kitten behavior changed dramatically

Ok, so i adoted this new kitten(4months)from the spca a week ago. It was the perfect kitten! I was able to hold it as long as i want and pet it whenever, but things changed after i gave it its first bath....
I gave it a bath and it strugled to get out just not crazy struggle. Then i tried to blow dry it, but after i turned on the blow dryer it throw a fit. It would stuggle with its legs and arms swinging them rapidly and it even bit my boyfriend when he tried to grab it. It went from a kitten that would let you basically do anything to it to constantly freaking out and strugling like crazy to do anything. Also, i know it wasnt a smart idea to give it a bath so soon, but the idea of not giving it a bath and getting that shelter smell off of it was diarurbing. Is there anything i can do for this kitten so ut dose not grow up hating me or baths? Or did i really mess it up mentally. ..

She is very scared and very traumatized. I understand want to get her clean coming into your home, and it sounds like the hair dryer is what really scared her.

You're going to have to re-earn her trust. Don't chase her through the house or pull her out of hiding or anything. Give her time to de-stress from the bath. Once she's calm again she should come out on her own.

After a little bit she should start to warm back up to you and should be back to her normal personality quickly. But if she struggles when you pick her up or anything let her go right away. She might think for a while you're going to give her a bath again. Make sure to keep the hair dryer out of her sight for a while and avoid using it. The sight and sound of it could scare her for a while, so it be best for you to avoid it for a bit first.

There are lots of tips on how to successfully give a cat a bath so check those out before you try it again.

And do NOT use the blow dryer in the future. Think about it from her point this giant metal maybe double her size making lots of noise and blowing air everywhere is going to be scary to anyone. I don't like hair dryers for the noise so I can only imagine its even scarier for a kitten. 

I do give my kittens baths when they need it and we always towel dry afterwards.

Good luck with your new little one!

he's been getting better, he just struggles when i hold him to long. i'm worried he might grow up to be aggressive, do you think that feline calming spray will help with anything? also should i jest randomly give it a treat to help gain its trust. i just needed to give it a bath, it was in the shelter for three months and smelled awful and looked dirty, now he smells amazing, but would i be able to give him a bath at least once a year.

also the vet said i could give it a bath.

Unless you plan on bathing your kitty weekly or something it's really not that bad for them, you just want to make sure you use a cat formulated shampoo. You don't want to dry out their skin or fur.

Most cats though don't need a bath as they keep themselves clean most of the time, you can use wipes (they sell kitty safe ones) to 'spot' clean your kitty if they need a little extra help.

But I'd say 75% of my foster kitties get baths when they come to me, sometimes it's medically needed and sometimes just because they're filthy from their prior living conditions.

Here's some tips on how to make bath time more enjoyable for you and your kitty - https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/bathing-your-cat . The next time you bath your kitty you may have to cut it short because he might have flash backs to her first bath. Just really make sure NOT to use the blow dryer and just towel dry him.

In regards to struggling when holding him let him go. Some kitties just aren't snugglers for long periods of time. The more you force him to snuggle with you the less he's going to want to. Treats are a great way when he's displaying positive behavior to encourage it. So maybe when your sitting on the couch or something if he comes up to you on his own give him a couple treats.

Also, he needs times to adjust to you and your home, it can take 3-4 months before (or longer!) for a cat to fully feel comfortable in a new home.

Feliway is a good product for calming sprays and I recommend the wall plug ins. The actually spray works good too, but you need to spray it on stuff (blankets, beds, couchs, etc) not the cat.

The vast majority of cats do not need baths, though obviously there can be times when it is necessary. I had to bath my Persil when I found her as she was covered in engine oil and it would have killed her had she ingested it. But once I got her clean I never bathed her again. Show cats do get bathed, they are used to it from kittenhood. But usually I use cotton balls or towelling to clean any stuff they get on them with cat shampoo or a very gentle baby shampoo.

For now, I would just be very calm with your kitten, do not get too much in her space, give her treats and give her time to realise you are not a threat. Keep her out of the room if you are going to make a noise with the vacuum or hair dryer, and I am sure she will come round. She has had a bit of a shock in her new home, possibly she is already a bit traumatised from the bad start she has had in life, and she thinks she needs to be wary of this new place. Good luck.