Having your own cat is good and healthy for our heart and soul.
Cats are wonderful animals and brilliant companions to have around and it feels calming to pet one after a straining day at work.
Scientists have proven that having a cat actually helps when it comes to reducing symptoms of depression and they generally do not need as much attention and care as many other pets do.
Most pet owners can agree on the unique calming effect cats can have on them and us all even.
In situations where our family or friends are not around, having a cat around gives us the companionship we need and it keeps boredom at bay.
Having a cat can really feel empowering in a peculiar way, and this positive effect on our mental health can assist us in taking care of ourselves and motivate us as well.
Cats give us love and affection, and improve our lives so dramatically and most of us have a special and strong emotional attachment with our cats.
It can be said without a doubt that cats play a very important role in our lives, and it would make sense for us to want to repay them with a nice warm bath.
It may sound strange or silly, but you can consider bathing your cat as a way of returning the favors.
Many people believe that you bond more with your cat during bath time, and you can take this time to talk to and cuddle your cat.
It is no secret that many cats don’t like water, or are even afraid of water so finding out the right way how to bathe a cat without getting scratched into oblivion can be a bit tricky.
There are ways though to make bath time less terrifying for your little fellow and you can try to make it peaceful and fun even.
I am going to guide you through the best way to bathe your cat, how to prepare your cat for a bath, how often you should bathe a cat, why cats need bathing, but ultimately how to do it right.
Table of Contents
How To Prepare Your Cat For a Bath
It is a good idea to begin with some precautions and preparations so that your cat will not become frightened or scratch you and such.
Cats can be little fur balls full of energy, and it is a great idea to have a good playing session with your cat, or cats if you have more than one just before a bath.
If you play with your cat for around 10 minutes to half an hour they get a chance to calm down a bit and they won’t be as full of energy and tension when you give them the bath.
You should make sure the room is not cold and is a good warm temperature before you start running the water, because you want your cat to feel as comfortable as possible and it shouldn’t have to get cold and miserable while you are trying to clean it.
There are more things to keep in mind before giving your cat a bath, such as:
Trimming it’s claws
Cat’s may not look too intimidating when they are sleeping peacefully on the floor or purring in your arms, but their claws can actually do quite a lot of damage to unprotected skin if they get frightened.
Their claws can cut deep and you will definitely want to wear protective clothing while giving your cat a bath, such as a long sleeved comfortable shirt just to be safe.
Remember, your cat may accidentally claw you without really meaning to harm you, their instincts can become strong and overwhelming if they feel scared and trapped.
You can gently trim your cats claws before you begin, but make sure you actually know how to cut a cats claws before doing this so you don’t accidentally hurt your little pet.
You should trim the claws one or two days before the bath itself so that it can have plenty of time to relax and calm down again.
Make sure to trim them carefully so that you don’t cause any pain or bleeding.
You can give your cat some catnip or treats as a reward for having it’s claws trimmed afterwards.
Brushing Your Cat
You should always make sure your cats fur is free of any tangles and knots by brushing them carefully before a bath.
It can be painful and difficult to try to brush your feline when it’s fur is wet, so this is very important to remember before actually getting in the water.
Some cat breeds, have very long and thick fur and for these kitties it is even more important to brush them well beforehand.
Maine Coon Cats are for example known for their long extravagant fur, and their fur can get tangled up easily which would cause a lot of issues when wet.
If your cat has short enough fur for it you can continue to gently brush it while it is in the tub to make them feel more relaxed and to reduce anxiety.
If your little buddy does not like trimming then you can distract it with brushing to make trimming it’s claws more peaceful and easy.
Get The Right Shampoo
You can get many different types of cat shampoos and it should be relatively easy to find one to your liking.
You can get one either from your local pet store or just from your vet as well or even the internet.
You should always read the instructions carefully to be sure that it is the right shampoo for your kitty and dilute the shampoo with some water if you must.
I do not recommend using human or dog shampoo on your cat as these were not intended for cats and it might dry up your cats skin.
Using Cat Toys
If you played with your cat before the bath, it should already not be as full of energy and calmer than it would be.
Try to make sure that it has used all the excess energy during the playtime earlier so that it will be less likely to scratch or bite you.
