Bathing a Cat: Do's and Dont's

Bathing a cat is not really a good idea because 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 generally only necessary in extreme circumstances.

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 get invaded by ticks or fleas.

Occasional bathing will also probably be needed for long-haired cats and essential for the Sphynx breed, whose lack of fur means that the oil produced by their bodies is not removed in the normal way. (Normally, excess oil is removed from a cat as their fur is either groomed out or falls out.)

You need nerves of steel when bathing a cat. But if you do need to give your cat a bath, here are our instructions.

Before Bathing a Cat. Prepare:

Yourself

Wear old clothes - jeans and a long-sleeved shirt or sweater to protect your skin from getting scratched.

Your Cat

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 or Bathroom

The kitchen is a good place for bathing a cat, especially if you have a double sink. One half can then be used for soaping and the other half for rinsing off.

Whether you have a single sink or a double one, if you use the kitchen sink it's a good idea to take a folded towel and lay it on the counter at the edge of the sink, with the open end of the folded towel level with the edge, so that when you've finished, your cat can climb up straight up into the towel.

Another idea is to put a large towel at the bottom of the sink to give your cat something to grip onto.

(The tips above about the towels were sent to us by one of readers, Diane. Thank you Diane!)

Alternatively, you can use the bathroom shower or bath, where you have the added advantage of a shower head 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.

Your Tools

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 shampoos below, available on Amazon, appear to be well-tolerated by most cats.

The Water

The water temperature should be the same as the cat's body temperature (102ºF/39ºC), which is higher than our own, so to you the water should feel slightly hotter than luke-warm. If not, 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, because cats don't like having their faces splashed.

Fill the second container with clean warm water.

And Here Goes!

Step 1: Washing

Bring in your victim dearly beloved faithful companion. 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 when bathing a cat. 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, then rinse and remove as much of the soapy water as possible with your hands before taking the cat out.

Step 2: Rinsing

Put 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.

Step 3: Drying

Don't leave your cat 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'll probably lick himself all over, which will help to dry him off.

If you have a long-haired cat, brush its fur gently to remove any knots and tangles, and finish by combing through.

That's it. You're done. You've either succeeded or may have decided never to do it again. Bathing a cat is not always fun, but congratulations on your first attempt! Treats are probably in order - one for your feline friend, and most certainly one for you too ...

Related Cat Care Articles

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• How to clip cat claws
  
• Looking after older cats

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