How To Give A Bath To Your Cat

My friend in New York has a pet cat; she told me that cats hated water and it was not that easy to give them a bath as dogs. Also cats did not need frequent baths as they cleaned themselves well with their teeth and tongue on a daily basis. It was enough most of the time to just brush cats, unless they got themselves dirty or there was the need to remove excess dander on their fur.  

A few tips shared by my friend to make bathing less traumatic for your pet cat and owner:

Make all preparations before you give the cat a bath; keep a plastic pitcher or a large cup, towel, washcloth and cat shampoo ready. This would help make the bathing experience as pleasurable as possible. Experts recommend that it would be advisable to trim the cat’s nails before the bath to avoid being scratched; it would also help to brush the cat well to remove excess hair and mats before giving it a bath.

Then fill a sink, basin or tub with lukewarm water making sure to check the temperature before confining your pet cat to a space that is difficult for her to get out. Many pet cats try to claw their way out when you are washing them; it would be best to use a retractable spray nozzle, if you have an access to it.

Be steady and confident while bathing your pet cat; if you are nervous the cat will sense your nervousness and be nervous too. Place your pet cat in the water and wet him from his neck to his tail with the pitcher taking care to not pour water on the pet’s face; gradually immerse the other parts of the body as the cat would otherwise hate it and you would also run the risk of getting water into his eyes, nose and ears. Make sure to use a damp washcloth to wipe his face once he is out of the bath.

Clean the pet cat’s fur with specially formulated feline shampoo making sure to avoid your cat's nose, ears and mouth; ensure you pay attention to the specific product's instructions. Rinse off the soap well by using the pitcher or cup; it is very necessary to get rid of the suds especially in the chin, paws and belly as the pet could ingest too much shampoo when they clean themselves with their tongue.

Make sure to dry your pet cat quickly by wrapping it in a soft towel; once the fur is as dry as possible make sure to brush and comb the fur especially of long haired cats to get out the tangles.

Finally praise and treat your pet cat for being so brave to endure the bathing experience; it is however possible your cat comes under the few that enjoys the bathing experience or stoically endure it.