You can have your cats favorite toy beside the bathtub to help it relax and to divert it’s attention.
Also try to choose a time when your cat is calm and relaxed.
A great tip is to put your little friends favorite toy into the tub before adding any water into it, and playing with your cat in the empty tub for five or more minutes. This will relax your cat and make it ready for the bath.
How To Bathe a Cat In Simple Steps
Now that you have finished preparing your cat so that it will be less likely to scratch you, you can actually begin.
You should have put on the long sleeved top by now and your cat should have tired itself out from playing around a bit.
Stay In Control
During bath time, make sure to talk to your cat in a soft soothing voice, speaking calm comforting words to help it remain calm and know that everything is all right.
Move slowly and don’t make any sudden noises or sudden sharp movements which might scare your feline.
Start by placing a towel into the bath tub on the bottom of the tub so that your cat can have something to hold onto and a more steady surface to stand on. This will help your cat stay much calmer as it won’t feel as slippery in the tub.
Your kitty may try to wriggle it’s way out of the bath tub but you must try to calm it down being gentle but firm.
Avoid Fighting
You should always try to avoid getting into fights with your cat.
Remember, a scared and angry kitty can do a lot of damage to an adult really quickly if it wants to do so.
If your cat really is determined to not taking a bath today or especially angry or scared then you should leave it be and try your luck another day.
It is not a good idea to try to force your cat to take a bath if it is terrified of it. Let it be for now if this is the case.
You should start by wetting the cats paws first slowly and observing how it reacts to the water, and make sure it is a comfortable temperature of course before doing this.
You will be able to tell then whether you should proceed or stop for now.
Soak The Cat From The Neck
You should start with a small amount of cat shampoo and water, and your cat should be able to stand comfortably without being submerged.
Bathe your kitty from the neck to the tail in soft motions and gently massage it’s neck, body, legs and tail. (1.)
Make sure to follow the direction in which the fur grows.
You can act as if you were grooming or petting your little kitty so that it will feel soothed instead of feeling scared or anxious.
Don’t Get Shampoo in the Eyes, Ears, Nose and Mouth
Try to avoid getting soap or shampoo in those spots at all costs.
If you are doing a flea bath, wet the neck and the areas surrounding it first.
This is done because fleas can escape from the wet area to a dry area, probably the head. By doing this you can be sure to keep the fleas away from your cat’s head.
Rinsing The Shampoo Off
After you have finished massaging the cats fur and gotten all the dirt out sufficiently you now need to rinse the shampoo off very well.
You don’t want any cat shampoo or soap left on the fur, for it can irritate the skin later on if it is left on.
You should rinse your cats fur thoroughly using the warm water in the bath tub.
Then you should drain the water from the tub and rinse your cat again three or more times until the water turns completely clear.
You do not want any soap bubbles left.
You can also choose to re fill the tub or use some warm water from a bucket instead if you prefer doing that.
If your cat has thick and long fur this step will take a bit more time.
You can dilute the cat shampoo a bit with some water to safe some money and this will also save time when you are rinsing with water.
Washing Your Cats Face
We don’t want to upset our cat by having to use shampoo on their face.
You can instead use a simple wash cloth to clean it’s face.
Just gently run the wash cloth around the eyes very carefully and keep on brushing away at the fur around their nose and eyes until their ears and head are clean as well.
NEVER try to force your cat underwater as this is harmful and will definitely cause them to panic.
Learn To Understand Your Cat
It would definitely become easier figuring out how to bathe a cat if you could understand it’s language better.
You can learn to know when it is upset, frightened or anxious as cats express themselves using their body language.
Watch out for sounds such as meowing, crying, sneezing or growling, hard breathing or hissing, and pay attention to your cats body language.
Do not do anything that might upset your kitty or else may may start to dread his next bath which we do not want.
If bathing your cat is daunting or very difficult you may want to consider seeking help from a vet or a professional.
The vet can give you good advice or even help you out in some other ways.
Using Wet Washcloths
If your cat happens to hate taking a bath, you can try using a wet washcloth to remove the dirt from it as well.
These can groom and clean your cat effectively while leaving it with a lovely scent after wards.
You can even get special treated washcloths for your cat at most pet stores.
Other than a washcloth, you could also try using a spray that cleans effectively without having to dunk your kitty in a bath tub.
