Bath Day

Hi all,
I actually thought I don't need to bath Singa, as she is always inside and all clean and everything. However, yesterday she accidently stepped in her poo-poo
So I got the shampoo and a towel cause I couldn't let her run arnd like that. I never bathed her before. So I just held her beneath the tummy and turned on the water. she was already squirming. When I put her paws under the water she hissed and scratched me really bad. I tried to put a towel over her (as i only needed to clean the hind paws) and tucked her under my arm with the head facing the back and the hind under the faucet. i got her paws clean that way.
But I now look like I could star in a horror movie!!!

If I now really want to give her a good bath, how should I go about that she doesn't scratch me that badly anymore???

What's your best way to do it?

Originally Posted by x-ta-Z

Hi all,
I actually thought I don't need to bath Singa, as she is always inside and all clean and everything. However, yesterday she accidently stepped in her poo-poo

So I got the shampoo and a towel cause I couldn't let her run arnd like that. I never bathed her before. So I just held her beneath the tummy and turned on the water. she was already squirming. When I put her paws under the water she hissed and scratched me really bad. I tried to put a towel over her (as i only needed to clean the hind paws) and tucked her under my arm with the head facing the back and the hind under the faucet. i got her paws clean that way.
But I now look like I could star in a horror movie!!!

If I now really want to give her a good bath, how should I go about that she doesn't scratch me that badly anymore???

What's your best way to do it?

Click to expand...

You can try waterless shampoo

x-ta-Z: I would suggest not running the water directly on a nervous kitty that is not used to baths. You might consider getting her in the bathtub and get water in a bucket and pouring water slowly on her, avoiding her head. The sound of the water rushing out of the faucet adds to the fear of a kitten that's not used to baths.

Originally Posted by emb_78

You can try waterless shampoo

Click to expand...

Could be an option for the regular bathing. Are you using it?

But for the worst case scenario...that doesn't get the poo off her, rite?

Originally Posted by x-ta-Z

Could be an option for the regular bathing. Are you using it?

But for the worst case scenario...that doesn't get the poo off her, rite?

Click to expand...

Yes! We use it, and most vets do... A lot of times while waking up from surgery the animals soil themselves That is what we use to clean them up!!

This is how I bathe my ferals.

You need a deep bucket- put water in the bucket, not to much, about 2 cups. I add a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid to the water.

Cycle towels in dryer while bathing cat

Fill sink up with warm to hot water (it cools quickly) get a scooping cup

Fetch kitty

Lower the cat into the bucket rump first. The cat will jump up and cling to the sides of the bucket and not your arm.

Scruff the neck lightly to restrain, then take your hand and scoop the soapy water on the cat, rub gently-

Rinse with the clean warm water avoiding the face and the ears

Dry with the warmed towels

Originally Posted by x-ta-Z

Could be an option for the regular bathing. Are you using it?

But for the worst case scenario...that doesn't get the poo off her, rite?

Click to expand...

My cat also went crazy when I tried to wash him in a bathtub. I also use waterless shampoo I got from my vet-it's special for cats.

Originally Posted by emb_78

Yes! We use it, and most vets do... A lot of times while waking up from surgery the animals soil themselves

That is what we use to clean them up!!

Click to expand...

Yes, when Scaredy was at the vet's, they used it on him because he was nasty from peeing everywhere and on himself, poor thing.

AWwwwwww. It makes me love my cats so much that they arent trouble in baths....

I bathe mine in the kitchen sink cuz we have one of those sprayers on it (which is so much faster for getting off soap!) I dont even fill the sink with water. I just plunk em in there. Usually they will put their front paws on the edge of the sink. If I let go of their scruffs they will just try to kind of walk out of the sink, or jump and cling to me. I just use the sprayer to wet them down, then turn the water off and soap them up with this nice stuff I got from the vets (has fatty acids or something in it, makes the coat nice and soft) and then I just spray them still with nice warm water until all the soap is gone. Then they get wrapped in a towel and we have a bit of snuggle time while the water soaks into the towel and I pet their heads and scratch their necks.. then we get another towel and try to soak up a bit more water, then flip it over and start rubbing (elliot does not like this cuz he doesnt like his fur going backwards) But ELi just growls and Aerowyn just looks at me like "Omg how couldyou do this to me? WHY??? WHYYYY????"

But even my cats are afraid fo the water when it rushes out fo the faucet. And they definitely do not like water streamed directly on their feet.

HM... Well if I had a cat like yours and it had poo on its feet... First thing I would have done is found someone else to help me.. otherwise I would just get a nice towel and wrap the kitties front end so the front paws cant move, and so you can cover the kitties head. This makes a nice cocoon with a bum sticking out, and then I would have gotten someone else to hold the front end and suport the back end while I washed the kitties feet. They get less scared if they cant see whats going on. I dont know why but they do.

Originally Posted by BigOrangeMenace

HM... Well if I had a cat like yours and it had poo on its feet... First thing I would have done is found someone else to help me.. they do.

Click to expand...

Good idea, but I live alone, and even if my bf is there, he won't help coz he hates cats

The cocoon-trick sounds good (for washing the backside), but if I want to wash the whole kitty, it's be a bit difficult ;o)

I think I will try the bucket-trick soon.

Oh... and i can't get the towels warm, as I don't own a dryer. But it's always warm here in Singapore. So I should be able to rub her down with a normal towel, rite?

Does anybody have other tricks?

Better to run the water before bringing the cat to the sink. I've bathed mine enough that I can use the sprayer on them now. But it's easier for a begining bather (meaning your cat is a beginner!) to have a couple of dish tubs filled before hand with warm water and use a cup. Another thing that is helpful is to put a rubber sink mat down so the cat doesn't slip and skid. I have lots of tips on my website on the grooming page if you're interested.