Difference between revisions of "Get Your Cat to Tolerate a Bath"
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| − | Cats aren’t big fans of getting wet, and giving a cat a bath can result in an angry feline and lots of cat scratches. In fact, cats can groom themselves continuously throughout the day and don’t need to be bathed every week. If your cat’s coat appears oily, discolored or smelly, it’s time to give your cat a good soak in the tub.<ref>http://www.petco.com/Content/ArticleList/Article/19/2/1888/Bathing-Your-Cat.aspx</ref> There are several steps you can try to avoid cat scratches and help your cat tolerate a bath. | + | Cats aren’t big fans of getting wet, and giving a cat a bath can result in an angry feline and lots of cat scratches. In fact, cats can groom themselves continuously throughout the day and don’t need to be bathed every week. If your cat’s coat appears oily, discolored or smelly, it’s time to give your cat a good soak in the tub.<ref name="rf1">http://www.petco.com/Content/ArticleList/Article/19/2/1888/Bathing-Your-Cat.aspx</ref> There are several steps you can try to avoid cat scratches and help your cat tolerate a bath. |
[[Category:Grooming Cats]] | [[Category:Grooming Cats]] | ||
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Preparing Your Cat for a Bath=== | ===Preparing Your Cat for a Bath=== | ||
| − | #Begin bathing your cat when she is a kitten. Introduce your cat to the water when she is still a kitten so she can get accustomed to bathing.<ref>http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-cat-hate-to-take-baths</ref> | + | #Begin bathing your cat when she is a kitten. Introduce your cat to the water when she is still a kitten so she can get accustomed to bathing.<ref name="rf2">http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-cat-hate-to-take-baths</ref> |
#*You should also let your cat get used to being in the sink or the tub a few weeks before you bathe her. Put her in the sink or tub with her favorite toys. Add some treats or catnip and let her sit in the space for five to ten minutes. This will help her associate the location with positive things and not be so spooked by the idea of a bath. | #*You should also let your cat get used to being in the sink or the tub a few weeks before you bathe her. Put her in the sink or tub with her favorite toys. Add some treats or catnip and let her sit in the space for five to ten minutes. This will help her associate the location with positive things and not be so spooked by the idea of a bath. | ||
#*Once your cat gets used to sitting in the sink or tub, fill it with an inch of water and put some toys in the water. Play with your cat around the sink or tub and encourage her to sit on the edge and play with the toys in the water. | #*Once your cat gets used to sitting in the sink or tub, fill it with an inch of water and put some toys in the water. Play with your cat around the sink or tub and encourage her to sit on the edge and play with the toys in the water. | ||
| − | #Brush your cat’s coat well before a bath. Do a thorough brush of your cat’s coat to remove dust, debris and loosen tangles, especially if you have a longhaired cat. A dry tangle is much easier to comb out than a wet tangle and will prevent your cat from getting irritated during the bath. Brushing your cat’s coat will also remove any matted fur, which can trap soapy residue on your cat’s skin and cause itchy, flaky patches.<ref | + | #Brush your cat’s coat well before a bath. Do a thorough brush of your cat’s coat to remove dust, debris and loosen tangles, especially if you have a longhaired cat. A dry tangle is much easier to comb out than a wet tangle and will prevent your cat from getting irritated during the bath. Brushing your cat’s coat will also remove any matted fur, which can trap soapy residue on your cat’s skin and cause itchy, flaky patches.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*You should also cut your cat’s nails before bathing her so you won’t get scratched and your cat won’t get her nails caught on your clothing or a towel during the bath. | #*You should also cut your cat’s nails before bathing her so you won’t get scratched and your cat won’t get her nails caught on your clothing or a towel during the bath. | ||
#*You can also put cotton in your cat’s ears to prevent any water from seeping in, and apply eye ointment in each eye so these areas are not irritated by the soap. If your cat won’t let you come near her ears with cotton, skip the cotton in the ears and be sure to dry her ears well with a cotton ball after the bath. | #*You can also put cotton in your cat’s ears to prevent any water from seeping in, and apply eye ointment in each eye so these areas are not irritated by the soap. If your cat won’t let you come near her ears with cotton, skip the cotton in the ears and be sure to dry her ears well with a cotton ball after the bath. | ||