Blotting The Water Off The Fur
Wrap your beloved kitty with a soft towel while gently pressing the water from it’s fur as you do it.
Then use another towel if the one you are using gets soaked too much.
Act as if you were massaging your cat so that it will feel calm and relaxed, and continue to speak soft soothing words to calm it even further.
Drying Your Cat
You can let your cat dry on it’s own if it has very short fur after you have blotted most of the water away already with a towel.
It is best to keep them in a safe comfortable room with heaters and a clean rug or a blanket for them to rest on now.
If your cat has long fur you can use combs to softly comb their fur until it is dry to prevent any tangling.
If your cat is not afraid of hair dryers, you can use a warm drier on the lowest setting, making very sure first that it won’t burn or hurt your cat.
Then use the warm drier from a distance to help finish the drying up process.
Reward Your Cat Afterwards
If you do not want your cat to dread it’s next bath time then you should reward them for tolerating the water and having to take a bath.
You can treat your kitty with it’s favorite snack or catnip even depending on what it likes.
You can then associate bathing with being rewarded, and the good behavior as well.
Your cat has done a good job and been brave and wonderful, so treat it afterwards for it’s great behavior.
How To Not Get Scratched
Nobody wants to get scratched as it can hurt a lot and be painful.
Bathing a cat might be a scary thing for some because they fear getting scratched or clawed at.
You can follow these useful tips on how to not get scratched while bathing your cat.
Be Organized
Bathing a cat or a kitten can be a bit like bathing a small baby.
You need to have everything in order and everything you might need at the right place where you can find it.
For instance you may need cat shampoo, cat towels, and your kitty’s favorite toys to divert it’s attention.
Be Prepared
Knowing you are about to clean your cat can feel like you are about to go to war for some.
You should definitely be prepared before jumping into it.
Remove all the tangles and knots from the fur to make bath time more comfortable and easier to deal with.
Make sure the temperature of the room and the water is comfortable so your cat won’t get too hot or cold.
You would not want to take an ice cold bath, so your cat won’t either.
Do Not Fight Your Cat
It is rather obvious that most cats don’t like water or bath time, but it depends on the cat breeds and each individual cat though to some degree.
Now, this is no excuse to fight with your cat over a simple bath.
Never force or fight with our cat because it can scratch you badly while trying to wriggle it’s way to dry safety.
If your cat does not want to take a bath, you should respect it’s wishes for now and just try again later.
Close Your Door
It is a good idea to keep the door to your bathroom closed when working on how to bathe a cat that may or may not hate water even.
Many people forget this, and think it is such an obvious thing to remember but yet forget to simply close their door.
Then what can happen, is that they will have a soaking wet cat running all over their house trying to flee from the bath tub.
Nobody wants that, trust me.
Remember to close the door to the bath room.
How Often Should You Bathe Your Cats
Even if cats are naturally very clean and neat animals which groom themselves vigorously by licking their fur, they may still need the occasional bath to remove any stubborn dirt, fleas or a bad smell.
There are many factors that determine how often to bathe a cat such as:
- If it is an outdoor cat, it will need more frequent bathing than an indoor cat would
- Very active cats need more bathing than less active ones
- Cats with some health issues like fleas, loose stool, ticks or skin irritation will need them more often
- Some cats don’t self groom or do it badly and will therefore need regular baths
- If your kitty has shorter fur, it will not be as high maintenance as long fur cat breeds
Reasons Why You Should Bathe Your Cat
Even though the vast majority of cats don’t like taking baths, it is important for many cats to get one from time to time.
It depends greatly upon each cat though, whether they will actually need one or not and how clean they are.
Here are the main reasons why you should bathe your cat.
- They will smell wonderful afterwards
- Bathing cats can get rid of fleas and ticks
- It is a way of removing tangled loose hair
- It removes stubborn dirt which the animal can not remove on their own
- Some pet owners use baths as a stress reliever for their pets
- Cats with some medical conditions such as skin irritation or loose stool should be bathed regularly to make them feel better
Cats really are wonderful creatures that are able to brighten up our days and liven up our homes nicely.
It is important to take good care of your animal friend and understand them before deciding to give it a bath.
I hope you have enjoyed this guide on how to bathe a cat, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
