Should you bathe a cat?

Question

I hear different opinions on this. You shouldn't because they clean themselves and you should to help with allergies. Hopefully someone with a lot of cat experience can answer this. (He is an inside cat)

Answer 1

My two oldest cats are 12 and 11 years old and they never took a bath! They are also indoor cats. They wash themselves all the time and they smell nice! I don't think it is necessary to bathe them, they keep themselves very clean!!

Answer 2

I have two cats that stay inside the only time I give them a bath when they start smelling or they get some fleas but other then that thats the only time I would give a cat a bath. Even though cats clean themselfs that's the biggest reason why people with allergies give their cats a bath because like some people cats get dandruff and that cause alergies problems for the people I hope this helps but that all I know bye and thanks for taking ur time to read this

Answer 3

I have a lot of cat experience, and you should never bathe a cat unless he gets into something toxic that you must remove from his fur (toxic powder, paint, etc.). Or if the cat is a kitten and has not learned to bathe himself, a little bath will do him good. Getting wet will stimulate him to start grooming himself. Another time for a bath is if a skunk sprays the cat. No, tomato juice is not the remedy (that's an old wives' tale), but a bath of water, hydrogen peroxide, soap and lemon juice... takes the smell away instantly. If there is a severe flea infestation, a flea bath is in order. But other than these scenarios, a bath is not appropriate or needed for a cat. They groom themselves expertly, never smell, and allergy problems in humans will not be lessened by bathing the cat. Bathing a cat can cause the cat's skin to get overly dry and crack, causing kitty pain and discomfort.

Answer 4

Only if it's really necessary and you're reeeealllly brave. Some allergies can be helped by a thorough brushing of the cat. Get a good brush or two and use them regularly. Most cats love being brushed. I saw a photo of one who loved being vacuumed, but I'm guessing that's rare. Some cats don't mind water -- too much -- and may enjoy a bath. Be sure the water is close to the cat's body temperature so it's comfortable for him. None of my cats ever liked being bathed, so we didn't. I controlled my allergies by keeping the cats well-brushed.

Answer 5

I am of the opinion that a cat should be bathed regularly. It is true that they lick themselves, but this does not get rid of the abundance of oils that accumulate over the cat's fur over the months. Also, their mouths are full of bacteria that transfers to their fur when they lick.

Cats do not need to be bathed every day like humans do. Once a month is a good idea. Since most cats hate water and will attempt to slice your skin to ribbons (one of mine would take his razor sharp claws and stick them right into the artery on the inside of my elbow! Ouch!) it may be a good idea to get some cat bath wipes at a pet supply store or Wal-Mart. They have a soap on them that dissolves as it dries, so there is no need for water. I use such wipes on my 10 cats every month and it keeps their fur soft and clean. (It also keeps my bathroom floor dry and the cats' claws out of my arteries.)

Answer 6

The only time I have bathed my cat is after her rolled around in a dead mouse and he absolutely hated me. In your situation because you have an inside cat I would not bother giving him a bath because cats bathe themselves but if you have really bad allergies you may need to give it a bath. Maybe take an ole towel and get a bowl of water and dampen his fur. Good luck

Answer 7

For an inside cat, I found that just simply spot cleaning; such as paws, mouth, etc. is sufficient. I use the wipe(no bath wipe from pet smart), I have found they do a good job and don't stress out the cat.

Answer 8

If the cat is healthy and has no difficulty grooming itself, and hasn't gotten into anything, why go through the trouble?

After all, the cat bathes more times a day than any sane person.

Answer 9

Unless a cat is having a skin or flea problem, you do not have to bathe a cat. You are right in that they clean themselves and it is not necessary.

Answer 10

I wold recommend it, yes cats cleant themselves, but there are lots of things thata cat cant clean and need help. Even for an inside cat, tey can get fleas or other bugs and regualr bathing wil help reduce diseases and make your house cleaner. It can help reduce the amount of hair balls that the cats may have if you bath them regualr and brush them.