I have heard many non-cat owners ask the question, “Aren’t you going to give her a bath?” Well, one of the wonderful things about cats is that for the most part they are self-sufficient and do not need to be bathed. They are known for being meticulous about their cleanliness, and thus are often found lounging around the house grooming. But every once in awhile there may be a cat that, unfortunately, will need to be bathed. Nature is quite elegant in the way it allows the cat to bathe itself as most cats are not fans of water. There are a couple of exceptions, such as my sister’s cat Vincent who would gladly jump in the shower with her! Realistically though, you are far more likely to find a cat that hates bathing than one who likes it.
Situations where you might need to bathe your cat include getting into substances that you would not want the cat to lick off or if the cat is outdoors and gets incredibly dirty. In these cases, she very well may need a bath!
If the situation does arise that you need to bathe your cat, in the words of Scar from the Lion King, BE PREPAAARRREED!
There are some items that you might want to have on hand.
1) A dry towel
2) Some type of cat shampoo (I wouldn’t recommend your regular shampoo just because it has harsh scents and chemicals that could irritate the cat’s skin. A shampoo that is specifically formulated for your cat is best.)
3) A cup
4) 2-sets of hands (especially if it is the first time)
5) A bucket of luke-warm (not hot!) water
6) A tub or large sink that will fit kitty
When you set up the area for the cat bath you want to make it as stress free as possible. Run a luke-warm bath and fill the tub to about where it would hit right below the cats belly.
Collect a good amount of the luke-warm water in a bucket. Turn the faucet off before you bring kitty in as this can spook her.
Make sure you have all of your supplies within an arm’s reach so that you do not have to pause in the middle of the bath to get something. If it is the first time bathing kitty I would suggest having two people on hand, one to hold on to her and the other to wash.
Now it is time to begin the cat bath. You are going to want to gently pick her up, give her a few consoling and understanding pets, and then firmly place her in the tub feet first. Whoever has her in the tub will want to place one hand right at her kitty scruff (on the neck) and also on her back.
At this point she will be standing up in the tub with her legs in the water and her belly just above the water. Most likely she will not be too fond of this and may start to yeowl and fidget. Take into consideration kitty’s attitude. If kitty seems very stressed take the process slower and keep things as calm as possible.
Once kitty is in place, person number two can begin washing. Take water from the tub with the cup and gently pour onto kitty. Once she is wet you may begin to put shampoo on her and lather it up. Be careful not to get ANY shampoo or water on her face or near her eyes. If you need to wash her face take a wet wash cloth and wipe her fur gently. Do not pour water over her head or put shampoo near her eyes.
Once she is lathered up, take the bucket of clean water you have and start using the cup to rinse out the shampoo in her fur. You want to make sure that you thoroughly rinse her as left over shampoo in the coat can irritate the skin.
Once kitty is all rinsed off you can lift her out of the bath and straight into that towel. Make sure you try and get her as dry as possible.
At this point let her finish drying off in a warm room where she will not catch cold. She will probably start to groom herself to get all the water off. This is natural; just make sure she is in a very calm, warm, and comfortable space.
Has Lilly ever had a cat bath? Oh yes, she had one once when it was necessary. I never thought I would be giving a cat a bath, but the diva herself demanded it. It went rather well aside from a few whimpers here and there, but all and all she did just fine. Again, I am of the opinion that a bath really isn’t necessary for most cats, but when the situation calls for it, it is nice to know what to do.
There are all kinds of cats, and you will find some cats that genuinely enjoy or tolerate the experience. It just comes down to what you think is right for you and your kitty. If you have any questions it is probably best to talk to your vet, as they and you know your cat best!
Here are a couple of YouTube videos I found to be extremely helpful. Some are funny, some are entertaining, etc! Enjoy!
An entertaining and interesting video starring Edwin the cat and company!
This guy talks about giving cats a bath regularly. This video is VERY helpful for a good overview.
Here are also a couple of good resources:
ASPCA How To Bathe a Cat: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-care-bathing-your-cat.html
WikiHow Bathing a Cat: http://www.wikihow.com/Bathe-a-Cat
I hope this helps! Thanks again for visiting Lilly’s Kitty Lounge! Take care!