How Often To Bathe a Cat
In general, and regardless of their age, cats are more sensitive to water than dogs. They get stressed easily, and any activity that interrupts their routine can cause unnecessary discomfort.
Another feature that distinguishes them from dogs is their obsession with keeping them clean, and cleaning themselves with the help of their tongue. Since in addition, most domestic cats do not usually play outside, their chances of getting dirty are limited.
However, there are some circumstances when a kitten might need to be bathed, either for a specific reason (diarrhea or occasional dirt), or a veterinary prescription to respond to any illnesses, or just because you get used to it. In any of these three situations, it is a lot of comfort to choose the best time to shower, which will be the time when your kitten is quieter and shows a lower level of activity.
A cat can be bathed for the first time after 2 or 3 months. The frequency of the bath changes depending on the breed (long or short fur) and the ambient temperature. In periods of extreme heat, showers can be done every ten days. In winter, at most Once a month.
The National Cat Groomers of America recommends cats get a bath and blown dry every 4-6 weeks to keep their coats from getting matted or pelted.
Bathing The Cat
Preparations Before Showering :
You must make sure that you have all the supplies needed to care for the cat before bathing, and all mats must be removed from the bathroom. Because the water fixes the mats in place, and you should not risk taking off clothes before the bath to avoid the cat escaping or scratching the skin, and the cat’s nails should be trimmed before bathing, in addition to the bathing area should be warm and comfortable and make sure that all fragile materials are removed far away, Strong odors, intimidating objects, or mirrors that are likely to frighten cats should also be avoided.
While Taking a Shower :
You can bathe the cat by following the following steps :
-Comb the cat's hair dry at first and before placing it anywhere near the water, to help remove any knots in the cat's hair which helps with less work during the bath.
-Put the cat in a special bowl large enough to serve as a bath for the cat and make sure that the cat is calm by giving him a toy or petting his fur to make him calm.
-Start adding water slowly and making sure that its temperature is appropriate, and then you must apply a special cat shampoo.
-Gently rub the shampoo on the cat's fur, making sure not to get it in the eyes and ears, and be sure to pour water from the head and down and not vice versa.
Bathe Your Cat That Hates Water :
A cat that hates water can be bathed by following the following method :
-Start the bath slowly and avoid rushing as it can add to your cat's anxiety.
-Talking gently to the cat while bathing.
-Caress the cat's fur regularly.
-Attempt to associate bath time with your cat's favorite toy.
Clean Your Cat's Ear :
The cat can be cleaned by taking care of the hygiene of the ears, and the ears can be cleaned by following the following method :
Gently pull back the ear flap and fill the cat's ear canal with the vet-recommended cleaning solution.
Massage the base of the ear for five to ten seconds, then allow the cat to shake the solution into its ear.
Wrap a piece of gauze around the finger in order to clean the excess fluid from the ear canal, without worrying because the finger cannot cause damage to the cat's ear.
Repeat the same steps with the other ear.
With summer approaching, you will want to know how to bathe cats at home and how to do this process without any problems for you or your beloved cat.
Cats are very active animals, so convincing your cat to bathe is not an easy task at all.
In the beginning, we must assure you that cats are clean animals, as they clean themselves several times a day and you may notice that when you carry your cat or touch it, it immediately cleans and licks its fur continuously.
However, circumstances can sometimes force us to do cat bath ourselves.
The cat may be dirty due to a certain substance, or the cat may get sick and neglect to clean itself, or you may smell an unpleasant smell that makes you shower your cats.
Therefore, we will show you how to warm your cat in an easy way without feeling fear or panic, or attacking or wounding you.
Can kittens be bathed ?
Bathing kittens should not begin before the age of 8 weeks.
This is the tooth a kitten can safely bathe in.
So under no circumstances do you do a catnip at the age of 8 weeks.
But what is the way to shower very young cats?
If the cat is less than eight weeks old, you can use a towel dampened with lukewarm water or wipes wet with water (wipes) and pass it on
The kitten's body is against the direction of the hair. Then dry the kitten and warm it well.
You can also use dry shampoo to bath kittens before the age of 8 weeks.
How to bathe cats in detail :
While bathing cats, some resistance may occur from your cat.
So be prepared for this until the time has passed to bathe your cat well and without injuries.
Wear heavy clothes with long sleeves, and gloves must be worn to protect your hand from any scratches that the cat may cause to you.
Cotton clothing helps prevent the cat's claws from sticking to your clothes if she scratches you, and it will also not cause any wounds or injuries to the cat.
You should also choose the right time to bathe your cat.
Most cats do not need to bathe at all, this is a fact that you must know.
But in the event that there are some cat fleas or when the cat goes out to the street for any reason, the cat may need to be bathed.
Some people complain when cats go to mate, whether in a friend's house, an animal shelter or a veterinary clinic, because it is very possible for the cat to return dirty or have some dirt that makes you resort to the cat's bath.
We would also like to warn you not to overheat the cat if you cut her nails on the same day. Cats are very nervous after cutting their nails, so it is best to take a bath another day.
Fever of kittens starts from the age of at least two months and not earlier
Prepare cat bathtubs before you start bathing your cat
When bathing a cat, you must prepare cat bath equipment first.
The tools include a bathing area, shampoo for bathing, and other tools that are used, such as the cup that you will use to pour water on your cat and the towel that you will dry your cat with after you are done.
It is also very good to have another person with you to help you catch the cat while bathing, especially if it is the first time bathing cats.
