best way to give him a bath?
2006-09-01 03:53:31 · 26 answers · asked by jcfuqua 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Get a kitten-safe flea shampoo. (NOT a dog or adult cat shampoo)
Follow directions on bottle. Use warm water when bathing. When done towel off.
You may need to treat the home since fleas live a good % of their life off the host. The day you bathe him, also put down flea poweder in the carpet and treat any other dogs/cats.
Tip: trim his claws before the bath to prevent your from getting shredded
2006-09-01 03:56:38 · answer #1 · answered by Funchy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Obviously you have already selected a flea shampoo and treatment for your household.
I believe your concern lies in the claws and avoiding a traumatic experience.
As Funchy said, you can use nail clippers and just nip off the the point of the claw to dull the claw. This is harmless to the kitten and very effective, but remember just the tip.
The first experience for a kitten can be scary so be slow and gentle. Do not submerse their body in water as this can put them in to razor mode and there will be scratches.
I found the best way is to gently hold them by the nape of the neck (like their mother would carry them) and let their feet rest on the bottom of the basin. Use a cup or glass to wet the kitten slowly. Add the shampoo along there back and use your other hand to lather up the kitten. Of course follow the directions and warnings on the bottle. Remember make the bath as pleasant of an experience as possible because with getting rid of fleas you may doing this more than once and you want each time to be easier and more enjoyable for you and your kitten. When the kitten is older you can look into using flea control products such as frontline.
Good luck!
2006-09-01 04:18:55 · answer #2 · answered by whiskercreek 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi there...most over the counter flea shampoos contain types of organophosphate insecticides, such as phenothrin, which are suggested to cause seizures in some cats. For some reason the shampoo Pert PLUS is very effective in killing fleas and not harmful to cats/kittens. Damp a wash cloth to wipe the cat down rather than having to fully bathe the kitten and then rinse the cloth with water to rinse the kitten down. This works even better with Frontline or Advantage from the vet.
2006-09-01 09:14:11 · answer #3 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With an 8 week old kitten its really easy to bathe them and get them in the habit of having it done. MAKE SURE YOU USE A MILD FLEA SHAMPOO!! If its too harsh it could make the fur fall out! :(
I have used 2 methods to give my cat a bath. 1 if you have a sprayer on your kitchen sink, it is really easy to get the job done quick. Make sure to keep a firm hold on the cats chest, fingers around the shoulders keeping the front feet off the ground. This makes it nearly impossible for the cat to get away, and makes the process less traumatic.
If you do not have a sprayer on your sink I recommend using the tub. Hold the cat the same way, and use a plastic cup to wet and rinse.
Good Luck!
2006-09-01 06:43:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easiest and most effective way for you is to go to your vets and buy frontline plus for your kitten.You apply the liquid on the cats neck. In 24 hours all the fleas will be dead. It works for 1 full month. It also kills ticks. DO NOT !!!use any over the counter flea shampoo. Hartz is the worse. Many many cats and kittens become very ill and many die from these products.
Cats and kittens don't like baths so this method is best for you and the kitten.. If you must bathe the kitten just use dawn liquid dish detegent.
2006-09-01 04:11:02 · answer #5 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A bath is not going to help your kitten...the fleas and eggs around the house, in carpeting etc. will just jump right back on your cat...eggs will hatch out producing more fleas. A bath is only going to kill the fleas on him at the time and is only a temporatry solution. You need to treat the kitten with something like Advantage (8 weeks is old enough) that will keep killing the fleas and treat your house as well.
2006-09-01 12:07:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the bathroom sink. Run some luke-warm water that is pleasant to the touch (not too hot or cold). Add a little cat flea soap, make sure it's for cats and not dogs. Then calmly and slowly introduce the cat to the water so it will be a positive experience. Take a little water and start to slowly pour over the hind end. Then take your hand and wipe it around the ears and underneath the chin. DO NOT water in the ears and eyes and mouth. Rinse with clear water that is a good temp. Never hold the cat under a running faucet, that scares them. Have a clean towel ready to wrap them in, gently rub. Keep them in a sunny warm room for a little while to dry more. Don't let them get cold.
If you make their first bath a good experience, it will not be traumatic when you need to do it again.
2006-09-01 04:03:21 · answer #7 · answered by MadforMAC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Flea shampoos are not usually kitten safe. I would rub a bit of flea powder in its fur, under its bed & in most of your carpet. Making sure the flea powder is kitten safe. It is usually a safer poison.
Lavendar oil is a holistic way and is reputed to drive off fleas & prevent rashes.
If you really want to shampoo your cat, first carefully trim the claws. DO NOT use DAWN dishwashing liquid. While it might get rid of the fleas, it is too strong for your cat & may cause skin & fur problems.
After the kitten has calmed down, decide if the kitten will fit in the sink. If it will, set the water so it is flowing at a gental warm flow. Not loud, you don't want to overly stress the cat. rub a bit of shampoo in its fur and gently put it in the sink, gently talking to it. Pet it to rub in the shampoo. Rinse. Dry in a large fluffy towel. You need a second towel to dry it.
If it is to big to completely fit in the sink, get the bathtub water to be warm and gently flowing. Put on your bathing suit, as you're going to get wet (which will also prove to the cat it is not getting hurt). Put a bit of shampoo in its coat first. Carry it into the tub, not getting it wet yet. Set it on the floor, but don't let go. Hold it by the scruff as you back it into the water. Shampoo it in, rinse, squeegee it dry with your hands and dry it with 2 towels. Let it sulk then give it the kitty treat it wouldn't accept right after its bath.
2006-09-01 05:54:25 · answer #8 · answered by dinubabear 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way? Gently. The hardest part with a kitten is trying to keep a firm hold while not hurting the little booger. You may want to have one or two more people help you out. For our 12lb. male, my husband holds the scruff on the back of his neck to keep him from flailing all over the place while I wash and rinse. It's worked pretty well. A kitten wouldn't need much pressure in that area to keep it still. But be gentle, too. And good luck!
2006-09-01 05:57:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bath is a good place to start. Regular dish soap like Dawn will be fine. The soap doesn't kill the fleas, they drown and they will rush to the kitten's orfices -- eyes, mouth, ears, anus etc. to avoid being drowned. So that mean you will still have to do some combing two to three times a day for a while to get them all.
You don't want them to get started in your house, so be diligent about it. I believe from what I have read here that he will be old enough to give the Advantage treatment and you must check that out with the vet so that the dosage is right for the youngster. Don't do it with OTC stuff for this first time. You can kill him with that stuff.
2006-09-01 04:29:51 · answer #10 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