can i give my cat a bath and if i can how do i goes about doing it?

Answer 1

Of course you can! I started bathing my kitties when they were just babies and now they are the cleanest cats I know.

First of all, use sensitive skin cat shampoo or human baby shampoo. Other hair shampoos are to harsh for their skin. I use baby shampoo for ours and even then I dilute it a little bit.

My cats love baths and always play in the shower when I'm in there. So they get shampooed about once every week to 10 days. They love it, purr the whole time. But it's only the shower that they like, if I have a sink full of water and try to stick them in it....bad things happen.

So I would suggest getting one of those shower heads with the hose on it for starters. Then if your cat isn't used to being bathed, you're probably going to need one person to just hold the cat and another to do the shampooing part of things. Then a nice warm fluffy towel to wrap them in when they're done. My oldest likes to sit in front of a heater or lie down on the kitchen floor at the base of the fridge where the warm air comes out, while my kitten prefers the blow dryer after the towel drying is over.

Or you can always take it to a groomer. It costs more, but they're used to the wiggling and freaking out. Let them deal with the stress :-)

I think it's going to be a lot of trial and error for you, until the cat gets used to it. You might even want to try just getting parts of the cat wet without shampooing for awhile and gradually work up to the whole cat being wet at once. Try a paw one day then the whole leg the next day, and so on until the whole cat is wet, then introduce the shampoo.

Once they realize that they aren't going to get out of it by fussing, they should relent and let you bathe them. Once you get them to a point where you can safely bathe them it is important to keep up with a schedule though or else you'll have to start all over again.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Ideally, start when they are kittens. I have four cats, all of whom get a bath once a month. Regardless of how well a cat cleans itself, they still get dirty and funky and if I have an animal sleeping on my bed, I want to make sure it is clean!
Two of my cats I have had since kittenhood. I started with about an inch of lukewarm water in the kitchen sink and a washcloth, and I don't even bother with shampoo at this point. Just gently rub the cat with the wet cloth and then dry them with a soft, warm towel. That's the part I think they all really hate! If they are young kittens make sure they have a warm place to stay with no drafts until they are completely dry. Older cats won't have a problem unless the house is cold, so turn on a heater for them if it is.
After a few quick water-only baths, the kittens are a little more used to the routine and I add a very small dollop of kitten-safe shampoo. NEVER use any dog product on a cat! Rinse thoroughly making sure the water is lukewarm--it should feel about the same temperature as your wrist. Dry the kitty well in a towel.
Give them a yummy treat after this ordeal (although they may not want anything to do with you for a while) and that may take some of the indignity away.
This same procedure works pretty well for adult cats. My other two cats I adopted from tech school, and they went through the same 'training' procedure. It's much harder to bathe them, though, so anyone who has a kitten--start now!
Same thing for nail trims, etc. We have to trim almost every cat's nails that comes into our clinic because the owners can't do it. I'm nobody special, but I can do anything to my cats. I started by bathing them, trimming their nails, and touching and looking at their ears, mouths, etc. when they were little. Now they trust me and know I won't hurt them and that they have to let me open their mouths or whatever. There's no reason that anyone else can't have a cat with the same disposition. (if you have a cat you can't touch don't feel bad--I don't mean to insult anyone)
But it is much easier to start when they are kittens!

Answer 3

Its always best to start giving your cat a bath when its a kitten. Thats when I gave my cats a bath. But if your cat isn't a kitten anymore, the best thing to do is make sure your cats claws are clipped so you won't be clawed during the bath. You can bathe them in the sink, I bathe my cats in my bath tub. Make sure the water is warm. I use the non tear cat shampoo. Make sure to double check the shampoo is really rinsed. When you're done washing your cat, have 2 towels ready. One for soaking up the water from your cat, and the other one to keep the cat warm. If you don't feel comfortable giving your cat a bath alone, have a friend or someone there to help you out. Also when you are giving your cat a bath, grab onto the scruff of its neck so it won't be going anywhere. Your cat might not like the water so it will want to escape. Grabbing onto the scruff of the neck on the back will help you control your cat. Be firm but kind. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Yes, it is possible to bathe a kitty. But most times it is not needed. Which is well: Many cats don't like baths and will fight them tooth and claw.

For a while when I brought home my two littlest ones, I had to bathe all three of them trying to get rid of fleas. The important thing is to remain calm. The second most important is to keep the clawing to a minimum.

What I would do is get all the cats in the bathroom then close the door so they couldn't run away. Then I would run warm (not hot) water and get in the tub with them so I could hold them more easily. And I used a plastic cup to rinse them off.

Answer 5

Is there a particular reason you want to give your cat a bath? I gave my cat a bath in the kitchen sink last week because of his excessive spring shedding. I used some brand of cat conditioning shampoo & a really great but pricey conditioner that loosens that under fur. I think its called FURRMINATOR. Anyway I got it from petsmart. My cat HATED the bath and kept trying to get away. I had to hold him with one hand & do everything else with the other hand. I'm not doing this again til next spring. My cat also got sick recently & med. is causing diarreah--oooh yuk--- but I am using cat wipes instead of going through this cat bath thing again. You can get cat bath wipes from any pet store. MUCH EASIER than an actual bath!

Answer 6

I always bathe my cats in the bathtub because there's more room for thrashing about, etc. Make sure the water's just the right temperature and fill it high enough so you can rinse them in the bathwater. Don't use a sprayer, that scares the heck out of them.
Your cat probably won't like a bath, but he'll get over it.

Answer 7

OPTION 1: Fill the bathtub most of the way full of water and soap. Lay all the towels you own on the bathroom floor. Lure the cat in the room and shut the door. Pick up the cat gently and dip the tail end into the water. When it starts to fight and flail around drop it in the water. When it manages to climb out kick it back in. Repeat over and over again until dirt and debris is sufficently removed. When satisfied with the cleanliness of your feline let it climb all the way out and roll it in all the towels on the floor. You could attempt to comb it but rest assured you cat will never want to speak to you again.

OPTION 2: Sanitize the bowl of your toilet. Refill it up with water and soap. Also put some soap in the tank of your toilet. Catch your kitty and deposit it into the bowl of your toilet. Quickly shut the lid. Sit on the lid of the toilet and flush. Repeat flushing until dirt and debris is suffiently removed. Put your hand on the lid and step as far away from the toilet as you can. As soon as you release your hand you cat will get out and run under the bed. Do not worry if you don't see it for weeks.

Good luck.
BTW these are tried and true methods. No Joke.

Answer 8

I would suggest starting your cat with baths as a kitten, because cats dont really like water unless they are used to it. Cats are clean animals though, so you shouldn't need to give your cat a bath all that much. I dont give my cat a bath anymore because he hates water and he really doesn't need one.

Answer 9

A sink would be good because it gives the cat not alot of room to run away. Cats don't really like water. It's very rare that they do. Make sure the water is luke warm and not too cold or too hot. Use shampoo (dont get it in their eyes, nose, or mouth) Then use conditioner and towel dry. =)

Good luck

-Heather
www.myspace.com/heather126

Answer 10

Cats do not need to be bathed regularly like dogs...they clean themselves. If they get into something oily or sticky that they cannot handle themselves...this is the ONLY time I would suggest bathing a cat. They usually hate water and you and your cat will both be stressed and you will probably get clawed as well. Best to let them clean themselves as nature intended.