Bathing a cat - the do's and don'ts
On the whole, cats don't much like water (unless they're Bengals, who positively enjoy splashing around in puddles). Cats have all they need to keep themselves clean, so giving a cat a bath is only necessary in extreme circumstances. Bathing is necessary, for example, if they get covered in an oily or toxic substance that they can't remove by themselves, or when they come into contact with something evil-smelling, or perhaps get invaded by ticks or fleas. You need nerves of steel when bathing a cat. But if you really, really, must give your cat a bath, here are our instructions for bathing cats. Before Bathing: Prepare ...YourselfWear old clothes - jeans and a long-sleeved shirt or sweater to protect your skin from getting scratched. Clip your cat's nails. Many an unsuspecting owner has been badly scratched by unhappy cats trying to flee the scene! Once you've done that, keep your cat secure and safely out of the way while you organize ... The kitchen is a good place for bathing a cat, especially if you have a double sink which you can use for a bath. One half can then be used for soaping, and the other half for rinsing off. Alternatively, you can use the bathroom shower or bath, where you have the added advantage of a showerhead for to rinse with. If you decide on the bathroom, one way is to use the bucket method. Use two buckets (or large saucepans or similar containers) one for the soapy water, one to rinse. Whichever room you choose, make sure that all breakable items are moved well out of harm's way. Collect together everything you'll need. Sponge or face cloth, specially formulated shampoo for cats, or flea shampoo if you're treating fleas. Don't use human shampoo or soap as these can harm the animal's skin and fur. You'll also need a brush, a comb and several large towels. The water temperature should be the same as the cat's body temperature (102ºF/39ºC). Which is higher than ours. So to you, the water should feel slightly hotter than luke-warm, otherwise, to the cat, the water will feel uncomfortably cold. Put a small amount (around a tablespoonful) of shampoo into your first container. Add water and mix well – you need enough water to partly cover your pet, but don't overfill your container ... cats don't like having their faces splashed. Fill the second container with clean warm water. Bathing Step 1: Washing
Lower him gently into the first container. Once in, use one hand to support him and the other to work your way through his fur so that the whole body, apart from the head, gets wet. (You may find at this point that an extra pair of hands would be useful. Remember this. Enlist help, next time around.) Add a little more shampoo and work it through the fur all the way up to the neck. Rinse and remove as much of the soapy water as possible with your hands before taking the cat out. photo: © iStockphoto | Debbi Smirnoff Bathing Step 2: RinsingPut your cat into the container with the clean water, rinse him well, and again, squeeze away as much water as possible with your hands.You may need to rinse more than once. Rinse, rinse and rinse again if necessary, as it's very important to get all the shampoo out of the cat's coat to avoid leaving him with skin problems. Bathing Step 3: DryingDon't leave cats with wet fur. Wrap him securely in a towel but avoid covering his face as this may frighten him. Towel his fur in every direction and if necessary, use further towels to get him as dry as possible before releasing him. He will probably lick himself all over, which will help to dry him off. If you have long-haired cats, brush their fur gently to remove any knots and tangles, and finish by combing through. That's it. You're done. You've either succeeded with your first attempt at bathing a cat - or may have decided never to do it again. Bathing a cat is not always fun! Congratulations! Treats are probably in order - one for your feline friend, and most certainly one for you too ...
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