Bathing a cat

it sounds like such a bonding experience! I hope stoli will like it. . . .

After tonight's bit of fun, I have to say. It doesn't hurt to be able to bathe your cat
Sho has had many baths, unfortunately none where ever planned. From various poop accidents, sneaking out and rolling in the mud, to everyone's favorite... ringworm. I use a tearless puppy and kitten shampoo that leaves his fur very soft.

If you're using a bathtub I suggest you get someone to help, even if the cat doesn't struggle (much) leaning over the tub really kills the back. Two people washing and lifting the cat to help rinse the belly is alot quicker.
Also if the kitty likes being scratched you might be able to work the shampoo in quicker that way, at least on the back and shoulders.

Mine all get a bath every few months, and always before my family visits as they are allergic to cats and it generally helps cut down on the fur flying around also.

Mine are weird, Boomer will jump in the tub with you and play, but hates being bathed if you are not in the tub with him, so Matt has to kneel in the tub with him and wash him.

Bumps and Scully don't always enjoy it, but they just let you bathe them, Bumps even lifts up his paws and lets you wash properly under his pits etc.

Magnum is a terror in the bath, for all the wrong reasons. You HAVE to let him play with the bubbles like a little kid before he will allow you to rinse him, if you try rinsing / taking him out too soon he will growl and bite. When he is ready to be rinsed he will stop playing and sit patiently. So its a matter of sitting there waiting (he always gets done last for this reason).

Things mine will not tolerate is the sound of running water/shower if they are in the tub so we get a rubbermaid tub of rinse water ready before taking them into the bathroom.

They will not allow me to blow dry them, so I use lots of warm towels and snuggle them up like a baby in them.

Oh and I always talk to them while they are in the bath

I pray that I will never have to bathe Trout. It would NOT be a pretty picture.

I bath my kitties with a shampoo I get from the vets office.

I used to have to bathe my RB kitty once a week because he couldn't groom himself very well because of arthritis and he actually seemed to be okay with it.

As for the other three - Kuce gets a bath every two-four weeks because her coat gets oily real quickly. Luvbug gets one about the same amount of time because he loves to roll in the dirt. And Lil' Jag - Same as Kuce though she is a little monster. We're thinking of giving LJ a lion's cut for summer.

Near the end of last summer, Spook suddenly got fleas. So every week was bath time. My buddy at the pet store gave me special shampoo.

It was so much fun bathing her. She didn't enjoy it so much. She will hiss at the bath tub as you put her in it. She struggles a little bit, but just by keeping one hand on her back she sits in the water.

And she does not shut up! I wish I could record the noise she makes, because that alone is what made bathing her worthwhile.

Bathing your cat is and entertaining friday evening.

I would rather wrestle an alligator with my bare hands than try to give Dusty a bath! I just hope I never have to. She is a good groomer and smells sweet to me.

i give my cats a bath every month, every 6 weeks. My husband is allergic to fleas (anaphylaxis) and I just have to make sure we dont get any. Even though they are not outside cats, I won't risk it, we live downstairs.

Now all 4 of mine HATE bath time. I stack about 8 towels, 2 for each cat. I put one on the floor. Run the water. Get as many cats as I can in the bathroom because the minute they spot a wet cat, they all scramble and hide because they know they're next.
I use a cup. When Sephie was little, I used to bathe him in the sink and i probably still would IF i had a deep sink. I put some warm water, wet them really well, shampoo thoroughly and rinse a LOT because they will be grooming after. Then I lift him up put him on the towel i had on the floor and wrap another on on him and towel dry as much as I can. I either put them near the fire place or they go there to dry off (in winter).

You just have to make sure you are holding them well because they will try to get out and you could get a nasty scratch..not that they are trying to scratch you, just trying to get out but having only 2 feet in the water does help as far as control.

I always wind up with a wet shirt.....lol

my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I think those that are against bathing are scared to even try it.

Click to expand...

Not scared, just see no need! I've never needed to bathe them as they keep themselves clean so am not going to do it for the sake of it.

I'm not against bathing per se if it's needed (for a show, to help with allergies, fleas, cat got dirty and not cleaning himself etc) but I don't see the point of doing it just for the sake of it, esp as most cats dont seem to be keen on the idea! I also dont particularly want my cats to smell of shampoo with all their natural scent washed away - I like them to smell of (clean) cat! A poster on another forum I use had a problem with her 2 cats when she bathed one of them and the other one hissed and growled at it - presumably it didn't recognise the scent of the newly washed kit.

