Is giving my cat a bath once a week too much?

Question

We got him when he was about 2 months old, and he is 4 1/2 months old now. He IS an outdoor/indoor cat. He playes outside for about 2-3 hours a day. Ever since we got him, we've been giving him a bath EVERY saturday. The first time, he about killed me, but he had TONS of fleas because I found him in a box and he just didn't smell pretty. Then after that, I bathed him the next week and he LOVED it. He's loved it ever since then. He just sits there and sometimes even purrs while im massaging the soap into him. (We bathe him in a really clean sink). He just enjoys the bath so much.. I put 2 towels in the dryer so they will be nice and warm for him afterwards (and he REALLY looks forward to that part!).

Is it too much though? I heard it dries out the skin and they clean themselves, but I just can't imagine not giving him a bath every week. He is SO soft and smells good all the time. He still licks himself some.

I'm just trying to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong?

Responses?

Answer 1

Once a week is probably too often. If you was hyour cat too often, his skin will get fry, and he'll be itchy. Try washing him about every month and a half to two months.

Answer 2

This is absolutely too much bathing and yes, it's going to dry out his skin and you're traumatizing him every week. Washing the cat is not going to get rid of fleas. It will kill most of the fleas on the cat but if it has fleas, so does your home. You need to treat your rugs and upholstered furniture and then get the cat on a monthly treatment such as Advantage or Frontline.

This cat is only 4 1/2 months old - still a kitten. And you allow it to go outside? The outside is a dangerous place for cats and even moreso for kittens. Do you want this cat to die between 2 to 5 years - which is the average lifespan of an outdoor cat? How about keeping inside, getting the fleas under control and then pretty much NEVER having to bathe him?
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=indoorsoroutdoors if you need more convincing about keeping him indoors.

Answer 3

Cats bathe themselves...unless he is getting into sticky or oily substances outside there really is no reason to bathe him. If he now enjoys his baths to the point you don't want to stop giving them..you can give them occasionally, but once weekly is too much. It will dry his skin and take away essentials oils. Sounds like you need a good long term flea product. Try Advantage or Frontline. These last for about a month then need to be reapplied. Bathing will dissipate it..so you can bathe him once monthly before applying the flea meds.

Answer 4

There should be no need to bath a cat at all unless it is too ill to groom itself.

Yes, you're bathing the cat too often. If a cat has fleas, bathing is not the answer - get a flea product like Frontline from a vet, it's just a spot-on.

Your cat needs to learn to groom himself! You can still stroke and massage him as you would if bathing him - but stop with the baths. Cats do not, or should not, need to be bathed.

Chalice

Answer 5

That is to much. Try to cut his bathing down to every 2 months. Excessive bathing like that depletes the natural oils on cats skin. Cats need those oils, or they'll get dry and itchy, sometimes peely.

Give him a flea collar/frontline for the fleas.

Answer 6

Cats clean themselves.. so it is not good to give the cat a bath that much. you could make them sick. If you are really unsure call a pet store like petco or petsmart and just ask. But if i were you I would stop. try brushing the cat instead, it will help the fur and some cats love it. place it will get the dirt off of them.

Answer 7

There is absolutely no need to keep bathing him. I can understand to get rid of the fleas, etc the first time though.
Cats clean themselves.
If you are using perfumed shampoos this will cause skin allergies as well as drying the skin out.

Answer 8

Unless if your cat is an outdoor cat I would bathe it once a year if it's smelly. My cat smells very nice and I've never given her a bath. She doesn't go outside though.

Answer 9

I would say yes, as cats do not need frequent bathing because they groom thereselves so well and regulary.
Too much bathing can cause itchy, dry skin.
Good luck. God bless

Answer 10

Some people bathe their cats often to help with their allergies. If you cat likes it and it does not seem to be drying out his skin and you rinse him really well, I don't see a problem with it. A call to the vet might be a good idea just to make sure. He sounds like one spoiled and pampered baby to me. =)