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Cat
Bath
Everyone knows that cats absolutely
hate water, so why on earth would someone want to bathe their
cat? Well, although cats don't enjoy paddling in the swimming pool with
their doggie pals, they still can get just as dirty or flea infested as
dogs. There are times when there is just no other option besides giving
your cat a bath. As long as you do not bathe your cat more
frequently than once a month, you will not damage his hair or skin.
Before you begin bathing your cat, you will need to gather
a few supplies. At the minimum, you will need two absorbent terry cloth
towels, a pet safe shampoo, a pet safe conditioner, a sponge, and a
sprayer attachment for your sink or tub. If you don't have a sprayer
attachment, you should have a pitcher or large cup that you can use to
scoop clean water over your cat's body. Ideally, you should also have a
non-skid mat to help your cat feel more secure.
If you decide to bathe your cat in the tub, you may have a
harder time holding on to him if he becomes frightened. However, it is
usually easier to keep him contained if he escapes in a bathroom than in
the kitchen.
Place your non-skid mat in the bottom of the sink or tub. Add two to
three inches of warm water and gently place your cat in the tub.
Talk to him quietly and reassure him. He will most likely settle down
within a few seconds. Once he is calm, begin to wet him down. If the
sprayer attachment scares him too badly, you may have to pour water over
him using your pitcher or cup, instead. Do not pour water on his head.
You will clean his face later.
Once your cat is wet, squeeze out a palm sized dollop of shampoo and
thoroughly massage the shampoo into his coat. If you use slow, calming
motions, he may even actually relax and enjoy this part of the bath.
After the shampoo is sufficiently lathered, it is time to rinse your cat
off. Be sure you get all of the shampoo residue out, as the residue can
really irritate his skin if it isn't removed.
Now, work a palm sized dollop of conditioner into your cat's coat and
then rinse it out. This step is actually optional if the cat has short
hair. However, conditioner will not hurt a short haired cat, so, if he
is not too upset, you may still want to use it.
Once your cat's body is clean, dampen your sponge and use it to
carefully wipe down his face. Pay close attention to the area under his
eyes.
Finally, wrap your cat in one of the towels and blot most of the
water from his body. Replace the wet towel with your other dry towel and
continue to blot his coat dry. After the second towel is damp, your cat
should be dry enough to finish the job himself. If you have a long
haired cat, you may want to see if he will tolerate a hair dryer
on the lowest setting. However, be sure to keep the dryer moving
constantly so you do not burn his skin.
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