Hampstead based feline grooming salon earns top recognition from The Maryland Small Business Examiner, with owner Katie standing out as one of only two Certified Feline Master Groomers in the entire state
HAMPSTEAD, MD. Summer Meadows Pet Spa, the private, cage free grooming salon in Hampstead dedicated exclusively to cats, has been named the Best Cat Groomer in Maryland for 2026 by The Maryland Small Business Examiner as part of its annual Best of Maryland Small Business Awards program.
The recognition celebrates a one of a kind small business in the Maryland pet care industry. Owner Katie holds the rare distinction of being one of only two Certified Feline Master Groomers in the entire state of Maryland, a designation that reflects an extraordinary level of training, experience, and specialized expertise in the gentle handling and professional grooming of cats. For Carroll County and Baltimore County cat owners, having a CFMG of Katie’s caliber operating right in Hampstead is a genuine community asset.
A Salon Dedicated Exclusively to Cats
What sets Summer Meadows Pet Spa apart is its singular focus. While most grooming salons handle dogs primarily and accept cats as an afterthought, Summer Meadows is built from the ground up around feline care. Every appointment is private, cage free, and one on one. Cats are not asked to share space with strange dogs, sit in a kennel between services, or wait in a busy reception area. They receive Katie’s full and undivided attention from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.
Katie is a Certified Feline Master Groomer, as well as Pet CPR and First Aid Certified. She specializes in gentle handling and professional care that supports each cat’s comfort, health, and well being. The salon’s quiet, home based setting allows for a calm, personalized experience, tailored to each cat’s individual needs and temperament. For owners of senior cats, anxious cats, long haired cats with matting, or cats who have had difficult grooming experiences elsewhere, Summer Meadows offers exactly the kind of expert, patient care that is so often missing in the industry.
Meet Katie, the Heart of Summer Meadows
The story behind Summer Meadows Pet Spa is itself worth telling. Katie is a lifelong Hampstead resident who has always appreciated Carroll County’s beauty, kindness, and strong community. Her grooming journey began at the age of 11 as a professional bather, and by her early 20s she had honed her skills and was ready to build something of her own. In 2011, she founded Summer Meadows Pet Spa with a clear mission: to create a serene, stress free environment where both pets and owners feel welcome and at ease.
That mission has guided every decision at the salon for over a decade. Katie attends grooming trade shows across the country to stay current on trends and techniques, and her clients consistently describe her as reliable, kind, trustworthy, and hardworking, the kind of feedback that no business can buy and that Katie says she truly cherishes. Building lasting bonds with pets and their families, she explains, has been the most rewarding part of her entrepreneurial journey.
Recognition Earned Through Exceptional Specialization
“Summer Meadows Pet Spa represents exactly what this award was created to recognize,” said a spokesperson for The Maryland Small Business Examiner. “A small, owner operated salon built around true specialization, in this case, one of the rarest grooming credentials in the entire state. Katie has spent her career mastering the gentle art of feline grooming, and the cats and families she serves are better for it. Hampstead is fortunate to have her, and she has earned every bit of this recognition.”
Summer Meadows Pet Spa was selected for the 2026 Best of Maryland Small Business Award in recognition of exceptional cat grooming, outstanding feline expertise, and commitment to Maryland’s pet community.
About Summer Meadows Pet Spa
Summer Meadows Pet Spa is a private, cage free grooming salon dedicated exclusively to cats, located in Hampstead, MD, and serving Carroll County and Baltimore County. Founded in 2011 by owner Katie, a Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) and Pet CPR and First Aid Certified groomer, the salon offers one on one feline grooming sessions in a calm, quiet, home based setting. Katie is one of only two Certified Feline Master Groomers in the state of Maryland.
For appointment inquiries, call 443.340.6006 or visit www.summermeadowspetspa.com. Follow Summer Meadows Pet Spa on Facebook at facebook.com/SummerMeadowsPetSpa and on Instagram @summermeadowspetspa.
About the Best of Maryland Small Business Awards
The Best of Maryland Small Business Awards, presented annually by The Maryland Small Business Examiner, recognize outstanding small businesses across the state for excellence in service, customer experience, and contribution to Maryland’s communities. Winners are selected through editorial review based on customer feedback, business reputation, longevity, and industry recognition.
For more information, visit mdsbexaminer.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: The Maryland Small Business Examiner 6340 Security Blvd, Ste 100 #1176 Baltimore, MD 21207 mdsbexaminer.com
