Maintaining good hygiene in cats is simple because the felines themselves are very careful in this regard. Daily, they wash their bodies by licking themselves and try not to stain themselves. Even so, sometimes it is unavoidable to bathe your kitten if it has gotten very dirty, either by rolling around in a muddy place or by accumulating remains of dirt when hiding in the rooms of the house.
Bathing a cat is not always easy, as they are usually water reluctant animals. In addition, it is important to choose the moment well, since it is not necessary to bathe them very often. If you do not comply with a series of premises, it will surely cost you a lot and the moment will be unpleasant for both parties. If you have found that your cat prefers not to bathe him and even becomes aggressive, you may be interested in discovering how to bathe a cat that is not allowed and how to calm him before the bath so that it is easier to achieve it. If so, at OneHOWTO we recommend that you read this article.
Is it necessary to bathe cats?
Although cats take care of their own hygiene, sometimes it is necessary to bathe them. In certain circumstances, it is inevitable that they go through the bathtub for health and cleanliness reasons. These are the most extreme cases in which you have to bathe your feline:
- Eliminate parasites: To remove fleas and other parasites, the best option is a bath because the treatment can be easily applied that way. In this way, you will be able to eliminate these parasites and, taking advantage of the occasion, you will leave the cat completely clean. Here we explain how to bathe a cat with fleas.
- Dead hair: there are cats with long hair that need your help by brushing and bathing to remove dead hair. It is necessary for hygiene and health reasons, as well as for aesthetics.
- Excess dirt: Your kitty will try to clean itself every day regardless of what it does. Even so, if he has played in dirty places or has been in contact with sticky substances or that have stained his body, it will be essential that you bathe him so that he is comfortable, clean and can rest well.
- Wounds: the pain caused by an injury can weigh down the hygiene that he usually does himself. In this case, it needs your help to stay clean and gradually heal the damaged area of the body.
How to calm a cat before bathing it
Knowing how to bathe a feline is just as important as the best ways to calm it down beforehand. If you can’t get him to relax, the task will become an ordeal. To discover how to bathe a cat without scratching you, at OneHOWTO we recommend that you follow these tips for relaxing a cat before bathing:
- Play and have some fun with the pussycat. This way, you will be able to have all his confidence and that he feels very calm before putting him in the bathtub. In addition, it is likely that he takes the bath as one more game if you are patient, give him caresses and speak to him in an affectionate tone.
- By brushing or combing the cat, you will be able to distract it and not focus all its attention on the water, especially if you use a small amount of water.
- Try to move all the time with calm and smooth movements, speak to him in a pleasant and soft tone of voice, offer him a treat or treat (if he likes malt or catnip you can offer them), etc.
- A few hours before the bath, cut the tips of his nails or file them to avoid scratching you a lot once you have started bathing him.
- Also try giving your cat a massage before and during the bath.
- If he is still a puppy, try to accustom him to the baths so that he leaves more easily and when he is older he does not panic. To do this, you can usually play with it in the water, even with a small bowl, and without always using soap, only when you really have to wash it, the rest of the time they will help it get used to the water more easily and see it as something good or even a playtime.
How to bathe an aggressive cat or that is not allowed
To bathe an aggressive or very scary cat in water, patience will be your best ally. Before proceeding to the bath, you must have everything well prepared, soap, towels, a quiet environment, water at a suitable temperature, etc. Keep in mind that it is very important to choose the right shampoo. Not sure what soap to bathe a cat with? There are specific alternatives for felines, but if you cannot access them, bet on a neutral soap. Keep in mind that these animals have a very different pH than humans, so do not use the gel or shampoo that you use to bathe them. Otherwise, you can cause an infection on their skin or problems with their coat. Here we tell you more about the usual question: Can I bathe my cat with normal shampoo?
After having everything ready, at OneHOWTO we recommend that you follow these tips on how to bathe a cat that is not allowed:
- Close the bathroom so that the cat is not distracted by other noises or can escape.
- Place a mat or towel in the tub so it sits at the bottom of the water and doesn’t slip.
- Fill the bathtub little by little so that the cat does not get scared by the sound of the tap and make sure that the water temperature is warm.
- Use clothes that protect you from a possible scratch from the pussycat, thus preventing it from hurting you. Put on a sweatshirt or sweater with long sleeves, covering both arms.
- Don’t force the soap and water into contact with the cat. Slowly wet her body, either with your hands or a soft sponge.
- Rinse the soap with lukewarm water while stroking her body. Avoid rubbing the shampoo into the eye and ear area.
- To clean her face, she opts for a wet washcloth so that soap and water won’t get into her mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Gently dry your cat with a towel and, if noise is not scary, with the help of a dryer, but at a certain distance and at a normal temperature, not hot.
- Make sure that the whole process is as short as possible, finding a balance between calm movements and the time that the cat spends in this situation, so that the bath is efficient and effective, thus causing the least possible stress.
As alternatives to baths with soap and water, go for the wet wipe. There are also specific shampoos for cats suitable for dry bathing.
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