The Kitchen Or Bathroom
The kitchen is a good place for bathing a cat, especially if you have a double sink. One half can then be used for soaping and the other half for rinsing off.
Whether you have a single sink or a double one, if you use the kitchen sink it’s a good idea to take a folded towel and lay it on the counter at the edge of the sink, with the open end of the folded towel level with the edge, so that when you’ve finished, your cat can climb up straight up into the towel.
Another idea is to put a large towel at the bottom of the sink to give your cat something to grip onto.
Alternatively, you can use the bathroom shower or bath, where you have the added advantage of a shower head for to rinse with. If you decide on the bathroom, one way is to use the bucket method – use two buckets one for the soapy water, one to rinse.
Whichever room you choose, make sure that all breakable items are moved well out of harm’s way.
The Ideal Tubs For Bathing A Cat
Not all types of tubs will do as most cats generally feel exposed and worried in a large bathtub. This can be solved by using a sink rather than a bathtub as it makes your cat feel more secure. Its also good for you as its easier on your back since you wouldnt need to lean over as you would with a tub.
If for you, a sink isnt practical, or you would instead not bathe your cat where you also wash your dishes, then you can make use of a toddler bathtub. Avoid the use of inflatable tubs since your cats have sharp claws that can quickly and permanently deflate your inflatable bath.
Wherever you are to bathe your cat, its important you give them enough traction by placing a towel at the base of the sink, regular tub or baby tub.
Using Small Tubs Or Kitchen Sink
Cats may be a lot more comfortable bathing in a small tub or kitchen sink than a large bathtub. This is because theyre used to being confined to relatively small spaces while being washed. This helps them avoid the shock of suddenly being immersed in a large vessel while their fur is wet and theyre still slippery from their last meal.
Don’t Miss: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
Cleaning Your Cat With Wipes
My Cat Hates Showering And It Keeps Scratching Me What Should I Do
The majority of the feline population hates showering and dislikes water. In most cases, you do not need to wash your cat every week or regularly, because cats already know how to keep themselves clean and take care of their hygiene. However, you should wash your cat from time, especially if its fur got dirty, and it needs a deep cleaning. In case you struggled with washing your cat before, and you ended looking like you left a war zone after washing the cat, here are the steps to bathe a cat, and some tips that can help you survive bathing your cat, without being bitten or scratched.
Also Check: Cat Licks Himself When I Scratch His Back
What Is Flea Dirt
Flea dirt is literally flea poop.
Fleas feed on your pets blood. And after an animal feeds, it must eliminate waste from its body. Flea dirt consists mostly of your cats blood as well as a few other elements.
When fleas feed on your pets blood, the blood goes through the insects system and then is eliminated along with other elements as flea fecal matter.
Usually, flea dirt has a dark, often black appearance. You can find it scattered as flecks on your pets fur or as clumps.
But how do you distinguish between regular dirt and flea dirt?
First, take a pinch of what you suspect to be flea dirt and then get it wet. Afterward, find a white surface and then wipe the specks on it. You will know that it is flea dirt if you see red streaks on the surface.
Flea dirt can be found in practically all parts of your cats body. However, the greatest concentration of flea dirt will be around your pets stomach, his tail, and his behind. You can also find a large amount of flea dirt near the groin and hind legs.
Rarely you will find flea dirt around your pets head and neck because fleas usually avoid those areas.
Apart from your pets fur, you might also see flea dirt in the areas that your cat frequents, like floor, bedding, and shelves.
Take Your Cat Out Of The Tub
Once you are done rinsing your feline friend, it is time to take him out of the tub. Wrap your cat in a clean, warm towel and put him in a warm, draft-free room in which he can safely dry off. You can blow dry your cat however, it should be noted that many cats are afraid of the sounds that blow dryers tend to make.
If your cat is already in a stressed-out, panicked state, it’s best to skip the blow dryer altogether. However, if your cat is a bath pro and doesn’t mind the blow dryer, then, by all means, use it . Remember to test the blow-dryer first. Thermal burns can easily occur if the blow dryer is too close to the animal. They can’t tell us if it’s too hot! Once your feline friend is completely dry, brush or comb out his fur.
