Although cats seem to spend most of their time cleaning themselves, it is still essential to keep their hygiene in check and make sure that they are washed once in a while. However, we all know that cats and water don’t always go well together. Som before you even attempt to submerge them in water to give them a relaxing bubble bath, it’s best to apply these helpful tips on how to wash cats.
Before Bathing
- Trim Their Nails – Use clippers or grinders. Most cats will resist, and they tend to scratch as their defence mechanism. Trimming their nails can keep the number of scratches at a minimum as you go through the process.
- Brush Their Fur – Make sure their cat’s hair is tangle-free. Knots become tighter and more difficult to smooth out when wet.
- Get All Your Tools Ready
- Bath mat – To ensure your cat has a solid grip on the surface ground
- Shampoo – Choose those that are specifically made for cats. Other products may cause irritation or are even toxic.
- Bucket/Sink/Bath Tub – Use one that works for their size.
- A small, soft washcloth
- Water (preferably lukewarm) – Just enough for washing and rinsing.
- Fluffy towel for drying
- Blow Drier ***optional
During Bathing
- Fill in the bucket, sink or tub with water. Water levels should be relatively low, so your cat’s neck and head are above water.
- Slowly lower their body into the bucket of water.
- Use just enough amount of cat shampoo to work up a soapy lather and gently massage their body.
- Use the face cloth to clean the sensitive areas such as the face, ears, whiskers, nose and eyes. Avoid getting soap in their eyes, ears and nose.
- Rinse them up with clean water.
After Bathing
- Blot them dry with a clean fluffy towel.
- You can also use a blow drier if their hair is longer and thicker.
Other Helpful Tips On How To Wash Cats
- Introduce your cats to the concept of bathing early on. Give your kittens short baths on occasion. Being familiar with bathing is a learned behaviour, so it’s best to start them young. Plus, since they are still tiny, you run a lesser risk of getting significant scratches or bites as their sign of protest.
- Throughout the bathing process, speak with your pet cat with a soothing voice to help them feel calm and relaxed.
- After bathing, snuggle up with your kitty and give them lots of positive reinforcement. Praise them for their obedience and even reward them with a treat for giving you a stress-free cat bathing experience.
Kitties don’t need frequent bathing. However, an unkempt cat can potentially be unhealthy. They can also get themselves into literally sticky situations (e.g. mud, dirt, glue, pancake syrup), so in these cases, you have to wash them thoroughly.
Consult your veterinarian if you notice that your cat is not taking care ohttps://www.petangel.com.au/blog/f themselves to make sure that everything is okay.
Read more articles about your adorable pets HERE.
