taking a cat a bath?

Question

We have this cat and he's is a outdoor cat because he is a stray. and i wanted to take him a bath so he can be inside but when i tried to stick him in the bath tub he went crazy and scratched me a couple of good times. So i just left him alone. Can you help me get him to take a bath so he doesn't hurt me agian?

Answer 1

it wont happen with this cat

Answer 2

Well, there are some dissenting views on this issue but in general there is usually no reason to bathe your cat especially a shorthaired indoor cat. Cats spend a large percentage of their days grooming themselves and they are experts at it. Using their barbed tongues they lick dirt and debris off their fur in order to keep it clean and odor free. Cats with long hair may require the occasional bath if their fur gets too oily. Their fur can get too oily based on climate conditions and the individual skin of the cat. There are also occasional times when your cat's fur may get excessively dirty due to some mishap that the cat has gotten itself into. In some of these cases it may be necessary to give your cat a bath.

You should know right off the bat that almost all cats hate baths, so be prepared. Here are some tips to make the experience easier:

Cat baths are smoother when 2 people are bathing the cat. One holds the cat while the other bathes the cat. Bathing the cat should be done in the bathroom where you can close the door to prevent escapes. Noise (like rushing bath water) is always an issue for the cat so anything to keep the noise level down will help.

Preparation is everything - Run the bath water BEFORE you put the cat
in the bath and make sure the water is not too hot and not too cold. The height of the water should reach the cat's underbelly.

A rubber bathmat placed in the tub will give the cat something to grip when it gets nervous and is a good idea.

Use a cat shampoo recommended by your vet, groomer or other qualified pet professional.

Do NOT wet the cat's head. Instead use a moist washcloth or towelette if the cat's face and head are dirty. GENTLY wet the cat from neck to bum using a cup or small pail with the bath water itself and start shampooing at the neck and move toward the bum. Then wash the legs.

Meowing and yowling at this point are normal unless your cat is mute,
in a coma, or practically dead. Just continue rubbing in the suds gently. Don't use too much shampoo.

The rinsing is the most important part as shampoo left on a cat's skin will make your cat scratch itself thereby irritating its skin. Start draining the bath water. While it is draining, start rinsing the cat's fur with the remaining bath water using cup or small pail. This gets the 'big suds' off. Use or buy a cheap shower attachment for this next part. With warm water from the shower attachment, rinse and rub the fur well from neck to bum. Once you think it's clean do it again quickly making sure there is no shampoo residue.

While in the tub put a towel all around kitty and start gently rubbing
all around its body. It must be a gentle rub or pat down because especially in a longhaired cat, you don't want the rubbing to create new knots. Remove kitty from the tub and use another towel to further absorb water from the fur.

If you have a hair dryer that does NOT make too much noise you can try rubbing the fur while blow drying. Make sure that if your cat is NOT completely dry that you put it in a WARM room so that it does not catch a chill and get sick. This CAN happen easily.
Note: It is 100% normal for the cat to start licking its fur immediately after you've finished all your hard work.

There are many other creative techniques for bathing cats. Another one that makes good sense is the shallow buckets technique. Buy 5 cheap shallow buckets. Fill them all so the height reaches the cat's underbelly. Put the cat in the first bucket and start shampooing - The next 4 buckets are rinsing buckets
where using your hands you rinse the suds off kitty as you transfer the lucky feline from bucket to bucket. Make sure all the suds have been removed and dry the cat well.

Other good cat bathing tips from cat owners can be found on our bulletin board from the following links.
http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=16518
http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=14930

Answer 3

I give my cats baths all the time. Here's what ya do. First of all, have a second person hold him so you can trim his claws (you can buy cat claw trimmers for like five bucks at wal mart). Once you've done that, run the water in your sink, if it's large enough, and make sure it's warm, but not hot. Have the second person hold the cat around his shoulders. Don't hurt him, but be sure to keep a steady, good grip on them. This will help control his legs (and claws) and keep him from jumping up. While he's being held, quickly wet him down and then suds him up with a kitty shampoo (or mild human shampoo if you don't have any for cats). Since he's an outside cat, be sure to thoroughly scrub his belly, butt, tail, feet, and back. Get all the dirt and potential bugs off him. Then, rinse him off. You'll need to thoroughly rinse him so the soap doesn't dry his skin out and so he doesn't like the remaining soap off later. After he's rinsed, quickly grab a towel and have the second person place him in the towel, watching for the back claws. Wrap him up so the towel will absorb the majority of the water, then place him on the floor. If you can, scrub really well with the towel to get the rest of the water. He'll probably howl during the bath and get huge eyes. He may hiss and claw and struggle, but if you are firm, and speak to him in a soft, low voice, you should be able to do this without too much damage to yourself or the cat. He'll glare at you the rest of the night and probably hide under the couch or bed, but once he's dry and warm, he'll be back to normal. PS, I suggest the sink because the it's a smaller area and you can more easily control the cat. Don't fill it with water, just let it run freely from the faucet. Otherwise, you'll have a huge mess to clean up afterwards. GOOD LUCK!!! It's not easy, and he won't like it, but just think how soft and sweet smelling he'll be when you're done!

