Are you supposed to bathe your pet cat? How often?

Question

I know cats hate water; I have a new kitten and I dont know if I'm supposed to bathe her. How much?
And what are some tips/tricks to make it easier for the both of us?

Answer 1

Well, it depends on the cat! Not all cats hate water--some absolutely love it. The best way to find out if you can bathe your cat is to try, slowly. Put a little water in the sink and dip kitty's paw in. If she reacts REALLY negatively, then bathing wouldn't really be worth the trouble. If she just is a little upset or surprised, repeat this action from time to time until she builds up a tolerance--or even a liking--for the water. Then you can try slowly pouring lukewarm-to-warm water on her.

You shouldn't bathe her often. Cats are very clean animals. I would say once a month at the very most.

If your cat cannot tolerate water, there are options. One is a powder shampoo that you dust on and brush in. If nothing else, it makes her smell good. Another is to use a cat bathing wipe. They are like big baby wipes, and you just pet her using the wipe.

Or, you could always take her to the vet or groomer. That way, she doesn't really connect you with the bath (so she won't be as angry with you) and the bathing would be done by a professional.

Good luck!

Answer 2

There is NOTHING WRONG with giving a cat a bath.
Congratulations on starting early. If you start bathing a cat when it is a kitten, it will get used to the idea. Sure, it will never really enjoy it, but it will tolerate it.
Get a shampoo made for cats/kittens. Human shampoo is NOT good for cats or dogs because we have a different skin pH than they do.
Make it very quick at first. The kitchen or bathroom sink is usually easiest. Fill with an inch or two of lukewarm water. Place the kitty in the water and gently wet her all over, then take her out and dry her gently with a towel. You don't even need any shampoo at first. Do this at least every couple of weeks just to get kitty used to it. It will NOT hurt her in any way. Be careful not to get any water in her ears and eyes. Make it as easy an experience as you can. I bathe my adult cats once a month or so. Sure, they groom themselves, but they still get dirty! My floors aren't perfectly clean, and they sneak outside once in a while. A bath with the proper shampoo will NOT dry out their coat or skin.
This is also an excellent time to start trimming nails. There are trimmers made for cat nails, although truthfully I find that human nail trimmers work just fine if they are new and sharp. Just clip the very very ends off. If the kitten protests greatly, start slowly by just gently squeezing her toes, then work up to the actual trimming.

And these suggestions are for all kitten and cat owners! (And dog owners too, for that matter!) Way too often do we see pets come in to the clinic who don't allow their owners to touch their feet or bathe them or hardly do anything to them at all. This is ridiculous. Many times we are asked to do a nail trim while a cat or dog is under anesthesia. There is no reason for this, unless of course there is a medical condition where the feet are painful. Otherwise: start early, start slowly, be gentle and kind, and your pet should allow you to do anything to it!

Answer 3

Most of the time if you start bathing a kitten they will be use to a bath when they get older and will just sit there. I would put a little water in the bottom of the kitchen sink or tub and do it that way so the sound of the water running does not scare them. If they tend to squirm, hold them with your hand on the back of their neck. This will also keep them from bitting or clawing. I would only bathe a cat every three wks or once a month unless they are long haired I suggest getting them groomed so the can trim the hair to help keep from hairballs and such. Cats generaly do a fair job of giving themselves "wash-ups". Also there is a Powder type shampoo in the cat isle at the store, its called "dry shampoo", that may be easier.

Answer 4

I bathed my kitten when i first got her. She was infested with fleas, so we bathed her in a flea shampoo to help get some of the dirt off of her. She is probably going to hate it, but will feel better afterward. Just make sure you use warm water (not too hot or too cold) and a shampoo that is safe for your kitten. And other than an initial bath, you don't really have to bath cats, they are very clean animals and groom themselves. I have never had to bath any of my cats. But there is a cat at the clinic where i work that is too fat to reach around and clean his bottom, so we do it for him. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Most cats do not like to be bathed, and it is not really nccessary But if you need to "bathe" them due to fleas or they have gotten into something, here are a couple reccommendations:

For fleas: there is a flea "mousse" that can be used. It comes in a can that look like regular hair mousse, but you use a big puff of it on your hands (wear rubber gloves) and rub it thru the fur

For grime/dirt: there are wipes (sort of like baby wipes) that can be used to rub the cat down with...much easier than a bath, but may need to use several wipes to get the job done..

Answer 6

Some cats will NEVER take a bath. Actually most won't. I tried to give my two cats a bath about 1 month ago...the kitten was easier than the adult (3 years old). I will NEVER give the adult a bath again. Much too strong and very adverse to water. The kitten is manageable, but smaller.

Both tried to scratch us (cut their claws before you bathe) and both were successful at biting us.

So my advice:
- yes, bathe your kitten. Get her/him used to it at an early age. Then you can bathe for life. They don't need baths often, but every once in a blue moon isn't a bad idea.
- cut their claws before bathing.
- always do with two adults...one to control and hold...the other to wash.

Answer 7

There is usually no need to bathe your cat, especially if she doesn't like water. Mine loves water and will jump in the shower with me; yeah, she's crazy. But being a kitten she may like water if you get her used to it. Let her play with it, see how she reacts to it. And always use pet shampoo, which is more gentle for your cat.

Answer 8

Ya. She is a kitten so starting to bathe early might make her like water. You have to make it fun and give her lots of comfort and love. A trick is to hold the sides of her so gets comfort. Not only that but you and your cat will stay safe.Bathing once a month should be fine. Good Luck :)

Answer 9

Cats are perfect self cleaning pets. They don't typically need bathing unless they have fleas or have gotten into something. Spare yourself and your kitten the trouble, don't bathe her unless it is necessary. It's not exactly a "bonding moment".

Answer 10

listen to the vet tech. She got it right on. There is a contraption I purchased at the pet store for dogs. It has suction cups that attach to the side of the tub and you put a harness around the cat. It saves alot of fighting, the cat will run if it gets a chance.