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Which is why I have shorthairs
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How do you wash your cat?
- Thread starter ixi
- Start Date
All the best answers have already been posted. Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed some of the comical moments shared in here.
And very cute short hairs at that!Originally Posted by missymotus
Which is why I have shorthairs
If you start when they are young they do pretty well. Our cats get a bath once a month and they all do fairly well. Stuart is the most trouble but he is getting better. Enzo and Leya will both just stand there and wait for me to be done.
I promise...you would not be able to bathe her. She would slice and dice you in no time. Once I tried putting her in her carrier, and she sliced my WRIST from one end to the other.Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45
Send Trout to me - haven't had a cat yet that I could not bathe! I don't take any stuff from torties - I've had them and know how to deal with their attitudes
Man oh man, I wish you lived closer..I would let you try
Obviously you never tried to bathe Kalona. Wait I haven't either.... That would be because just petting Kalona wrong will lose you some blood. It took me 15mins to stop the bleeding once and she even came up, rubbed on me, and meowed to be petted. I just didn't do it right. Picking up Kalona unless she was really in the mood would cost you a few fingers. Took 2 years for my fingernail to grow properly again. I'm sure putting Kalona in water may result in death from loss of blood before the ambulance arrives to get you.
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Some tricks I've learned, mostly through bathing a very very angry calico. And that's before she realizes she's being picked up.
* Two people. One person bathes. The other person wears gloves and plays goalie.
* Fill the tub with 4 inches of warm water ahead of time. That way, their belly gets wet as soon as they hit the water.
* Fill up pots and pans with hot water to rinse with (the water will cool while you bathe). Cats hate the sound of water splashing into the tub. You want to prevent having the faucet on as much as possible.
* Have 3 towels laid out ahead of time, criss-crossed so that you can dump the cat on it and wrap them up. Wrap tightly!
* Wring out the kitty before toweling. You won't believe how much water they can retain.
* Sneak up on unsuspecting cat in the middle of naptime. Pray you make it to the bathroom before they wake up. If cat detests being picked up, bring towels.
* Two people. One person bathes. The other person wears gloves and plays goalie.
* Fill the tub with 4 inches of warm water ahead of time. That way, their belly gets wet as soon as they hit the water.
* Fill up pots and pans with hot water to rinse with (the water will cool while you bathe). Cats hate the sound of water splashing into the tub. You want to prevent having the faucet on as much as possible.
* Have 3 towels laid out ahead of time, criss-crossed so that you can dump the cat on it and wrap them up. Wrap tightly!
* Wring out the kitty before toweling. You won't believe how much water they can retain.
* Sneak up on unsuspecting cat in the middle of naptime. Pray you make it to the bathroom before they wake up. If cat detests being picked up, bring towels.
My last cat got bathed about twice a year and I found the element of surprise was the best thing. I'd fill a washbowl with warm water and pluge her in there before she knew what was happening and once she was wet she kind of thought resistance was futile! She was a pretty easy to handle cat though. I've only washed the two six month old kittens once, I just held them over the bathtub and used the shower head to dampen then, then shampooed and rinsed and them, which they put up with remarkably well - they didn't even really sulk after!
My late cat would barely tolerate the blow dryer, she'd let me do her back, but not her bottom.
My late cat would barely tolerate the blow dryer, she'd let me do her back, but not her bottom.
I have a long-haired kitten who had diarreah when she first came home. If we didn't catch it in time it would dry and we'd have to just cut it off (gross, I know). She's pretty good about keeping herself clean for the most part though I guess. Last time, I caught her in time and was able to use one of those kitty wipes (you buy them at the pet store, they are alternatives to giving your cat a bath) and I just cleaned her a little that way.
I will probably not ever give my cats a bath, they are going to a groomer. The older one (white/grey) would be ok but would be super grouchy. The kitten would NOT be happy. Her foster mom gave her a bath before I got her and it did not go well. She doesn't like being held even when there isn't water involved, she has too much energy. (she's a dilute calico)
I will probably not ever give my cats a bath, they are going to a groomer. The older one (white/grey) would be ok but would be super grouchy. The kitten would NOT be happy. Her foster mom gave her a bath before I got her and it did not go well. She doesn't like being held even when there isn't water involved, she has too much energy. (she's a dilute calico)
I've bathed numerous cats - including older-stray-out-door-tom's (oil and grease in fur). Short haired, long haired, you name it. While some haven't minded being put into actual water, most would stress out about it, and show their disapproval in numerous ways, and sometimes for multiple days.
For the first time(s), I will run hot-tish water into sink / tub / pan - whatever I'm using for the bathing. I do this before approaching the victim...err....bather. I also lay out the towels for afterwards, so that everything is in reach. I then soak a washcloth, and apply a little kitty shampoo to it. THEN I go get the cat.
I place the cat onto the towels, so they have secure footing. I then use the soaked washcloth to rub over the cat, grabbing up more water as needed. It's been my experience that altho a lot of cats don't like water being poured over them, or the sound of running water, or being put into water.....a wet cloth being rubbed over them almost qualifies as being petted....and so there aren't usually too many objections. Perhaps it's a return to their kitten-hood, and being washed by "mom"?
