Samwise gets a bath

The time came when Samwise had to have a bath, not the easiest chore even in the case of a "Swimming Cat." One reason Turkish Vans love to go swimming is that they have oil in their fur which keeps them afloat. It also gives their coat that beautiful "silky feeling." To really get him clean he has to be bathed in a mixture of shampoo and "goop."

For those of you who do not know what "goop" is, go to your nearest auto parts store. This is what mechanics use to clean their hands of grease! If you want to try this on your furbaby in order to really get him or her clean, be sure to get the "white goop," not the "orange goop," unless, perhaps, you have an orange furbaby.

Herewith -- Samwise:

The first photo shows him fresh out of the bath. What a sad-looking and po'd little guy he is.

The second photo shows him all dried off and ready to show off for the girls.

All the best to our TCS friends here and abroad,

Sorry -- the 2nd photo didn't make it. Let's try again.

Sorry again, gang. One more try, to post photo of Samwise all dried up. We have been having trouble getting the size within limits.

His coloring is so cool ... gotta love that tail!

Beautiful!

So purr-ty and clean!!

Poor baby looks so sad in the first pic , to cute . But the 2nd pic he sure looks soooooo handsome . I am sure the girls are knocking on your doors and ask for him

He's not only beautiful, he's handsome - even if he is po'd about a bath.

He's so gorgeous! Samwise

WOW!! I can't believe you use goop on your cat....my husband uses that stuff all the time. It ate the finish off his silver ring....stinks too.... you r cat has a cool looking tail....

We also found it hard to believe, Ava, when Samwise's breeder told us this is the secret to giving Turkish Vans an effective bath. We see that we left a step out when we described his bath. After the initial bath with 50% goop and 50% shampoo, he gets another bath with only shampoo. This gets rid of the "goop smell," and Samwise is again a brilliant white (except for his tail, that is).

Samwise is beutiful. His tail is so cool. I have never seen a cat with a tail so different before

He looks so pitiful in the first picture, but wow he's gorgeous in the second one! I do so enjoy seeing pics of Samwise, he's so unique!

Even though Goop is a strong cleaner, it is non-toxic. I know some persian breeders that use it on their show cats prior to a show.


Samwise is gorgeous, his tail is so distinct.

Isn't there a shampoo made for oily skin instead of goop? No problems using it on the cat?

Originally Posted by Baileysidney11

Isn't there a shampoo made for oily skin instead of goop?

No problems using it on the cat?

Click to expand...

There may be another choice out there about which we know not, but we are following Samwise's breeder's recommendation. No problems at all for Samwise, and he has been bathed with goop and shampoo mixture from birth. It was part of his standard preparation for participating in CFA cat show competition. He comes from the Caravanserai Cattery in San Antonio, down the road from the Alamo. The Turkish Van is the only breed raised there, and they know the Van well. If it were harmful in the slightest we can assure you the Caravanserai would not use it, so we are confident that it is quite safe.

Pat and John Chapman, keepers of the Caravanserai, are a wonderful couple. Those interested in the Turkish Van may find their web site fascinating -- click here to go to the Caravanserai of Turkish Cats.

You may have noted Hissy's post about breeders of Persians using goop as well. They, like Turkish Vans, are of course long-haired, and we would suspect that they are generally not as effective in bathing themselves as many short-haired breeds are.

Samwise's coat is a stark white-white, other than for his tail and a couple of characteristic markings on his head, so he shows dirt rather vividly, particularly when it gets "locked in" in his oily fur when there has been a lengthy period between baths. Interestingly enough though, the fur does not feel oily to the touch. It is quite silky, much like cashmere. A lovely coat.

If you are beginning to suspect that we are somewhat obsessed with the Turkish Van you would be quite correct.

All the very best, from

We might add, if a reader decides to go to the Caravanserai Cattery web site as we suggest in our prior post, you will be able to see a lovely photograph of a lovely GC Caravanserai's Mehmet, Samwise's stepbrother. They are almost identical.

Cheers,

what a sweetie lol i love the first picture

Samwise is such a handsome fellow! And that first picture -- looking for sympathy, or what?! "I may be used to this, but that doesn't mean I LIKE it! "