How to Choose the Right Animal Cage Units for Your Grooming Salon

A busy grooming salon needs more than quality grooming tools and experienced staff. It also needs safe, durable spaces where pets can wait comfortably before and after appointments.

Choosing the right grooming salon animal cage units can improve your workflow, make better use of your available space, and help keep pets secure throughout the day. The right setup should fit the size of your salon, the types of pets you serve, and the way your team works.

At Clark Cages, we have been serving animal-care professionals since 1968. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when planning your salon cage setup.

Why Grooming Cages Matter in a Professional Salon

Most grooming appointments involve some amount of waiting time. A pet may arrive before a groomer is ready, rest between different stages of the appointment, or wait for its owner after the grooming is complete.

Professional grooming cages give each pet a designated space during these periods.

That can help reduce unnecessary movement around the salon and keep pets separated from grooming equipment, work areas, and other animals when needed.

A well-planned cage area can also support a smoother daily schedule. Groomers can move from one appointment to the next while pets remain safely housed until they are ready for the next stage of care or pickup.

Start With Your Salon’s Available Space

Before choosing cage sizes or configurations, look closely at your salon layout.

Measure the area you plan to dedicate to animal housing and consider how much room staff need to walk, open cage doors, clean surrounding areas, and move pets safely.

Your salon kennel setup should support the rest of your workspace rather than create congestion.

Think about

• Available floor and wall space
• Door clearance
• Walking paths for employees
• Access to grooming tables and bathing areas
• Cleaning access
• The number of pets typically in the salon at one time

Planning these details before ordering cages can help you avoid a setup that feels cramped once it is installed.

Match Cage Sizes to the Pets You Groom

Every grooming business serves a different mix of clients.

Some salons primarily work with smaller breeds, while others regularly accommodate everything from toy breeds and cats to large dogs. Your cage configuration should reflect the animals you actually see.

When choosing professional pet cages, review your appointment history and determine which pet sizes appear most frequently.

A salon that works mainly with small and medium dogs may need a different cage bank than one that regularly serves large breeds.

If your client mix changes from day to day, choosing a combination of cage sizes can provide additional flexibility.

Consider Modular Cage Banks

One of the biggest challenges for grooming salons is using limited space efficiently.

Modular cage banks allow salons to organize multiple cages into a more structured configuration. Depending on the available space and cage design, units can help make better use of both horizontal and vertical areas.

This can be especially valuable for salons with high appointment volumes.

Instead of placing individual cages throughout the workspace, a planned cage bank can create a dedicated holding area and make it easier for staff to locate and manage pets throughout the day.

Modular configurations may also provide greater flexibility when designing a new salon or updating an existing one.

Choose Cages That Are Easy to Clean

Grooming salons naturally deal with water, loose hair, dirt, and other messes throughout the day.

That makes cleanability an important consideration when selecting grooming salon animal cage units.

Look for cage designs that give staff easy access to surfaces and removable components. Trays, raised flooring, and accessible interiors can make routine cleaning more manageable.

The easier your cages are to maintain, the easier it becomes to keep the holding area clean between clients.

Durable materials are equally important. Professional cages need to withstand frequent cleaning and regular use without quickly deteriorating.

Think About Pet Safety and Security

Pets entering a grooming salon may react differently to an unfamiliar environment.

Some are relaxed, while others may become nervous around dryers, other animals, new people, or unfamiliar sounds.

Reliable professional pet cages provide a secure place where animals can remain separated from active work areas.

When comparing cages, pay attention to doors, latches, construction quality, and overall stability. Each unit should be appropriate for the size and type of animal that will use it.

Creating a dedicated holding space also helps staff maintain better control over pet movement throughout the salon.

Plan Around Your Daily Workflow

A good cage setup should make life easier for your grooming team.

Consider the typical path a pet takes through your business:

Arrival → waiting → bathing → grooming → finishing → pickup.

Where do cages fit into that process?

Positioning your grooming cages in the right location can reduce unnecessary movement and help your team manage several appointments more efficiently.

For example, cages that are easily accessible from grooming and bathing areas may simplify transitions between different stages of an appointment.

The ideal layout will depend on your salon, but cage placement should always support your existing workflow.

Consider Features That Add Flexibility

Not every salon needs the same cage features.

Depending on your operation, you may benefit from options such as removable centre dividers, raised flooring, trays, casters, cardholders, or dryer-compatible setups.

Dividers can provide additional flexibility when housing pets of different sizes. Casters can make it easier to reposition certain cage units or access surrounding areas for cleaning.

These features can make modular cage banks more adaptable as your business changes.

Before choosing a configuration, think beyond what your salon needs today. Consider whether your appointment volume, staffing, or available services could change over the next several years.

Invest in Cages Built for Commercial Use

Household pet crates and professional grooming cages serve very different purposes.

Commercial grooming equipment may be used by multiple employees and house many different pets throughout a single week. It must also stand up to frequent cleaning and daily opening and closing.

Choosing cages designed for professional animal care can provide better durability and long-term value for your business.

Clark Cages has been family owned and operated since 1968, providing cage systems for groomers, veterinarians, boarding facilities, rescues, shelters, and pet stores throughout Canada and the United States.

Build a Salon Kennel Setup That Works for Your Business

There is no single cage configuration that works for every grooming salon.

The best grooming salon animal cage units will depend on your available space, daily appointment volume, typical pet sizes, cleaning routine, and workflow.

By carefully planning your salon kennel setup, you can create an organized holding area that supports both your staff and the pets in your care.

Clark Cages offers professional grooming cage solutions and modular cage configurations designed for animal-care businesses. Explore our grooming cages, request a catalog, or contact our team to discuss the right cage modules for your salon.