Once soaped up....I use a fresh cloth to "rinse". The trick is to use very little soap, and "rinse" with the fresh cloth several times, to remove all the soap residue. Once well-rinsed, time to bundle up in a towel and dry off, as the cat permits.
Once I've gotten a cat used to this method of bathing....I can usually progress to them either actually being in water, or accepting cups of water being poured over them, to rinse off with. Depends on the cat. I've had some cats go into a snit over the bath - but love the towel drying. I've had others that are very meek during the bath - but will fight tooth and claw over being towel dried.
Oh - I also always reward a bath with a special food-treat afterwards! I try to keep one type of treat reserved for just bath day....whichever type or flavor that particular cat likes best.
As for how often to bathe - on my indoor cats - I'd say usually every couple of months or so. I've found that it helps cut down on shedding - so when I notice the cat starting to shed more noticeably, I'd take that as a sign that it was bath time.
Altho....I had one cat....a siamese mix - who would let me know when it was bath time. Whenever he wanted a bath, he would jump into the sink - and then yowl to get me to come in. Telling him I was busy was not acceptable!
Shemarie
For the first time(s), I will run hot-tish water into sink / tub / pan - whatever I'm using for the bathing. I do this before approaching the victim...err....bather. I also lay out the towels for afterwards, so that everything is in reach. I then soak a washcloth, and apply a little kitty shampoo to it. THEN I go get the cat.
I place the cat onto the towels, so they have secure footing. I then use the soaked washcloth to rub over the cat, grabbing up more water as needed. It's been my experience that altho a lot of cats don't like water being poured over them, or the sound of running water, or being put into water.....a wet cloth being rubbed over them almost qualifies as being petted....and so there aren't usually too many objections. Perhaps it's a return to their kitten-hood, and being washed by "mom"?
Once soaped up....I use a fresh cloth to "rinse". The trick is to use very little soap, and "rinse" with the fresh cloth several times, to remove all the soap residue. Once well-rinsed, time to bundle up in a towel and dry off, as the cat permits.
Once I've gotten a cat used to this method of bathing....I can usually progress to them either actually being in water, or accepting cups of water being poured over them, to rinse off with. Depends on the cat. I've had some cats go into a snit over the bath - but love the towel drying. I've had others that are very meek during the bath - but will fight tooth and claw over being towel dried.
Oh - I also always reward a bath with a special food-treat afterwards! I try to keep one type of treat reserved for just bath day....whichever type or flavor that particular cat likes best.
As for how often to bathe - on my indoor cats - I'd say usually every couple of months or so. I've found that it helps cut down on shedding - so when I notice the cat starting to shed more noticeably, I'd take that as a sign that it was bath time.
Altho....I had one cat....a siamese mix - who would let me know when it was bath time. Whenever he wanted a bath, he would jump into the sink - and then yowl to get me to come in. Telling him I was busy was not acceptable!
Shemarie
After reading some of the posts I have a new appreciation for my boy Sprite and how he behaves in the bath. Sprite is a 2 yr old siamese mix and I have been giving him baths since he was 8 weeks old. I have always used the tub and he has always seemed to enjoy the bath. He loves water so when I pour the bath he will come and look over the edge and I just plop him in. I think it helps to get them used to it when they are young, but I guess some cats will never like it. I have yet to give my new baby Elf a bath but I look forward to seeing how he reacts.
I am lucky because Riley actually enjoys his baths. He has a rubber ducky he likes to play with and he sits quiet and lets me wash him. I do have to make it quick though, because he gets bored easy and once he does, he wants out.
If only he was as easy to brush as he is to bathe! I do trim the fur around his backside though, because he has the same problem of not always getting clean back there, hence the bi-monthly bathing
If only he was as easy to brush as he is to bathe! I do trim the fur around his backside though, because he has the same problem of not always getting clean back there, hence the bi-monthly bathing
I have never had to bathe any of our cats. If they do get dirty, I will use those pre-moistened oatmeal wipes on them. That's what I did with Emma when I brought her home because she was really dirty but I didn't want to stress her out with a bath.
I never bathed any of my cats. Even the one's who go outside. They never need it. They keep themselves clean and unless they came home physically with mud on them or dirt or something that they cannot or should not lick off, then I will bathe them, but the need never came up.
I guess we can't have it all!Originally Posted by AlleyGirl
I am lucky because Riley actually enjoys his baths. He has a rubber ducky he likes to play with and he sits quiet and lets me wash him. I do have to make it quick though, because he gets bored easy and once he does, he wants out.
If only he was as easy to brush as he is to bathe! I do trim the fur around his backside though, because he has the same problem of not always getting clean back there, hence the bi-monthly bathing
If I had short haired cats I wouldn't bathe unless they got in something. But it really does help to keep long, thick haired cats more manageable as far as mat free and a bit less shedding.