Answer 4

Well, I have three cats, the first two don't like it, but will tolerate baths where as the third, who was a stray, despises it. There is a trick that my vet suggested when we first adopted him, try putting a mesh screen in the bottom of what ever you are bathing it in. Also, don't have the water running while the cat's near it. The sound of running water puts them on edge. Trim the cat's claws first and gently place them in the water (no more the 4-5 inches). They should relax a bit. Don't forget to talk to them the entire time. If the cat trusts you, the sound of your voice should help it.
good luck!
P.S. It is always a good idea to have a towel or two close just in case it gets away, throw the towel over it. That will disorient it, and keep its claws away from you.

Answer 5

Well you could get someone to help you hold the cat. Try wearing gloves, the rubber kind for the one who is holding the cat down. Try to do it fast but make sure you rinse really well, the cat WILL get sick if it licks soap!

Be gentle and patient!

Close the bathroom door so it can't get out.

Or you could take it to a groomer and they can do it for you. But CALL ahead and make sure they bathe cats and get an appoitment when they are not busy so the cat is not to scared. and pick up the cat as soon as it is done, do not leave the poor kitty there all day it will be so scared! Try a vet that has grooming that would be the best!

Answer 6

numerous pple will say cats do no longer choose baths yet from time to time they DO!!!! they actually hate it tho. make valuable u have each thing u choose suitable next to the tub earlier u fetch ur cat. Get and previous washer-friendly towel and place it over the tub to grant the cat something to hold close to to if he needs it. additionally would desire to be a good concept to apply a bathtub mat or something so the cat does not slip around (it rather is for sure assuming ur washing it in a shower). earlier doing something watch for a 2nd or 2 so the cat can get used to the thought u no longer gonna kill him or harm him. moist the cat, provide him a take care of. Then wash him with CAT SHAMPOO and not canines shampoo or ur very own. provide him a take care of. Rinse him. provide him a take care of. make valuable u rinse fairly fairly nicely because of the fact the shampoo would desire to reason a pores and skin inflammation. The water could be luke heat so it does not burn or freeze the cat. you will get scratched. Be arranged.

Answer 7

You can't force a cat to take a wet bath, but you can give him a dry bath. There are some dry use shampoos for cats that a cat doesn't have issues with.

Answer 8

I wouldn't put my cat in a bath with claws either...but sometimes they can get real dirty outside..mine is white, and he can't lick the top of his head so...yeah..sometimes, ya need to clean them...you can either buy a dry comb in shampoo or do what i do, i put a little bit of johnsons baby bath in a squirt bottle, and mist him with it, they don't like the mist, but if you get a flea comb..(works better than a cat brush) after they settle down, they will love you combing it through, afterwards, towels dry him and he'll be good to go! He'll love you for it too!

Answer 9

When I worked in a grooming shop and someone would bring a rather high-strung cat in to be groomed they would get their vet to very lightly sedate the cat. You may want to consider taking the cat to the vets to be bathed or to a good groomer.

Answer 10

I wouldn't suggest giving him a bath..He will scratch you even worse. I have a kitty who has never had a bath..i tried to give him one..and he tore me up really bad..(this was a couple of years ago) i never tried again.

They sell a powder at wal mart that is good for kitties that don't take baths. you just sprinkle it on kitty and brush him

Good luck!

Answer 11

i dont think it is possible to make a cat take a bath unless it likes the water like my cat. but the only way i think you could make it is rather mean but will work tie its feet or hold them and just put little water in the tube or shower. dont put it in deep water becuase it will freak out so just use like a sink or shower like i said and just a little water and that should do the trick.