Grooming Advice (Cat)

So I’m sort of at my wits end.

I have a groomer who my cat sees, but she is becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of and arrange time with to come and visit my longhaired cat, Mali.

Mali is wonderful, but she can be like a wriggly eel when brushing. I do tempt her with a licky lick, and make a point to brush her every day without fail (I always ensure to brush her belly.) She got severely matted the end of last year after she was spayed - she had to wear one of those post-op suits for two weeks post, and that paired with me using entirely the wrong brush on her ended in a vet visit and a lion cut on the advice of this groomer.

So now her fur is growing back in really nicely, I have two combs I use every day and her fur now gets the odd knot but it’s mostly fine.

BUT. I do like her seeing this groomer every so often for a de-matting and a clip.

But she is so difficult to arrange anything with. Either she never responds to messages, or when I propose a time with her by the time she gets back it’s passed. I work Mon-Fri 9-5 and I said from the off weekends are best for me. This was initially fine but it’s become an uphill battle for me since - she has visited with my mum supervising, which my mum doesn’t mind as she loves my cat to pieces (she calls her a surrogate granddaughter haha), but I don’t want to put that expectation on her constantly as Mali is my cat and it would be unfair. The groomer has also said she would rather I was there.

Then help me arrange a time where that is possible!!!

I never have this issue with the vets - I can prove it, Mali went for her jabs and nail clip today no issue after I finished work…

Honestly I’m at a point where I’m thinking could I not just try and do it myself? I’m doing this for Mali’s benefit as I am just so worried she’ll end up the way she did last year. I felt terrible and I would never want to put her through that again. This groomer is also the only person around who will do cats (I live rurally, it’s hard out here.)

Any advice would be great - is there anyone here who grooms their cat themselves and how on earth do you get around it?