Smelly cat, smelly cat. Cats and kittens love to explore. This means they get into messes and stinky situations. A stinky cat that hates water makes for a difficult bath. If you want your cat’s bath to be a positive experience for both of you, you must do it right.
Even though cats are exceptional groomers compared to other animals, it is still necessary to give them baths every once in a while.
Whether your cat got into something smelly or you want to keep their skin and coat healthy and clean, you must know how to give your cat a bath before you start trying.
This article provides a how-to guide on how to bathe a cat.
Does My Cat Need a Bath?
Cats don’t require regular bathing. They are great at bathing themselves, so you only need to give your cat a bath if they got into something smelly or muddy.
Cats’ tongues are perfect for grooming themselves and their kittens. Each lap of their tongue naturally cleans and detangles their fur. This helps them keep clean without baths.
If you do need to give your cat a bath, follow the how-to guide below.
Get the Right Equipment For Cat Bathing
The more you prepare for the bath, the better the experience will be. One great way to be prepared is to get everything you need beforehand.
This Includes:
1. Gloves
When bathing your cat, you want to wear thick, vinyl dishwashing gloves that cover your hands and forearms. To be extra safe, wear long sleeves.
You want to cover up your skin as best you can when giving your cat a bath. Your cat is likely to reach out and scratch you, whether on purpose or on accident.
2. Towels and Washcloths
You want to have a lot of towels nearby during the bath. You want to have at least one washcloth for your cat’s head and face and another for its body.
Have a bath towel nearby to wrap your cat in after the bath. Extra towels are a good idea to have in case there is a lot of splashing during the bath.
3. Cat Shampoo
When bathing your cat, you want to choose a quality brand of cat shampoo. The shampoo you choose should be made specifically for cats. Don’t use a shampoo that is meant for humans or dogs.
Some pet stores have shampoo for cats that don’t require water.
4. Treats
Since the majority of cats hate baths, you want to reward your cat after bath time. Keep your cat’s favorite food or treat nearby for after the bath.
5. Get Some HELP!
Having another person help you when you bathe your cat can be a tremendous help. You only have two hands, so if you have never bathed a cat before, consider getting another cat lover who has done it before to help you out.
How To Bathe A Cat: Step-By-Step
Once you have the things you need and another person to help, you can start giving your cat a bath.
Step 1: Get the bathtub or sink ready
If your cat is small enough or is still a kitten, you can use your kitchen sink. However, you will want a large sink or a bathtub with a spray nozzle for a regular-sized adult cat.
If you don’t have a spray nozzle, you can fill your sink or tub with about 5 inches of lukewarm water.
Step 2: Wet your cat
Use the spray nozzle to wet your cat with lukewarm water. The water should not be hot. Since cats don’t sweat, they will feel uncomfortable in hot water.
You can cup water in your hands from the bath and dump the water over your cat if you don’t have a spray nozzle. A pitcher or cup will also work to pour water over your cat.
If you have a helper, have them hold onto your cat during this process.
Step 3: Shampoo your cat
Once your cat is sufficiently wet, read the instructions on the shampoo bottle.
For most shampoos, you lather it into your cat’s fur, starting with the face and avoiding its eyes, ears, and nose. You can either use your hands to lather the shampoo or a clean washcloth.
Never use human shampoo on your cat. Human shampoo may contain chemicals and toxic ingredients that you don’t want your cat to lick off themselves later.
Also, cats have more delicate skin, and cat shampoo is specifically made for their skin and coats.
Step 4: Rinse your cat
After you have lathered the shampoo into your cat’s fur, you can start rinsing it off. You can use the spray nozzle to rinse off the shampoo or a clean, wet washcloth.
Avoid the eyes, ears, and nose when rinsing the shampoo out. The shampoo will irritate your cat’s eyes, ears, and nose.
Rinsing off your cat completely after a bath is crucial. Cats are efficient groomers, so they lick themselves after a bath. You don’t want your cat to lick shampoo residue.
Also, shampoo that sits on their skin can irritate their sensitive skin.
Step 5: Wipe your cat’s face
Cleaning your cat’s face is different from cleaning its body. You don’t want to pour water over or use shampoo on your cat’s face.
Instead, use a clean, damp washcloth to carefully wipe its face. If your cat has something sticky on its face, you can put a couple of drops of shampoo on the washcloth.
But remember to be careful around its eyes, ears, and nose.
Step 6: Dry off your cat
After you have rinsed off your cat thoroughly, you can dry it off by wrapping it up in a dry, fluffy towel. Dry off your cat as much as you can. Don’t forget to dry off its paws so it doesn’t make pawprints on the floor.
You can also use a hairdryer to dry your cat, as long as it is on the lowest warmth, to speed up the drying process. After your cat is dry, it is best to keep them in a warm room.
If your cat’s fur is long, comb it out to avoid mats.
Step 7: Reward your cat
Once the bath is over and your cat is dried off, you can reward your cat with its favorite food or treat. Reward your cat for cooperating with you and getting through the bath experience. Rewards help your cat learn that baths are a positive experience.
Another thing to do after the bath is to give your cat some space. Don’t expect your cat to cuddle you after a bath. Cats hate water, so they are miserable during baths. They likely won’t feel cuddly afterward.
You can also reward your cat with praise and playtime after the bath if they are up for attention. They may just want to be left alone after the bath experience.
EXTRA Bathing Tips
Trim your cat’s nails
When giving your cat a bath, their form of defense will likely be scratching. Trimming or filing your cat’s nails before a bath can help prevent painful scratches to your arms and face.
Brush your cat’s fur
Cats have extra fur on their coats and they shed all year long. All of this fur going down your drain is not good for your plumbing.
It is a good idea to brush your cat and remove any loose fur before giving it a bath. You should also brush out mats in your cat’s fur as best you can.
Exhaust your cat
When cats are full of energy, they will object to a bath more strongly. Avoid bathing your cat when you know they are full of energy.
You are better off giving your cat a bath after an extensive play session when your cat is tired. The more mellow your cat is, the better bath time will be.
Add traction to the tub
When your cat is in the tub, its paws will slide around, so adding traction to the bottom of the tub will help your cat feel more comfortable.
You can add a rubber mat to the tub or sink or fold a towel for your cat to stand on. Cats are less likely to panic during bath time if they can stand on their own.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, baths are necessary. But you don’t want to do it too often. You only want to bathe your cat every once in a while to keep their skin and coat healthy and clean or when your cat smells because they got into something.
Cats generally keep themselves well-groomed, so too many baths are unnecessary torment for your cat.
When you have the right supplies and some help, you can give your cat a bath easily with practice and persistence.
Each time you give your cat a bath and reward it afterward, your cat will become more accustomed to it and it will get easier.
Don’t expect your cat to remain calm during bath time. It is more likely that your cat will panic and resort to scratching. Don’t let this scare you from bathing your cat. Having someone there to help can be beneficial.