Apr
19
Giving Cats A Bath
Filed Under DIY (Do It Yourself), Cats
Do your cats really need a bath? There may be a time in your life, when you are unlucky enough to give cats a bath at home. Dispite the scuba diving cat, they don't like the water. Trying to get them into water, will most-likely require a blood transfusion. It really seems to help with the hairballs and with itchy skin in the winter. It is okay to use human shampoo but to be sure to rinse it out completely. Brushing really good and often can be better than a bath. Here are some things you might try to make the process easier.
Assemble all the stuff you need
- Towels
- Shampoo
- Mat for bottom of sink (cats hate to have no traction)
- Large cup - for pouring water over cat to rinse
- Clip toenails before you try this
Make sure room is very warm. It might be a good idea to get some medication to calm the cats first. Try Feliway, available at Vet's and pet stores. I used the kitchen sink, as it is easier to bathe them at working height than in the bathtub. However, it's easier for them to escape from you this way. Baths usually have doors that close. Hand held shower heads are also easier than pouring cups of water. Fill sink with warm water, make sure that it is not too hot or too cold. Immerse cat in water then lather with shampoo. I also leave the water running if the cat doesn't spook easily.
Either use spray attachment or cup to rinse while letting water out. Let water out and rinse again. Continue to rinse until you are sure no soap remains in fur. Wrap securely in towels and blot dry if long-haired. Rubbing can mat and tangle the fur. Mix vinegar and water to rinse, helps get the soap out. Fleas hate the vinegar too, and it also gets rid of odors.
Keep in warm carrier or crate until dry if kitten or can be let go if adult. Your cat will spend the next few hours bathing itself to get the odor of the shampoo out of it's fur.
Additional supplies suggested:
Bourbon, gauze pads to soak up your blood, and bandages.
Hello,
This is great, I didn’t know about the vinegar.
Thank you.
Cheers.
I am looking for the correct way to go about bathing my 5mth old kitten, it looks a bit dangerous to be honest, but the cat does need some help in flea control, so I’m giving it a go. Maybe I’ll be writing from the Hospital on the results.
Cheers