When it comes to bathing your cat, the key is patience! The calmer you are, the calmer your cat will be. It is also important that you talk to your cat throughout the entire process . It is very important that you don’t lose your temper and yell at your cat. After all, he or she is already in 100% panic mode. It is important that you don’t rush the bathing process. Therefore, you should only bathe your cat when you have plenty of time.
It should also be noted that the earlier you introduce bathing to your cat, the better. Cats that were bathed as kittens tend to be easier to bathe than older cats who are new to the process.
Caution
Avoid wetting the ear or ear canals as water can cause infection.
Read Also: How Much Wet Food Should A Cat Eat Daily
Are Human Soaps Okay For Cats
Human skin has a acidic pH and cat skin has a pH level of 7.5 neutral to alkaline. If you use human soaps and shampoos on cats and kittens it will mess their skin. The cat skin will dry out. The bacteria which naturally lives on skin will be out of balance.
You might notice a rash or skin allergy it is actually more common in persian cats. The skin will immediately start showing changes and rashes.
Cat skin will dry out, they might have rashes, dandruff and it is very unpleasant for your cat. They start itching a lot.
At first when my cat itched like crazy I thought how did she get fleas.
We live in an aprtment and she has no exposure to dirt or other cats.
When I checked behind the ears and the places she was scratching, it was a rash.
Tip: If you notice black specks or dots in the fur or skin, that is because of fleas.
Fragrances and essential oils present in human soaps can be lethal to cats and hence should be avoided. If you really want to use human soap, use the baby soaps and shampoos. They are more gentle. This should be used only in an emergency though.
Actually I had no clue that herbal soaps, ayurvedic soaps and soaps with essential oils were harmful to my cat. Till one day I did use one on her, as my cat shampoo was over.
My cat started acted very dull, she was not her usualy peppy self. I just knew something was wrong.
So dont use your soap on the cat erver.
When Should You Bathe Your Cat
Cats are fastidious groomers â if they arenât eating or sleeping, itâs likely youâll find them bathing away, one hind leg pointed straight to the sky as they groom their bellies, or adorably wiping their faces and ears with their damp paws.
But sometimes, cats groom less than they should. Sometimes they stop grooming altogether. Maybe theyâve become overweight, which makes it difficult to reach certain areas. Maybe a chronic illness or osteoarthritis has made it too difficult or painful to groom. Whatever the reason may be, cats who have stopped grooming could use a little help, and thatâs where you step in.
If your cat needs a bath and you donât feel up to the challenge, there is no shame in taking her to a groomer. Groomers have lots of experience bathing cats and know all the cat taming tricks. This is a win/win for both you and your cat.
You May Like: Do Cats Whiskers Fall Off
How To Bath A Cat
For the best part, bodies do not charge bathing.
They can do a altogether acceptable job of charwoman themselves, and they do not absolutely love water. However, there may be assertive affairs area their self-grooming will not be abundant to do the job.
Bathing your cat can be a little abbreviate of a nightmare, abnormally if you are accomplishing it for the aboriginal time.
You will charge to be rapid, efficient, and acutely cautious. In this article, you will acquisition a footfall by footfall adviser on bathing your cat forth with some advantageous tips and important dos and donts.
You will additionally acquisition beneath bathing alternatives, affairs back bathing can be necessary, and aggregate abroad there is to apperceive about bodies and their accord with water.