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#Ask someone to help you restrain your cat during the bath. If possible, enlist the help of your partner or a friend to assist you during the bath. Ask the person to gentle hold on to your cat by her scruff as you start to bathe her, using very little force so she is not uncomfortable or in pain. | #Ask someone to help you restrain your cat during the bath. If possible, enlist the help of your partner or a friend to assist you during the bath. Ask the person to gentle hold on to your cat by her scruff as you start to bathe her, using very little force so she is not uncomfortable or in pain. | ||
===Bathing Your Cat=== | ===Bathing Your Cat=== | ||
| − | #Close the bathroom door. Keep your cat from escaping from her bath by closing the door of the room with the sink or the tub. Fill the sink with two to three inches of lukewarm water. Never use hot water, as cats can overheat easily.<ref | + | #Close the bathroom door. Keep your cat from escaping from her bath by closing the door of the room with the sink or the tub. Fill the sink with two to three inches of lukewarm water. Never use hot water, as cats can overheat easily.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Put on the rubber gloves to protect your hands and to keep the bath sanitary. | #*Put on the rubber gloves to protect your hands and to keep the bath sanitary. | ||
| − | #Hold your cat by the scruff of her neck. Speak gently to your cat in an assuring tone as you place her in the tub or sink. Hold her by the scruff of her neck so she stays still, or have an assistant do this. If your cat has front claws, hold her with her back to you so you cannot get scratched.<ref | + | #Hold your cat by the scruff of her neck. Speak gently to your cat in an assuring tone as you place her in the tub or sink. Hold her by the scruff of her neck so she stays still, or have an assistant do this. If your cat has front claws, hold her with her back to you so you cannot get scratched.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Stroke your cat with one hand as you wet her neck and head with the water. Keep the water out of her eyes to avoid irritating them. Wet her back, legs, and hind end until she is sufficiently wet. | #*Stroke your cat with one hand as you wet her neck and head with the water. Keep the water out of her eyes to avoid irritating them. Wet her back, legs, and hind end until she is sufficiently wet. | ||
| − | #Work the shampoo into your cat’s coat. Make sure you clean her back, neck, chest, belly, tail, legs, and paws. Lather her coat well so you remove all the dirt and debris.<ref | + | #Work the shampoo into your cat’s coat. Make sure you clean her back, neck, chest, belly, tail, legs, and paws. Lather her coat well so you remove all the dirt and debris.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Most cats dislike getting water splashed in their face. Use a damp washcloth to clean your cat’s face and head to avoid any scratching or complaining from your cat. | #*Most cats dislike getting water splashed in their face. Use a damp washcloth to clean your cat’s face and head to avoid any scratching or complaining from your cat. | ||
#*At this point, you can use cotton balls to clean inside your cat’s ears if she will let you do so. | #*At this point, you can use cotton balls to clean inside your cat’s ears if she will let you do so. | ||
| − | #Rinse your cat’s coat until it is free of any soap. You may need to rinse her several times to ensure all the soap is removed. Leftover soap will irritate your cat’s skin, so rinse until you don’t see any more suds or soap on her coat.<ref | + | #Rinse your cat’s coat until it is free of any soap. You may need to rinse her several times to ensure all the soap is removed. Leftover soap will irritate your cat’s skin, so rinse until you don’t see any more suds or soap on her coat.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #Dry your cat with a towel or a blow dryer. Most cats enjoy a good rub down with a towel after a bath. Use the towel to dry your cat from head to tail. Try to absorb as much water as possible with the towel, as your cat will likely try to shake off any excess water and this could lead to puddles of water in your bathroom or kitchen.<ref>https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-grooming/giving-cat-bath/</ref> | + | #Dry your cat with a towel or a blow dryer. Most cats enjoy a good rub down with a towel after a bath. Use the towel to dry your cat from head to tail. Try to absorb as much water as possible with the towel, as your cat will likely try to shake off any excess water and this could lead to puddles of water in your bathroom or kitchen.<ref name="rf3">https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-grooming/giving-cat-bath/</ref> |
#*If you prefer to use a hair dryer to dry your cat, never use the hot setting as this can burn your cat’s sensitive skin. Set the dryer to the warm setting and the low noise level. | #*If you prefer to use a hair dryer to dry your cat, never use the hot setting as this can burn your cat’s sensitive skin. Set the dryer to the warm setting and the low noise level. | ||
#*Reward your cat for a successful bath time with a treat, as this will remind her that bath time can be a positive experience. | #*Reward your cat for a successful bath time with a treat, as this will remind her that bath time can be a positive experience. | ||
