Bathing a rescue.

I got a highly abused rescue kitty 10mos ago. When I got him he was completely shaven with cigarette burns all over him. His fur is at the grooming stage, he's a long haired tabby. He needs a bath. I've worked so hard to gain his trust, but I'm sure how to pull a water bath off with him. He runs when I do the dishes, but is super curious of the shower/bath/his water dish.

Well...I'm a bit lost on this, as my own cat's view is:


I do, however, know that a towel folded in the bottom of whatever you plan to bath him in will make him feel FAR more secure, as his paws won't be slipping.

If it's possible, find a 'bowl' or something fairly deep that'll fit your cat in and sit him in there, and then pour room temp water over him from a cup. Make sure to always keep a hand on him and soothingly talk to him so he knows he's safe. I did this for my kitten who was terrified of water, and after a few baths, she began to love it so much that now she just hops in the shower or bath with me and deals with the water as if it's her best friend!

I use the garage, or the garage bathroom.  Those are areas that I can close off and water all over the floor won't hurt a thing.
I use a 15 gallon galvanized tub, with 4 inches of warm soapy water in it.  Wet towels draped over the sides so they have something to sink their claws into and feel safer.
Wet, soap, wash, rinse, scrub...just all of that to keep them in the tub, wet, soapy for about 20 minutes.  (flea shampoo and/or dawn).  Mixed with the water, and straight on the wet cat to lather.
My warm rinse water comes from the bucket I used to dump water into the tub.
Usually just their head and the top of their back gets "clean water" rinsed.   The part of the cat that is sitting in the diluted soapy tub water, just comes out of the tub diluted soapy wet.

The bob is washed in the middle of the garage floor.  The idea behind that was so that "I" can get away if he wiggles loose or gets pissy.  The other cats are washed in the garage bathroom.  If they get loose or mad, it's bad enough being closed up in a tiny bathroom with them.  I sure wouldn't want to trapped in tiny bathroom with the big one.  (but, he LOVES baths, so, there's never been a problem). 

This has always worked great. You can look in the tub when finished and see how bad dirty they were, and if there were any fleas or anything on them.  And any mess if fine since it's in the garage.

bathmat

nail clippers

rubber toys or toys ok to get soaked

treats for afterwards

If you trim his nails one day then bathe the following day less stress.

If you don't have one best to pick up a hand held shower especially with what he's been through

just awful!!  *with hand held shower, keeping him secure on bathmat or towel it's easy  

Place a bath mat or towel in bathtub turn water on so just a trickle, sit with your baby

on side of tub gently introduce water by wiping the face neck and so forth at the same time getting him wet

into the tub good to have some  toys lying around show him those as you massage soap around his neck same time

keeping him calm make sure nothing will fall into tub etc you want to prevent him from being startled in any way.

Wash rinse faster the better.

*if you both have not experienced tub together at all use a laser pointer play in there first so he knows it's a safe

fun place. Plus paper balls they love that!

ShadowLove said:

I got a highly abused rescue kitty 10mos ago. When I got him he was completely shaven with cigarette burns all over him.

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:doh3:

I second putting a folded thick towel int he bottom of a sink. And a sprayer. Dont wash his head. I never do as it is just too stressful. You might start with just washing his back legs. Then another day work up a bit further. Ease into it.

CindyCRNA said:

I second putting a folded thick towel int he bottom of a sink. And a sprayer. Dont wash his head. I never do as it is just too stressful. You might start with just washing his back legs. Then another day work up a bit further. Ease into it.

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   I second Not doing the head  You`re right  when used to baths I

stay away from face rarely do head  just neck partial back of head if necessary.