ExtraMile convenience store and Chevron gas station. The suite is on the far right corner, which delighted Beers because of the play on words with the name of her business Kitty Corner Spa & Boarding.

Beers got her start grooming dogs and cats at a Perry grooming business before venturing out on her own and grooming cats in their owner’s homes. She chose to groom felines only because “cats are my passion.”

“I have several cat clients that came to me while I was also grooming dogs, and their poor kitty got so upset because there’s barking dogs,” Beers said. “They’re loud. They’re all over the place, and the cat just didn’t know what to do.

“So I was like, you know what? It would be so great to be able to take my personal cats to a cat specific place because they know how to take care of them, and they won’t be stressed out from all the barking and the noise and the smells of the dogs.”

Mobile first

With her mobile Kitty Corner Spa, Beers travels throughout Middle Georgia with her own shampoos, towels, clippers, combs, nail trimmers, a hose that hooks to a bathtub and a high-powered shop vac for capturing and cleaning up cat hair. She prides herself on being in and out in 90 minutes, and on leaving everything spotless when she’s finished.

“I always leave wherever I’m grooming nice and clean as if I was never there,” she said.

Most important to Beers, whose cats are all rescues, is the care she provides the felines she’s grooming. She believes in lots of TLC.

Her mobile business has received rave reviews on social media.

“Today was the first time we have ever utilized a cat grooming service and we are over the top happy with the service Sydney provided,” wrote Julie Nichols-Johnson in her Facebook review. “Sydney did a great job with our 6-month-old, long-haired lil guy, Frankie!

“She is so knowledgeable and you can tell she really cares about her furry clients! Frankie was super comfortable with her. We look forward to future services with Kitty Corner Spa for all our kitties! I would 100% recommend Kitty Corner Spa & Boarding to any fur parent!!!. Thanks again!”

Lacie Crow also wrote in her Facebook review about the “great experience” she had with Beers, which was also Crow’s first time using a cat groomer.

“She was very sweet and gentle towards my elderly cat,” Crow said in her review that included a picture of her cat. “The end result exceeded my expectations.”

Helps rescue kitties

Beers also volunteers her time and services to groom rescue cats before they go up for adoption, including some of the kitties that come to Paws Awhile Cat Cafe in Perry. The cat cafe, also the first of its kind in Middle Georgia, offers beverages, snacks and opportunities to spend time with feline rescues who live there until their adoption.

While not all of the cats may need grooming, there are some that could use a little spa treatment to ensure they look their best for potential adoption and Beers always steps up at no charge to help, said Rebecca Marfell, Paws Awhile Cat Cafe owner.

“Her work has absolutely increased the adoptability of some of the cats she’s helped, and we are so grateful,” said Marfell, who first met Beers as a customer at the cafe. The two became fast friends.

“Sydney is fantastic at her craft and puts her heart into every cat she works with. It means so much to her to support their health and well-being, and it truly shows.”

Marfell also applauded Beers’ business model of focusing exclusively on cats.

“As a cat owner myself, I’m thrilled to have someone who specializes in feline care and understands their unique behaviors and needs,” Marfell said. “I think other cat owners will appreciate the ability to board their cats in a quiet, cat-oriented environment where they will be well cared for.”

Ironically, Beers is allergic to cats, and that’s partly why she’s an advocate of bathing cats — something that not all cat owners agree on since cats naturally groom themselves.

Bathing and grooming cats cuts down on pet dander, which can cause allergic reactions, said Beers, who uses over the counter allergy medication when needed, keeps an epipen on her and grooms heavily matted cats wearing a mask.

When cats groom themselves, they use their saliva, which when combined with dust, dirt and lots of petting, can create a sheen on their coats — indicating a need for a bath, Beers said.

Her bath packages for short and for medium to long haired cats include a nail trim, bath, blowout, sanitary trim and ear cleaning. She also offers lion and teddy cuts and add-ons such as a belly shave or “hot mess” treatments for cats needing dematting or pelting removal.

Beers next added cat sitting services to her mobile grooming business while she searched for the right spot to open a storefront and expand into boarding.

The storefront

Once Kitty Corner Spa & Boarding opens its brick and mortar facility, Beers prefers that her existing clients bring their furry friends to the storefront.

But she’ll consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis for existing and new clients who have special needs such as elderly kitties or cats who get car sick.

For the most part, Beers plans to work out of the storefront — which she envisions as an open space where she can easily see her guests. She’ll also have security cameras that she and boarding clients will be able to view their kitties while away.

The eight boarding spaces will be generous sizes — 5 feet by 6 feet and 8 feet by 6 feet — to allow the cats to stretch and play.

The basic kitty boarding package comes with a comfy bed, litter box, water bowl, food bowl, and a small cat tree for added fun.

“I’m offering a 5 foot by 6 foot cat suite with a cat tower, fresh water, fresh food, and they have room to stretch and to climb,” Beers said. “I’m offering like climbing steps in their little suites, and it’s all open, so I’m there.”

She also plans to spend time playing with each of the kitties boarding.

For an upcharge, kitties can get the premium stay that includes an electric water bowl for fresh, filtered water and a happy hour treat each day.

Owners are encouraged to bring their cat’s regular food, but if they forget, food can be provided for a daily upcharge. Medication also can be administered for an upcharge.

Owners also are encouraged to bring blankets, beds and toys to make their cat’s stay feel more like home. Cat families may board together.

Spa and boarding guests must be free of contagious diseases and parasites, according to the facility’s rules. Proof of current rabies and distemper (FVRCP) vaccinations are required. Flea prevention must also be current.

“So currently, I’m just doing it all by myself until I get really busy, and when I do get really busy, then I will be looking for a kitty concierge, and that will be somebody who can kind of come in more towards the evening and maybe help clean the suites, feed the kitties, make sure that their litter boxes are changed or cleaned out,’” Beers said.

Beers makes her home in Warner Robins with her husband, their blended family of three children and their cats. She lives about five minutes away from spa and boarding facility.

She grew up with a love for animals, helping her parents train leader dogs for the blind. Her family got their first dog when she was 6. They also had cats. In middle school, she worked on a farm, which led her to get her own horse.

For her grand opening, she hopes to have an adoption event to show off the boarding suites while giving kitties a chance at forever homes. She also expects to have raffles with the proceeds going to rescue groups. Raffle prizes will include an $80 Kitty Corner Spa & Grooming gift certificate and gift basket filled with grooming supplies.

Customers may book grooming and/or boarding appointments online at kittycornerspa.com, by calling 478-293-3055 or on the businesses Facebook page.