Use a cat shampoo and don't use regular soap
We recommend that you use baby shampoo while bathing a cat.
Baby shampoo (Johnson, for example) is suitable for bathing a cat, as it is very light and safe for cats.
However, for best results, you can purchase a special cat bath shampoo at your nearest pet store.
Also, if your cat suffers from a flea or insect infestation, there are some types that help you get rid of it by bathing
You can also consult your veterinarian on the best cat bath shampoo to use before you start bathing your cat.
Do not use any type of regular soap to bathe the cat, nor do we recommend using any human shampoo because of its negative effects on the skin and hair of cats .. Read: How to clean cats without water through an alternative to cat shampoo
Use the brush to brush the hair before bathing the cat
Before you bathe the cat, you must first make sure that its fur is smooth and not tangled.
Some Shirazi cats have very tangled hair, and the Shirazi cat breeder believes that cleaning cats alone is sufficient to loosen these tangles in the cat's fur, and this is a mistake.
Before starting to bathe Shirazi cats or especially long-haired cats, you must first comb the cat's fur well.
While combing the cat's hair, you have to make sure to remove knots and tangles, either by combing them or by properly cutting the knots and tangles in the cat's hair.
Then you start bathing the cat.
How to properly bathe cats depends on making it easier for your cat. Therefore, combing the cats before bathing will help the cat to relax and calm and accept the bath after that.
But if combing the cat causes her panic and confusion, you should wait for your cat to calm down for an hour or two after combing its fur, and then after it begins the bathing process.
How do you make cleaning cats in the shower a favorite of your cat ?
If you suffer because your cat is afraid of bathing
You can make this place popular with a few simple tricks.
For example, you can place all cat toys inside the bathtub, and thus this place will be associated with your cat with fun and pleasure instead of fear.
You can also attract the cat to this place by playing with him until he reaches this place, reward him and leave him, and then the next day the game and reward will be repeated and then you start bathing so bathing him will be associated with the reward.
The process of bathing cats of all kinds in detail :
For small cats, a medium-sized bowl can be used to facilitate control of the cat and the amount of water used.
In older cats, bathing can start in the kitchen sink or bathroom.
We do not recommend using the bathtub when bathing cats because it is very spacious and may cause some injuries and problems. Bathing in the bathtub may only be suitable for dogs, but not suitable for cats.
Put the cat in the bowl or basin, calm him a little, then start pouring water slowly over his body while holding him well.
It is best to have someone else with you to help you hold the cat or pour the water. So that you can easily control the cat and the amount of water used in the bath.
When the cat begins to get used to the water on his body while bathing, rub the cat's body with shampoo slowly and calmly, then continue pouring the water again on his body.
You should always take care to avoid getting water on the face or ears.
Certainly, the cat may try to escape from you at that time, install the cat in the sink or inside the bowl and stop pouring water until the cat calms down and fixes it again inside the place designated for bathing.
You must take into account that the amount of water that you pour is a little on the cat’s body each time. So that you keep the cat calm as long as possible, because pouring water for a long time may lead to a massive eruption of the cat that may lead to injuries or failure of the bathing process.
Rub the entire back of the cat with shampoo, as well as the neck, legs, soles of the feet and the abdomen. The cat may refuse vehemently while shampooing his stomach. If you find it difficult, do not repeat the process of rubbing the abdomen only once, which is sufficient.
After that, wash the cat's body completely with water to clean the shampoo from it. Do not leave the shampoo on the cat's body for a long time, so as not to harm him, and it must be removed immediately after applying it and rubbing the cat's body with it well.
When pouring water on your cat's body, press it gently so that it filters out the excess water and helps dry it quickly after that.
Do not put water on the cat’s face, instead wipe it with a wet towel. This is the safest way, so do not harm your cat.
Dry the cats after bathing :
Get a drying towel and wrap your cat right after bathing and apply gentle pressure to its body.
Move your hands toward the cat's hair while they are inside the towel to help dry and relax your cat after the bathing process.
It may be beneficial to use a hair dryer as low as possible to dry your cat. However, some cats are afraid of a hair dryer, so do not use it unless you are sure that your cat is not afraid of it.
When drying the cat after bathing, change the towel and use a warm, soft cotton towel and wrap the cat's body with it gently and gently. Do not force the cat to stay in the towel, as he may panic because of this
You can leave the cat near a fireplace to dry quickly. You should also notice the cat for an hour or two after bathing, because bathing lowers the cat’s body temperature, and it may need some care until it returns to normal.
Comb your cat's hair if it is cat hair long needs to be combed.
Also, after the bathing process, you should reward your cat so that she knows that she has done a good job, and that this will help ease the bathing of the next time.
Dry the cat well after bathing and wrap it in a soft dry towel
Additional tips when bathing cats :
Do not bathe your cat more than twice a month in the summer. We also never like to bathe cats in the winter.
When bathing kittens, hold them by the back of their neck. While in older cats, you can hold their body or hands while bathing.
Do not apply shampoo directly in the shower. Give the cat a chance to experience the water and the calm a little.
Cats may scratch your hands or bite you while bathing, so use thick gloves so as not to cut yourself.
Cats make loud noises while bathing sometimes, so do not be bothered by the cats' meow because it is natural.
If you have more than one cat in your house, they must be bathed together at once, and then powder must be applied to all of them until their scent becomes the same, otherwise they will attack each other because they recognize each other by smell.
A reward is necessary after a successful bathing process is over so that you can easily repeat the process in the future.
If any abnormal symptoms occur on your cat, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