Some Of The Best Cat Products For Dry Baths
- Vets Best Waterless Cat Bath | No-Rinse Water-less Dry Shampoo for Cats | Natural Formula
- STAY. FOREVER. SAFETY FIRST PET PRODUCTS Dry Powder Shampoo for Dogs and Cats, Cleaning and Deodorizing, Healing and Soothing, Shaker Bottle, No Water, Talc Free
- Burts Bees for Cats Hypoallergenic Shampoo with Shea Butter and Honey | Best Shampoo for All Cats and Kittens with Sensitive Skin, Includes Shea Butter & Honey
- Vets Best Advanced Strength Flea + Tick Cat Shampoo
Recommended Reading: Why Is My Cat’s Heart Beating So Fast
How Often Should I Give My Cat A Bath
Keeping your cats skin and coat healthy is important to your cats overall well-being. But, since cats can become aggressive or irritated when you try to bathe them, it is easy to get in the habit of skipping it altogether. However, getting your cat into a regular grooming routine can help ease the stress and tension for you both! Plus, if you start them at a very young age, they can almost enjoy getting a bath. The good news is your cat takes care of a majority of their hair care needs by themselves with all that licking, but that doesnt remove mats, eliminate dandruff or make them smell better.
How often you need to bathe your cat depends on the following:
- Indoor vs. outdoor environment: Outdoor kitties will need a bath more frequently than their indoor counterpart.
- Coat length and type: Longer coats will require more maintenance than short coat cats.
- Self-grooming behavior: Cats that cannot or do not groom themselves efficiently need regular baths to keep their coat from becoming greasy or sticky. Also, overweight cats have difficulty reaching all areas of the body, so they will need bathed more regularly the back side of these kitties often become matted and the skin can become itchy, flaky or even infected
- Activity level: Cats that are highly active will require more frequent bathing
- Health issues: Issues like skin irritation, tick or flea infestation and loose stool can require more attention.
The Best Shampoo For Cats
Don’t use human shampoo on your cat, as it could dry out or otherwise harm their skin. Instead, try one of the shampoos listed below, which are great for cats .
Available at:
Or, if a regular bath is too hard on your cat mentally or physically you can use a waterless shampoo like this one.
Available at:
For more of the details about why human shampoos aren’t great options for routine cat bathing, check out “Shampoo For Your Pet – Which Kind Should You NOT Use?“
Recommended Reading: Male Cat Barbed Genitalia
Is Dawn Dish Soap Acceptable For Long Term Use
Absolutely not. Even the original Dawn Dish Soap will cause complications if used on a cat too frequently or is used for prolonged periods of time.
Dish soap does a mighty fine cleaning grease and oil from dishes which means it also does an equally great job removing them from cats. Longterm use has been known to give cats skin problems such as rashes or even hair loss. That being said, cleaning your cat with Dawn Dish Soap every once in a while should not be a worry.
In short, dish soap of any kind is too acidic for cats as it is meant for human use. Our pH sits between 5.2 to 5.5 and cats sit between 7.0 to 8.0, though it is not uncommon for their acidity to sit even more basic.
If you are looking for something to wash your cat with longterm because they get dirty frequently or just need extra TLC I would check out some of these products.
When To Bathe My Cat
If your cat seems clean enough, and you dont have cat shampoo, you might not feel the need to bathe them. This can go on for a long time, maybe too long!
So, its important to know when its time to bathe your cat, whether with a cat shampoo or an alternative.
In any case, you should only start bathing your cat after they turn 12 weeks old, otherwise, their mother can clean them long enough.
Afterwards, you can start bathing your cat only once a month. If your cat has long hair, brush it with a hairbrush regularly to get rid of any tangled hair.
Youd better avoid bathing your cat at these times:
- Winter because cats love being warm and bathing in winter is too cold for them
- While your cat is pregnant because bathing can harm the baby
Don’t Miss: What Does A Broken Cat Tail Look Like
List Of Shampoos Or Soaps Safe For Cats And Kitten:
If you are considering buying safe soap for cats, we have prepared a list of some natural-friendly shampoos and soaps for your beloved pets. These gentle, natural ingredients will make your kitten fresh naturally. All products are made without any use of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, SLS, or synthetic fragrance and super-safe shampoos and soaps for your beloved.
Best Seller Cat Shampoo
Start From The Neck First
Wash your cat from the neck first. If you carefully wash your cat from the neck to the tail, then you are sure that you are cleaning them properly.
This is because washing your cat from the head to tail may cause damage to their sensitive skin, while washing it from the neck down is less likely to do so.
Read Also: Why Does My Cat Squint At Me
Grooming Your Cat Regularly