Bathing Cats
Bathing Cats
As a cat owner, perhaps the thought of bathing your pet is daunting, so it's not surprising that you've been avoiding bathing little kitty. But you can call in a professional groomer as part of your pet's grooming regimen to accustom him to having water poured on him, but will not panic when this happens.
Is it necessary to bathe your cat? Cats love to keep clean and spend several hours each day washing themselves. Despite this, your pet may need a bath when she gets her coat covered in machine oil, cleaning powder or pesticides which she must not lick off and take in, or she develops skin disorders for which you use medicated shampoo or when you are displaying her at a show.
Bathing schedules: Not all cats are comfortable having a bath, and even if yours is, don't give him a bath frequently as his natural skin oils will be eroded and will dry out his coat. The rule of thumb is to bathe a cat four times a year at the turn of each season.
Tools and equipment: Get ready with a safe and medicated cat shampoo, a fluffy towel which you can warm before a bath, a soft washcloth to wipe his face, and a couple of cotton balls for his wet ears.
Preparing for a bath: Get into really old clothes or a swim suit and get ready to jump into the bath with your cat. Don't hang over his head as this will make him nervous. Call in a helper or friend to help you bathe your cat someone your cat is familiar with and likes.
Get all the equipment ready and take away any breakable equipment lest your cat breaks it. Place a rubber mat on the floor of the tub or your cat will slip. Two hours before he goes in for a bath, have him groomed and his coat brushed. Trim his claws and pick him up and place him in the bath with cotton balls in his ears.
Bathing him: You can bathe your cat all over his body, but leave out his face as he will not like it. If you want to get rid of his fleas, use a flea powder, but it's better to add a flea shampoo with his bath. He will mew all through the bath, but don't let that bother you. Maintain gentle and slow movements and keep your voice low to reassure him.
Pour lukewarm water all over his body gradually and in a stroking motion, as if you were petting him. Empty a capful of pet shampoo on his back and work up a rich lather, keeping your movements deliberately slow and linear, instead of fanning out in different directions.
Let the shampoo set in for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Pick him up and set him out and clean the cat hair from the drain and then the tub too. Dry him with a soft towel and wrap him with it and then gently rub his fur or he will develop hairballs.
With this procedure before you, you should be able to give your kitty a bath without any difficulty.