How do they react?
2006-10-15 06:52:34 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Man...LOL. I tried that when I was a little kid.
Dont do it. Let the vet or groomer do it. I almost found myself in the emergency room LOL (yes there was blood).
2006-10-15 06:54:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I give my four cats a bath once a month before I put on their spot-on flea treatment.
I have always bathed my cats and never had a problem. Of course, it does help to start when they are kittens.
I personally believe that you should be able to do anything to your pet. I can clip my cat's claws, check their mouths, ears, whatever I need to do. Same thing with my dogs. They trust me and know that I would never hurt them.
In fact after I bathe my cats, they do avoid me for about an hour. But once they get themselves dried off, they are back seeking affection and treats.
Another thing--contrary to some beliefs, bathing your cats (or dogs) will not damage their skin or coat in any way. Sure, if you were bathing them every day they would develop very dry skin/coats, but as long as you bathe them every few weeks there shouldn't be a problem. Use a mild shampoo designed for cats. Also BioGuard is a very good mild shampoo that is gentle and won't wash out topical flea treatments. Baby shampoo works just fine too and is the cheapest alternative.
If you want to bathe your cat but have never done it, start small. Just wipe them with a wet washcloth and dry them off, then give them a treat. Once they realize that's okay, pop them in the sink with just an inch of water. Use the cloth, dry them off, give them a treat. Work your way up to a full bath. If you really get a fight on your hands, either scruff them (gently grasp the scruff of their neck) and firmly say 'no!' with a gentle shake and then let them go on YOUR terms (after they have calmed down a bit--just hold them for a couple seconds and when they start to relax then let them go). Or just let go and stand back and let them go. But then you have to rinse if they are running around with soap on them! So it is better in my opinion, to hang on to them unless they are starting to bite, which is unacceptable behavior in my opinion, but then some are set in their ways!
Good luck!
2006-10-15 14:29:22 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I give my cat a flea bath each spring about April or May and again around August or September. I put a 5 gallon bucket under the spigot in the bathtub and mix the flea treatment with warm water.
I put on rubber gloves because of instructions on the flea bath
bottle. Once I catch my cat, as soon as she sees I have rubber gloves on she tries to hide, and she growls and hisses a bit until I sit her down into the bucket of water. I hold her around the neck and shoulders lightly with one hand while I wash her with the other one. She doesn't fight too much once she's in the water. I lay her towel on the floor next to the tub so I can lay her on it and dry her after the bath. She usually avoids me for a couple days afterwards but after that she's her usual self.
2006-10-15 14:13:07 · answer #3 · answered by one eye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had several cats and never needed to give them a bath. My current baby likes water and I could probably have bathed her over the years. But she keeps herself very clean and smells like a stuffed animal. Of course, she is an indoor cat.
2006-10-15 14:04:09 · answer #4 · answered by loveycat1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I suppose if your cat agrees to it, then it is probably OK. I guess you would probably have to start this habit when he is a kitten, because an adult cat will never put up with it. Is it beneficial to the cat? I'm not sure. I groom my cats to get rid of excess hair and skin particles and, of course, they do their own grooming. Actually, I can't see any benefit of giving them a bath at all. I have kept all my pets "au natural"...i.e., if they don't do it themselves, then who am I to mess with Mother Nature? I use a fine-wire brush and they love getting groomed. You can also try those pet gloves (I've never tried one) that have a built-in brush on the palm. I guess, if I were a cat, I wouldn't like the taste of shampoo on my hair if I licked myself. So, I am casting my vote as NO...don't shampoo your cat. Just groom him a lot.
2006-10-15 14:37:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate giving cats baths, but again sometimes they need it. Where I work, we give cat baths all the time. They dont like it much, but it is done.
2006-10-15 14:26:04 · answer #6 · answered by daisygirltn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bathe my cats every 3 months or so. I started when they where kittens, so they are use to the water. My husband is allergic to the cats so I have to keep them clean. My big cat George(18lbs) gets really nervous and needs his nails trimed before I bathe him. My other cat just lays all limp when you hold him so he just tolerates it. I do think they enjoy the towling off and brushing after the bath the best!
2006-10-15 13:56:37 · answer #7 · answered by pharfly1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be VERY careful. Cats are unpredictable. If they flip out, there is no way to calm them down to continue the bath. Some will allow it and some wont. Few people will mention this but, cat bites can be toxic. If you get bitten get medical help.
2006-10-15 14:09:40 · answer #8 · answered by groomingdiva_pgh 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless your cat gets into something nasty or gets sprayed by a skunk or something there's no reason to bathe your cat. Cats groom themselves. Ask your vet.
Most cats HATE to be bathed and it will be traumatic and potentially dangerous for you both.
2006-10-15 15:21:24 · answer #9 · answered by tharnpfeffa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm terrified of getting scratched up, I would never bathe a cat.
2006-10-15 13:59:50 · answer #10 · answered by xChicken 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1, Loud complaining
2. Screaming
3. Frantic attempts to escape
4. Hissing
5. Scratching
Oh wait, that is ME trying to give them a bath.
We don't give our cats a bath... just not worth it!
2006-10-15 13:55:14 · answer #11 · answered by Harvie Ruth 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