Do I *need* to bathe before a show?

nekochan

nekochan

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I am entering a household pet show this weekend. I bathed one of the kittens and she was very stressed and unhappy. I don't want to stress him too right before the show so I am wondering if I REALLY need to bathe the other kitten? If his fur feels clean and nice should I still bathe him for the show? They are on a good grain-free diet so they have nice soft clean-feeling fur and good skin (no flakes, no greasy feel.) I do have waterless bath wipes I could use instead?

I also bathed Roxy (Maine Coon) and her fur now looks really flat and short (because it's lying so flat.) D:
 
missymotus

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I no longer bath my Ocicats before shows, I just make sure ears, faces and bums are clean.

I have a friend who bathes her MC before shows. It's a whole routine of grooming, degreaser, shampoo, conditioner and then blow dry.
I'll stick with my short hairs
 
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goldenkitty45

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You don't have too. I always do anyway. I use a tiny bit of Silk Mink oil on the coat to give it a shine at the show. Maine Coons - you have to fluff them up - comb backwards and then comb normal, fluff the ruff and tail. Black MC's will have a different coat that lays closer then the other colors.
 
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nekochan

nekochan

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Thanks, I'll try fluffing Roxy up. I did comb her backwards when I was blow-drying her, and then forwards. She looked much fluffier before her bath though.
I am not sure why she looked so "flat" this time because when she has had baths before she didn't. The only thing I could think is her last bath was when she was under 1 year so maybe she still had more of a 'kitten coat' then. Or I guess maybe she's getting in her summer coat.

I have some mink oil from Jerob but I tried it on one of the kittens' littermates to see if it worked well on them (nice to have a 'test cat' lol) and I couldn't see any differences. I also have bay rum spray.
 
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goldenkitty45

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I have the Bay Rum too. I'll have to test both out on Jack now to see which one I like better to keep the coat nice.
 
abymummy

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Originally Posted by Nekochan

Thanks, I'll try fluffing Roxy up. I did comb her backwards when I was blow-drying her, and then forwards. She looked much fluffier before her bath though.
I am not sure why she looked so "flat" this time because when she has had baths before she didn't. The only thing I could think is her last bath was when she was under 1 year so maybe she still had more of a 'kitten coat' then. Or I guess maybe she's getting in her summer coat.

I have some mink oil from Jerob but I tried it on one of the kittens' littermates to see if it worked well on them (nice to have a 'test cat' lol) and I couldn't see any differences. I also have bay rum spray.
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It is entirely likely that you over used the conditioner on your Roxy - it's weighing her coat down. I prefer to ensure a super clean, stain free coat on show day than anything else. I also prefer to use texturising shampoos over conditioners ... if you want to know more, do pm me.

I bathe all my show cats before show - Abys and Longhairs. The Abys at least 2 days before show, the Longhairs the night before or the day before.
 
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nekochan

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I didn't use a lot of conditioner. I took a squeeze and put it in a water bottle, then I mixed it with water and poured that on her coat so that it would be diluted. I think it might be the type I used though because it was different from the one I've used before.
 
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goldenkitty45

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If you have time - give the cat a vinegar rinse to get all the soap and conditioner out of the coat. You use about 1-2 tablespoons to 5 cups of warm water.
 
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nekochan

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I think a did a vinegar rinse with her last time, it smelled really strong so I didn't do it this time.
 
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