Cats are extremely clean.  They spend a lot of their day grooming and cleaning their coat.  Because of this, there is no natural reason why you should ever wash your cat.  It is estimated that cats can spend around 30% of their awake time on personal grooming.

The only time you should consider bathing your cat is when they have something on their coat that they can’t remove themselves or if they end up with any toxic material that could be dangerous if they try to lick it off. Examples of this would be grease, paint, motor oil or anything else that your cat should not be ingesting.  In situations like this a bath is the only way to go.  If you are going to bathe your cat, preparation is key to it going as smoothing as possible. The only time you should consider bathing your cat is when they have something on their coat that they can’t remove themselves or if they end up with any toxic material that could be dangerous if they try to lick it off. Examples of this would be grease, paint, motor oil or anything else that your cat should not be ingesting.  In situations like this a bath is the only way to go.  If you are going to bathe your cat, preparation is key to it going as smooth as possible.  Below you will find everything you need for a successful cat bathing session!

Here are some steps to remember when bathing a cat.

Trim nails

One of the best ways to prevent getting scratched by a cat is to trim their nails.  Cats don’t like water and will try to escape from water.  If you are not careful this can result in you getting a nasty scratch.  Cat claws can be incredibly sharp and can do damage to your skin.  Before bathing your cat, make sure that the nails are clipped and dulled to prevent any injuries to yourself or anyone helping you.

Prepare supplies

You are going to want to get ready by having everything within arm’s reach.  Remember that you won’t be able to stop half way to get something you forgot to bring so check that you have everything and it is easy to reach.

Base

Place an old towel on the base of the tub.  This will give your cat a better footing and it will be one less thing for them to get stressed about.

Water temperature

Cats are more sensitive to temperature than humans.  Because they can’t cool down as easily as we can because they don’t sweat so it is critical to make sure they don’t overheat.  As a guide only go just above lukewarm temperature.

Water

Make sure you fill the tub before bringing your cat in.  Cats don’t like the sound of running water.  By doing this beforehand, you will be removing some of the stress.

Help

Although you can bathe your cat on your own, it will be much easier to have someone with you for help.  They can help you hold down your cat while you wash them as well as passing you things as you need them.

Pitcher

Because cats don’t like the sound of running water, you might make your cat a little more relaxed by using a pitcher instead.  They are also less likely to get water where you don’t intend to.

Brush

Cat’s lose a lot of hair.  A lot of people think that cats shed hair only in the warmer months.  This is not true.  Cats will shed hair the whole year around so before you bathe your cat, make sure you give them a good brushing to prevent a build up in your drane.

Timing

Timing has a large impact on how your cat will react to it’s bath.  To maximise your chances of a successful wash, always time the bath just after a meal or after your cat has been playing.  These are the times when your cat is going to be most mellow.

Towels

Have plenty of towels ready for the bath.  A cat’s fur will hold more water than you think.  Because of this, towels will get saturated very quickly so you need to have plenty of towels ready to go.  I would recommend at least 3 towels.

Use cat shampoo

Cat shampoo is different from human shampoo.  You should never use human shampoo on a cat as it may result in an allergic reaction.  They may also try to lick it off which could make them sick.  Even with cat shampoo, you should avoid getting it on their face, eyes and ears.

Rinse

Always make sure that you rinse the cat shampoo well.  You don’t want to have any of it left on their fur as they will probably try to lick it clean.  If they ingest any residue, they may get very sick.

Dry thoroughly

Once you finish bathing your cat, you should dry them thoroughly.  Cats feel the cold much more than us humans.  Dry them off as quickly as possible.  Try to have a few towels so that you can switch to a dry one as soon as the old one is wet.  Once you’re done, use a warm room for them to keep them in until they are completely dry.  If you are going to use a hair dryer, ALWAYS set it to the lowest setting and test on your hand to make sure you won’t accidentally burn them.

Treat time

It is always a good idea to have some treats after a bath.  Cats don’t generally like to be bathed, so one good way to get back in their good books is with their favourite treat.  If you are lucky, it might even make them a little more used to the idea of having a bath.

How to bathe your cat.

• Prepare all the items you will need and place them within arm’s reach.
• Place an old towel on the floor of your tub and fill the tub around 3-4 inches deep with warm water.  Always test the water to ensure it is not too hot. 
• Using a pitcher, wet their coat making sure to not get water on their face, eyes or ears. 
• Apply some cat shampoo on the back of their coat and massage.
• Once this is done, use the same pitcher to rinse the shampoo thoroughly.
• If you need to wash their face and ears do so using a cotton ball with water only and gently wipe.
• You must ensure there is no shampoo left on their coat.
• Once you’ve rinsed the shampoo, use a towel to dry their coat.  This first towel will saturate with water quite quickly.  Have a second towel ready and swap it over.  Continue to dry their hair.  A third towel should do the trick.
• Keep your cat in a dry and warm room until fully dry.

Follow these steps and you should have a successful bathing session with the least amount of stress to your cat.  Trust me, they will appreciate it.