I have been wanting to give my cat a bath. ive only had her for about 4 months. she was abandoned when my friends neighbor moved they didnt bring there cat with them soo i took it in. I was very lucky too even keep it cause my parents are really strict at first they said keep it in the garage only soo thats what i did and slowly they started too grow on it and slowly they started letting her in soo now its a indoor outdoor cat. the only thing i hate is when she goes outside she likes to roll in the dirt. when shes done she will come inside and be all dusty and shake all that dust off inside the house. So i was thinking of making her a permanent indoor cat but i want to give her a bath b4 that. any tips on how i should approach this??

I have given Karma 1 bath in the year I have had her, she had fleas. Shes three and hated it. She feels really safe when I am holding her so I went that route. I wore long pants and a long sleeve shirt. After the bath was set up I got in the tub holding her and myDH washed her. She stayed calm but cried and kept looking up at me with the saddest little face. She let me know when enough was enough. She didn't talk to me for the rest of the day but it had to be done.
I used Dawn dish soap. It kills fleas on contact and I figure if scientist use it to clean animals after an oil spill then it must be safe. It also makes them soft and smell good.
As you can see we all have different methods. Do what works for you.

Originally Posted by KarmasMom

I have given Karma 1 bath in the year I have had her, she had fleas. Shes three and hated it. She feels really safe when I am holding her so I went that route. I wore long pants and a long sleeve shirt. After the bath was set up I got in the tub holding her and myDH washed her. She stayed calm but cried and kept looking up at me with the saddest little face. She let me know when enough was enough. She didn't talk to me for the rest of the day but it had to be done.
I used Dawn dish soap. It kills fleas on contact and I figure if scientist use it to clean animals after an oil spill then it must be safe. It also makes them soft and smell good.
As you can see we all have different methods. Do what works for you.

Click to expand...

Dawn dishsoap is perfectly safe. I use it as a prewash for Jake. I didn't know Dawn killed fleas but the vinegar rinse water helps with fleas too.

Originally Posted by sarahp

So who does this for the sake of doing?

Click to expand...

I don't do it just for the sake of doing, but I do give frequent bathes to my cat. I bathe my adult Sphynx cat weekly, and do a nail trim and ear cleaning right afterwards. It isn't a big deal, she doesn't mind. I use a shampoo called Nova Pearls, I use the gentle formula.

Thius evening i smelled somthing and it was Missy. She was cleaning herself but wasnt able to get the feces out of the long hair , i finally gave her a treat and while she ate it i did a fast job of wiping it out. but there is stil gobs of it stuck in the long hair.. So my next thought is i am gonna have to wash it out.. and it wont be fast cause after looking closely there is a lot. Misssy isnt a huggy cat, in fact she seldom lets me love on her. an dshe never gets in my lap.. all my loving has to be done while she is on the floor. not very afectionate but i love her dearly, she is my baby.. My queston is. how can i safely clean her. she is not declawed.. i thought about wrapping a towel around her having my husband hold her over the sink and i would wash it real fast. Any suggestions will help at this point.. also if i can can i cut some of the long hair around her butt.. if we can hold her down that long that is..
thanks Hallycat

You could try clipping her nails first. And then following some of the bathing suggestions such as, put a rubber mat in the sink, run water before bringing her to the sink, talk to her softly and have your husband help. He could hold her and you could scrub. I wouldn't hold her over the sink. I would think that would feel more threatening then just putting her in it. The other thing you could do is take her to a groomer and have her bathe her and ask them to give her a sanitary trim around her privates.

I work for a pet products company. So I get all my dog & cat shampoo for free. Please people if you do bathe use a detergent & soap free formulation..

Anyway, I have not bathed Puff yet. I'm dreading the fight that will ensue when I try. But if I had him as a small kitten he would have been use to it by now.
Especially with long haired kittens I don't think they ever clean themselves good enough. I mean yeah he gets most of it. But there is that lingering smell at the back end that just has to be washed away after awhile. Plus I like the smell of the shampoo better than his saliva.

Originally Posted by mzjazz2u

Dawn dishsoap is perfectly safe. I use it as a prewash for Jake. I didn't know Dawn killed fleas but the vinegar rinse water helps with fleas too.

Click to expand...

NO NO NO. Dawn Dishsoap is NOT fine. Any soap like that is going to strip the natural oils of the coat. Please do not use this.

I know many persian people who use Dawn. What's more important is to put a good quality conditioner on the coat after washing to restore the natural oils.

OK....I'm curious. What is the purpose of the vinegar in the rinse water?

I'm not sure, I've never used it - but I think its something to do with making sure the soap is all out of the coat.