Is it safe to give a cat a bath?

Question

I have an indoor cat who craves the outdoors. So every once in a while I let him out(under my supervison because i am very concerned about him interacting with stray cats) for a few hours. well he has a huge habit of crawling in the dirt and grass. so i worry about him getting fleas and ticks. i havnt gotten him a flea collar yet. but instead i've been giving him baths. my boyfriend told me that you shouldnt give a cat a bath because it wont dry right and could cause mold. leading to hair loss. Is this true? Usually I wouldnt believe him because he has never owned a cat and therefore to me doesnt know much about them. but i love my cat so i took my boyfriends words into consideration.

Answer 1

Yes,you can bathe cats but you really should have long thick gloves and definitely make sure the cat gets dried completely before letting it run around.

Answer 2

Ok, first, get the cat something for fleas and ticks. You are endangering the life of your cat by letting it out without the proper safety precautions. Even though the cat is not near strays it can still get some diseases, cats can get Lyme disease, so be careful.
As far as giving a cat a bath, not a problem, they do have cat shampoo, which is what you should be using, not your shampoo and you will be fine. For awhile I owned a company that made shampoos and conditioners for cats, dogs and horses, so i know what I am tallking about. The cat is not going to get mold or lose hair if you wash it. Just don't do it too often, cats hate water.

Answer 3

Good question, there are rumors of course that it's not safe, but they aren't true!! Why not get your cat a harness and leash? That way you can keep it under control outside. Even if not, you can bath the cat but it's quite the pain in the butt. They usually don't like it and put up a fuss. There are waterless washing cloths for cats that are excellent! Go to a pet store and find some that are good for your cats coat (moisturizing or extra cleaning etc.) They take a few minutes to wipe your cat down with and have the same effect as bathing them. Good luck!

Answer 4

Bathing any animal too often can lead to drying out their skin and removing the essential oils from their coats, but it is not unsafe to give a cat a bath. They will dry themselves and it will not cause mold in their fur. Make sure you use a pet safe shampoo, as human shampoos do not have the proper pH balance and can cause skin problems.
I bottle raised a kitten and gave her baths frequently before she learned to eat on her own because she was a messy eater. As a result, she is very fond of water and will jump in the shower with you if the door is not closed tightly. She has a very soft coat and is perfectly healthy.

Answer 5

I have a cat too and she takes her bath regularly. Like every 20 days. How hard it will be, depends if you've bathed your cat since it was a kitten, so i will be used tto it. Don't think it will love it, but at least it won't be like in the movies, where you see cats getting mad and scratching things. The water should be warm and use a gentle shampoo. I tried to use dog shampoo but it has a very disgusting smell and the hair started to fall, besides my cat didn't like he smell. Now I use shampoo for people's hair and the problem stopped. I let my cat air dry, I don' like to use a hair dryer because I don't want to cause any involuntary burn on her scalp. They usually dry in a couple of hours and they get very sleepy after that.

Answer 6

It's safe for the cat. (Maybe not for you, if he's got nails) But do make sure you do dry him right. Think about humans: Do we grow mold after we get out of the shower? Yes, we don't have as much hair as a cat, but the same rule applies. Unless you have a himalayan. Their fur is so light, it tends to take forever to dry, and in that case you're boyfriend might be right about mold. BUt for most cats, it should be fine.

Answer 7

It's not mold you should worry about...If the cat goes outside while wet it could get a bad upper respiratory infection. Baths won't get rid of fleas and many over the counter flea products are ineffective or can cause reactions. It is best to buy to fork over the money at PetSmart for Frontline to get rid of fleas.

Answer 8

yes. you can give baths. make sure the water is at the right temp and you are prepared for the scratching and clawing. they have shampoos for dry skin. lightly in cool/warm setting blow dryer dry the cat if you are worried if the water will not dry. OR take a slicker brush and this should take out any excess water that is in the coat.

your bf is incorrect. cats are clean animals. they would never get mold unless they decided to roll in the stuff.

my fiance and i have bathed both of our cats, one had claws the other didnt. surprisingly enough the one that had the claws enjoyed it. she is also a long haired large female.

Answer 9

If you have a cat that you call an indoor cat he should never be let outside for a moment, they will get fleas and other diseases , my cat is the same way, but i will not let her paws touch the ground other outdoor cats are roaming around and are dropping feces everywhere they will only live a short time but if you make her stay inside 15 to 20 years i possible. outdoor cats die so fast, leave her inside it may be a little tough on her but she will get accustomed to it and will be around a lot longer.

Answer 10

Well, I know your cat wants to go outside and play in the sun, but let me say first off that you dont want him to think its ok to start bad habbits. As far as washing your cat its safer for him than you!!!! A little soap and water does not hurt a cat as a matter of fact people take their cats to the groomers all the time. Your kitty is the one with the claws and teeth and may tell you that he is not interested in the bath, but if he is good for you wash away. A clean kitty is a happy kitty (when he dries that is).