What is the best way to bathe a cat without getting hurt int he process??

Question

her claws are sharp and i wanna keep them somewhat that way cause she is an outside cat... also can you answer me why she doesn't like to have her tummy rubbed... it's not a hard rub but she still doesn't like it... hmmm and she turns on her back .. i dunno .. i'm about ready for body armor... i don't' want to take her to a pet groomer but i'm about ready too.. I'd like to be able to do the bathing here as i don't have faith in a lot of pet groomers in this area

it's not that she is really extremely dirty it's i just want to giver her a flea and tick bath due to i live int he country side and don't really want to have ticks all over her.. every few months not a ritual type thing..

Answer 1

If you only want to bathe her because of a flea and tick problem I would just use a flea and tick repellent from your vet. There are several that you just squirt on their shoulder blades once a month, talk to your vet to figure out which would be best for your specific situation.

If you sill want to give her a bath, make sure you discuss the product you use with your vet before putting it on your cat. Most of the products sold in grocery/pet stores have histories of causing seizures and other serious medical problems in a disturbingly high percentage of cats, and I know four people personally who have cats which reacted to OTC flea products.

As for the process...I had enough trouble bathing ours when they were 3 weeks old and too sick to eat/walk (the neighbors heard the noise and though we were torturing them), I'm not trying anything on a healthy adult.

Answer 2

Well depending on how dirty she is you may get away with the clothes I use for my cat. They are called 3M Heavy Duty pet clothes..8 to a pkg and they smell good. I don't get clawed when giving her a bath this way. She still isn't fond of it because I also seem to be interrupting what ever it is she was doing-playing or running through the house like she is on crack..lol.. If she is really dirty, you can get a buddy system going on with one of your friends. It is a 2 person job to give a cat a full bath..lol...You could try to put some water in the tub and dunk her -minus her face and soap her up good then as the water is draining from the tub you could turn on the faucet and rinse her that way.It's not fool proof but it does work. Talk to her in a nice soft gentle tone if possible when giving her a bath so she don't think it's the end of the world as she knows it.lol..Good luck!

One more thing cats won't hate you b/c you gave them a bath. I've had several cats and they all still loved me afterwords. They will get mad at you for a little while but once they are dried and have calmed down it's all good. There motors start workng over time -think of it as major butt kissing from your cat after words..Mine just loves me up as if to say "Sorry mommy for being a brat.."..lol

Answer 3

You might want to start by trimming her claws. You can take just the tips off, and their claws grow back pretty quickly.

If possible, get someone to help you with the washing. One person holds her while the other does the washing. If you have to do it alone, try to get her by the scruff. This usally settles them out at least a little bit. Keep a firm hand there and keep firm pressure on her holding her down. If she stands up you will likely lose her and have to start over. It's not easy, but it can be done. Oh and if possible do this in a small room with nowhere to hide. If she gets away from you just keep bringing her back.

As for the belly rubs, some cats love that where as others are sensitive about their underside. (Even those that appear to be asking for a rub.) Best just to respect her wishes with that.

Oh and you didn't say why she needs a bath. Did she get into something particularly bad? Cats can usually clean off most of what they get into themselves.

Answer 4

Don't try to bathe the cat if you don't have to. Cat bites can be highly infective, so always put a muzzle on the cat (you can find them online and order one). I know someone that ended up in the hospital on IV's from one little cat bite.

If you are in the process and he starts to try to get away or bite, you can grab him by the scruff of the neck and hold him away from your body until you can put him down in a safe place. Don't forget to close the bathroom door so he can't run all over the house. Try to remain calm and talk to him in a nice voice. You might have a treat or two for him.

I read a tip once where you can put an old window screen in the tub and that gives the cat something to "latch" onto with it's claws. Wear a couple layers of long-sleeved shirts. Have the tub filled w/warm water first. Use a cup to rinse and never turn on the big faucet bc the noise will scare him. You don't need much kitty shampoo either, ortherwise it'll be difficult to rinse out.

If you have time to condition him to the idea of water first, try that without washing him - it's the best way.

I won't be giving our cat a bath bc I think he'd rip me to shreds!

Answer 5

Firstly, you don't have to submerge the cat in water unless it's filthy. Try wetting a face-cloth with warm water and rubbing the cat down from head to toe. If the cloth gets too dirty or furry, just rinse it out and soak it again and continue wiping down the cat. That'll help loosen dead fur and clean out any dirt. After you're done doing that, wipe the cat down with a dry towel and then brush or comb, depending on the hair length.

This method is less stressful for cats than running a bath and putting them into the water, which means it's less stressful for you.

If your cat is really filthy, it might be worth it to take her to a groomer, to get the majority of the dirt off, and then use the wet cloth method to keep her relatively clean.

A lot of cats don't like having their tummies rubbed. It's just a personal thing, like some dogs don't like having their ears touched, or some people don't like having their faces touched by strangers. Some cats will roll onto their back when they want you to play with them, because you go over to pet their bellies and they can attack you with all four paws and their mouth. Since she's an outside cat, she's probably a little wilder than a completely indoors cat would be.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Cat do not usually need to be bathed. They clean themselves...if it is ticks and fleas you are worried about, a bath is pretty much useless and as it usually does not kill all the fleas at the time and does nothing for flea eggs. The eggs will still hatch out, and any fleas or ticks outside and in the house will just jump right back on her as soon as the dip it dry. Use a long lasting flea and tick control like Frontline (or Advantage for fleas). Just apply once monthly and forget about the baths.

Answer 7

I suppose it depends on how feisty the cat is. I just hold my cat firmly with one hand on his chest and shoulders, and he stays, he cries and if I move my hand he'll jump out. If you have a cat that wants to attack you for it, good luck! My cat has his claws as well, and occasionally he would accidentally scratch me, though fortunately he hasn't had a need for a bath for a year now. Also shut the door to the bathroom (assuming you're using the tub). That way if she gets away from you you don't have a soapy wet cat tracking stuff all over the place.

Answer 8

I got my male cat when he was very young. He was all white so I knew that keeping him clean might be a task. Anyway I introduced him to water at a young age (turning on the sinks stuff like that) he absolutly loved playing in it. He gradually has gotten very fond of it (He is almost a year old) When you do the dishes you can barely keep him out of the sink, and he loves playing in the mist that comes off your shower. Instead of bathing him maybe turn on a kitchen sink (don't put a plug in it or anything just let it drain out) A lot of cats will put there paws in it and play. He may learn to love it!

Answer 9

Try using a waterless bath wash. I usually do this with my cat. You can buy a spray bottle of it at most Pet Stores.

I spray some of it onto my cat directly while holding him at my side, and then rub it in gently. Then I just take a dry paper towel wipe him down. After finishing the side he'll let me work on, I let him go and then try the other side about 5 minutes later.

Works like a charm for me!

Answer 10

I've had a few cat's over the last 20 some years and have never once given any of them a bath. I'm pretty sure they clean themselves on a daily basis. How does a cat get so dirty it needs abath?