How to Bathe a Cat
Published September 21, 2011
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Cats groom themselves, but sometimes grooming isn't enough, and you need to give your cat a good old-fashioned bath. Read on for tips on how to give your cat a bath!
Cats spend a great deal of time grooming themselves. But there are times when a lick-and-a-promise simply won’t be enough, and when you'll have to give your cat a good old-fashioned bath.
I can already hear the chorus protesting with, “Bathe my cat, are you insane?!”
But yes, it can be done. Cat show folks do this all the time, and some bathe their cats multiple times during a single show. The trick, of course, is to start when the kitten is young, doesn’t know any better, and you are bigger than him and more able to handle the pistoning paws.
While cats may not enjoy the experience, they can (if eased into it and trained from a young age) tolerate the experience. Here are some good rules of “paw” to follow.
When Giving Your Cat a Bath, Be Prepared Ahead of Time
Above all, it's important to be prepared.
Have all your bath materials gathered ahead of time. You do not want to be searching for the soap or towel with a wet, hissy cat in the sink.
Also, be sure to run the water ahead of time. Cats object to the running water, but are much more likely to tolerate being lowered into standing water. Be sure it’s cat-body-temperature (not too hot or too cold).
Use the Right Shampoo When Giving Your Cat a Bath
Use cat-specific shampoo when giving your cat a bath. People shampoo or detergent can be too drying and irritating.
Also, be sure to add shampoo to the standing water first, so it more easily penetrates the dry fur.
Giving Your Cat a Bath: Use Your Towels Wisely
When you're giving your cat a bath, it's a good idea to put a towel in the bottom of the sink. That gives the cat claws something to grasp other than you. Good footing makes kitty feel more secure.
Use a Cup to Dip Water in the Bath
Use a cup to dip water. Cats seem to prefer this to the nozzle sprayer. But if you must use the spray, hold it close to the cat’s body for rinsing.
Be Sure Soap is Completely Rinsed Off When Giving Your Cat a Bath
Rinse. And rinse again. And then again. Once you’re sure all the soap is gone, rinse one final time so that none remains to dry out the skin or cause sores.
When Giving Your Cat a Bath, Offer Treats
Offer treats. I mean, break out the extra-special-scrumptious treats. Leave your cat with a (literally) good taste about the whole experience of being put in the bath. As stated before, they'll tolerate it, not enjoy it.
Do you have any special tricks to get your cat to tolerate a bath? Leave a comment and let us know!
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Comments (6)
Sing to them or play soft classical music! They do respond to it well. You can also add some lavendar water to help calm them. Or have a lavendar scent somewhere in the room. After bathing I wrap them up in a big fluffy towel and tell them how brave they are, etc. And I turn the heat up in the house to over 75. Remember a cat has a higher body temperature and being wet and cold is horrid for them. I make the water hot! Almost too hot for me is just fine for them. It helps them relax. And I use one of the microfiber disc type baby scrubber/washcloth things. It helps lightly scrub their skin and disperse the shampoo.
Make sure you clip the sharp tip of their claws so when you do get scratched you're not bleeding!
The one item that I have found most helpful when bathing my kitties is a harness, like the kind used on small dogs. It gives me something to hold on to if the cats are struggling to get out of the water and it won't choke or hurt them. Another thing is remaining calm. Animals pick up and respond to our emotions so if you are really nervous about giving your kitty a bath, the cat is more likely to be combative. So try to prepare your self mentally before you even thinking about bathing the kitties. If you are calm and relaxed they are more likely to remain calm and handle the bath better
well my thomas doesnt mind water. he loves to be able to go into the front yard so much he didnt mind it was raining. then i didnt want him on top of the fridge so id spray him with a waterbottle to keep him from doing it he doesnt like being sprayed BUT he likes the fridge so much after a while he stopped minding the spray bottle. then for some reason whenever i go into the bathroom he insists on following me and walks right into the shower so one day i decided to turn it on and he ran out but after a while he stopped caring and let the water run on him for a while that is. thats when i realized hey i can give him a bath. as for my other cat...well maybe you guys have tips? and why are they soo different? is it a boy girl thing? because they are brother and sister.
Last year, I found a mama and three kittens and I took them in while I looked for homes for them. My vet cautioned that when bathing them, it was especially important to keep the kittens warm and dry them completely, as they lose body heat more easily than adults. I found that all of them, including Mama, enjoyed being towel dried, then finished with a little travel size blow drier.
I have one cat who was sprayed by a skunk. Stuck him in the bathtub and I truly believe he was greatful. The other likes to roll in dirt(go figure) and does not tolerate it. Would require my wearing full body armour and sedating him to do the job:)