Kittens learn to lick themselves by two weeks of age and as adults spend up
to 50 percent of their awake time grooming themselves. Why risk life and limb
bathing your Some cats simply get dingy. A bath stimulates the skin and removes
excess oil, dander, and shed hair. Should you decide to take the plunge--pun
intended--your cat should be thoroughly brushed and/or combed ahead of time.
All mats must be removed before bathing, because water will just cement mats in
place. Be sure to clip claws as well or risk having your clothes and skin
shredded as Sheba tries to escape. In fact, to keep your reluctant kitty from
figuring out the score and disappearing, perform the brushing routine and claw
clipping the day before.
The bath area should be warm and draft free. The bathtub will do, but your
knees will thank you for using a waist-high sink. Move all breakables out of
reach, and push drapes or shower curtains out of the way or they may spook your
cat and end up shredded.
For routine cleaning, you only need a simple grooming shampoo labeled
specifically for cats. Human baby shampoo or dog products can be too harsh and
dry the skin or in some cases prove toxic.
Assemble your shampoo, several towels, and washcloth near the sink or tub,
and run warm water (about 102 degrees, or cat body temperature) before you
bring in the cat. Cats hate the insecure footing of the slippery surfaces so
place a towel or rubber mat in the bottom of your tub or sink. That does
wonders for cat confidence and often reduces yowls and struggles by half.
Wear old clothes. Expect to get wet. Seren clutches my shirt, pressing her
face to me as I wet and soap the rest of her. She makes sure I get as wet as
she does. Also, close the door to the bathing area, or you risk having a soapy
cat escape and leave suds and a wet cat print trail throughout your
spanking-clean house.
Before you begin soaking the cat, place cotton inside each ear to prevent
them filling with water. Some veterinarians recommend putting a drop of mineral
oil in each eye before bathing, to protect them from soap.
For small cats or kittens, the bucket method of bathing often works best.
Use the double sink in the kitchen, two or more large roasting pans, or a
couple of buckets or wastebaskets set in the bathtub. Fill each with warm
water, then gently lower your cat (one hand supporting her bottom, the other
beneath the chest) into the first container to get her wet.
Don't dunk Sheba’s face or splash water on her; that's what gets cats upset.
Let your kitty stand on her hind legs and clutch the edge of the container as
you thoroughly wet the fur. Then lift her out onto one of your towels, and
apply the shampoo, using the washcloth to clean her face. After lathering, dip
the cat back into the first container to rinse. Get as much soap off as
possible before removing and sluice off excess water before rinsing in
subsequent containers of clean water.
Rinse beginning at the neck and down Sheba’s back; don't neglect beneath the
tail or tummy. When the water finally runs clear and you know she's clean,
rinse once more just to be sure. Don't forget to remove the cotton from the
cat’s ears.
Wrap the squeaky-clean cat in a dry towel. Shorthaired cats dry quickly, but
longhaired felines may need two or more towels to blot away most of the water.
Seren prefers to dry herself. If your cat tolerates or enjoys the blow dryer,
use only the lowest setting to avoid burning the cat. Combing long fur as you
blow dry will give "oomph" to the longhaired coat.
AMY’S TOP TIP: Partner your bathing routine with a great
reward like a favorite treat.
Cats that associate a reward like Kitty
Kaviar with bath time will be more accepting of the dunking. Or avoid baths
altogether and go with a waterless shampoo.
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