the first day i got them they were packed with loads of fleas so i automaticly got some regular shampoo not cat shampoo andturn on the warm water and as soon as the cats saw the water they started scracthing me they started making wierd noises and i got surprised when that happen...i started washing them and alot but alot of fleas came out and the cats started to have some panic attacks like if they were going to get a heart attack... there heart pump level increased really fast ....i took them off the water and dried them with a towel...i noticed there scared odf water another thing i notice there afraid of water and that i don't know which one could be the cause .....should i shower them ? or should i let them clean themselves with there toungue...are they not soppossed to not take showers...
2007-07-18 12:49:12 · 14 answers · asked by toolboxkeeper 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Honestly, i have no idea. I think it would be best to take the cats to a vet, or call a vet, so that you know that what you are doing is right for your cats..
Best of Luck
2007-07-18 12:53:39 · answer #1 · answered by Silly-Oversensative-Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a veterinary Nurse and washing cats comes with the job. To answer your question cats will not die if you give them a shower. Use mild shampoo, stay away from human products and over the counter flea remedies.
If the flea problem is overtaking your house, since you do have 4 cats. It would be a smart idea to get all of your cats treated at the vet. The vet can administer a pill called "capstar" that will kill all the fleas on your cats in a matter of a day, and continue following monthly with a flea medicine (Advantage/Frontline)
If you do choose to give a bath yourself, do not do it in an actual shower if you do not have a shower head that can be hand held. Make sure that the water is luke warm, hot water will irritate your cat's skin. Cats will get aggressive because they aren't water dwelling creatures so be prepared for their claws (as a precaution trim nails before) When getting the cat wet and while rinsing your cat make sure you DONT GET WATER IN EAR, gently fold your cats ears down...water in ears can cause ear infections. And once the ordeal is over, towel dry him/her promptly.
2007-07-18 20:07:10 · answer #2 · answered by TCrain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh dear! Cats are normally scared of water, but reactions like that might mean they were abused or threatened with water before you got them. The best thing you can do without water is to buy them flea collars, and get some Frontline right away! It's expensive but it sure does the trick every time! You can order it more inexpensively over the internet at sites like petcarerx.com or 1800petmeds.com. If you really want to bathe them, get Flea shampoo, not regular shampoo, get a bucket full of warm water and bathe them outside dipping a soft brush in the bucket. If they fuss, just keep going. You won't be hurting them and you need to get the fleas off them before they take over the house!
Hurry and good luck!
2007-07-18 19:56:22 · answer #3 · answered by Abbey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a Siamese cat that loves a warm shower. I use regular feline shampoo and as long as I'm washing her, she will stand like a statue. I had another cat a few years ago that always wanted to jump in the water when I ran my bath. It may depend on whether they grow up being used to being shampooed. I always introduce a cat to the water very gently with soft words and reassurance. Once they find out how nice a warm shower feels, they're happy to see bath day roll around.
2007-07-18 20:30:51 · answer #4 · answered by missingora 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You won't hurt them physically, but cats dislike showers. If the fleas are still a problem, get them flea collars or spray their area and them (lightly, and not in the face). If you want to bathe them, it's better to use a bathtub or bucket filled with water than a running shower. Above all, never spray them with water in the face, and for the bath, keep their head out of water. In general, once the flea problem is taken care of, cats will do quite well washing themselves. Just make sure you brush and comb them regularly so they don't eat their own hair and get hairballs (which will cause them to vomit).
2007-07-18 19:58:08 · answer #5 · answered by viciousvince2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should get a flea comb. if you do get one, once you've combed the cat , the fleas should get stuck on the comb. Have a bowl of water with soap next to you and put the comb in the water and make sure ALL the fleas fall off. then dry off the comb so no soap gets on the cat. regular shampoo. . . . . i wouldn't recommend it. you SHOULD buy cat shampoo. ummmmm. . . . . also. how old are your cats? if they're kittens (less than a year old) get them used to the shower pronto. more than a year, flea comb. to know if the water temperature is right for the cats, feel the water with your elbow. don't turn on the shower head. that would really freak 'em out.
2007-07-18 22:13:45 · answer #6 · answered by i luv Snow! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A shower will not kill the kittens, but they still will have the same anxiety attack. Cats are born not liking water, when I worked at the pet store and they came in dirty, we had to give them a bath. The weird noises and scratching and fast heart rate are very common. I would recommend getting a kitten shampoo instead of using regular shampoo. Could damage their skin.
Good Luck
2007-07-18 19:55:06 · answer #7 · answered by Erika 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the cats have fleas, they will need to have a good wash with flea shampoo. Perhaps try to wash them 1 at a time? Try a heavy pair of gloves(gardening?) if they are scratching at you. Do not ever put any dog flea treatment on a cat, it will cause permanent brain and nerve damage. In general, cats clean themselves sufficiently.
2007-07-18 19:57:58 · answer #8 · answered by misskitty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont shower a cat ,it makes them very septical to colds. take them to the vet first to get the flea problem under control. keep flea & tick collars on all of them at all times. be sure tou are washing all the pillows,sheets & blankets they sleep on and shampoo your carpet too ,this is where fleas like to hide. cats do keep themselves clean but you can buy cat towelettes at the pet store and you simply wipe the cats with these and it cleans their coats and keeps their hair shinny too.
2007-07-18 20:02:00 · answer #9 · answered by pennylane 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
o no its fine for cats to take showers they just HATE water. all cats freak out. and buy cat shapoo regular shampoo is not good for there skin. and if u cant handel giveing them a shower or if they just hate it. let them clean them selfs but if there to many fleas buy them a flea collar or just give them flea medicine thet u apply to there neck and it will do the work i perfer advantage its a grest flea medicine i use it for my cats.
hope this helps..
go0dluck=]
2007-07-18 19:59:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never given my cats a bath. I use Frontline Plus on them. You can take a damp wash cloth to wipe them down. They don't seem to mind this at all. I too have 4 cats. If you must bathe them wrap them in a towel tightly to submerge them into water. Do not wrap their heads. Cats do not generally like to get into water.
2007-07-18 19:53:45 · answer #11 · answered by Faith D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