Today we’d like to introduce you to Tricia Liptrap.
Hi Tricia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey with cats and grooming started about 30 years ago. What started as something I never imagined would become a career eventually turned into Just B Paws, my mobile grooming business, which I’ve been running for 26 years.
I’ve always had a special connection with cats, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to groom hundreds of them, from easygoing kitties to some pretty challenging personalities! A lot of what I learned in the beginning was self-taught through experience, but in 2024 I decided to take my education a step further. I completed training through NCGI and became a Certified Feline Master Groomer. That experience completely changed the way I approached handling cats and gave me even more confidence working with cats of all temperaments.
For years, I had a dream of creating a place that was completely dedicated to cats — a place where they could be groomed, boarded, and spoiled without the stress of dogs, barking, and all the things that can make a traditional pet facility overwhelming for cats. That dream eventually became Feline Purradise.
Feline Purradise is a cat-exclusive luxury resort and spa, and it’s been a dream more than three years in the making. I wanted to create something different, with large luxury suites, a peaceful environment, and an experience that feels more like a little vacation than traditional boarding.
And while Feline Purradise is a new chapter for me, Just B Paws isn’t going anywhere. I’ll continue my mobile grooming business while building Feline Purradise. In a lot of ways, Feline Purradise is simply the next part of a journey that started 30 years ago with my love of cats.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road! I think any time you’re building something from a dream, there are going to be plenty of challenges along the way.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing everything. I’ve continued running Just B Paws while taking on the enormous job of creating Feline Purradise from the ground up. There have been construction delays, unexpected expenses, permits and zoning, and probably more decisions than I ever imagined I’d have to make!
There were definitely moments when I wondered, “What am I doing?” But I kept reminding myself why I started. I’ve spent 30 years working with cats, and I knew there was a need for a place designed specifically around their needs.
I’ve also learned that you have to be willing to adapt. Not everything has gone exactly according to plan, and some things have taken longer or cost more than expected. But every challenge has taught me something and made me more determined to get it right.
Looking back, I think the difficult parts have actually been an important part of the journey. They’ve made me appreciate Feline Purradise even more because I know how much work, faith, and persistence went into making the dream a reality.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My career has always been closely connected to my creative side. Grooming cats isn’t just about giving them a haircut—it’s about seeing what each cat needs and figuring out how to make them look and feel their best. I’ve always enjoyed the artistic side of grooming, whether it’s creating a teddy bear trim, a lion clip, or simply bringing out the beauty in a cat’s natural coat.
Outside of grooming, I’m definitely someone who loves creating things. I enjoy decorating, coming up with new ideas, taking photos and videos, and sharing what I’ve learned about cats with other pet parents. Social media has become a big part of that creative outlet for me as well.
Building Feline Purradise has really allowed me to combine all of those things. I’ve been able to be creative with the design, the colors, the tropical theme, the suites, the retail space, and even the little details that make the experience feel special. It has been exciting to take something that started as an idea in my head and actually watch it come to life.
Personally, I’m also a big Disney fan, and I love anything fun, colorful, and a little bit whimsical—which definitely found its way into my personality and my businesses. I think that’s one of the reasons Feline Purradise feels so much like me. It’s professional and luxurious, but it’s also fun, warm, and a little playful.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Growing up, I was never allowed to have a cat, but that definitely didn’t stop me from loving animals. I had dogs and was always bringing home stray animals, much to my parents’ frustration!
Luckily, I had grandparents who were a little more willing to indulge my love of animals. They let me keep the animals at their house that my parents wouldn’t let me keep at home. They even kept a kitten for me named Kitty, who ended up being part of our family for about 15 years.
One of my favorite memories is giving Kitty a lion clip when I was first learning to groom. Looking back, it’s pretty funny to think that I was already grooming cats long before I ever imagined I’d eventually spend my career doing it.
I think my grandparents played a big part in nurturing my love for animals. They gave me a place where I could be surrounded by the animals I loved, and that childhood connection has stayed with me throughout my life. In a funny way, I guess Kitty was one of the first little cats to experience my grooming career!
Pricing:
- Short Hair Full Coat Groom $120
- Long Hair Full Coat Groom $140
- Lion Clip $150
- Teddy Clip $175
- Dino Clip $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://felinepurradise.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felinepurradisellc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19niTzW98U/
