how can i bathe a cat..?

Question

i know the one of the little cats im taking care of has fleas. i've seen him scratching. he's only been here a week and i noticed i started getting little bumps on me and itching!!! my husband told me to throw that cat in the bath and scrub it down. i know cats don't like water. i bought him at flea collar and just to put it on him was pathetic and clawed me!!! how can a take this cat a bath? i'm determined to!!! i want to know a "safe" way.. lol :P

Answer 1

Let your mother in law do it...........

Answer 2

DON'T give him a bath! That is not the way to get rid of fleas. Also, as you've said, it would be a nightmare - and a waste of time at that. Get that flea collar off him, they don't work. Maybe that's what the cat's trying to tell you!

Proper flea treatment can be bought from any vets. You need a spot-on like Frontline, Revolution or Advantage. Don't be suckered into buying the cheap crap ones they sell in pet shops, because they don't work.

Get some Frontline and make sure it gets on the cat's skin, not her fur. If there are other cats in the house, they all need to be treated because they'll all have them. You might not see them scratching - everyone has differing levels of sensitivity - but unless you treat all the cats, the one who's suffering from thm (and you) won't be free of them.

If the cat is under 8 weeks of age by the way, you'll need to get Frontline spray, which is the only product safe for use on cats under 8 weeks old. It can be used from 2 days of age.

Chalice

Answer 3

Okay, you might need a partner (your hubby) to help you with this.

Fill a wash basin or sink or your tub with only a few inches of water. Just enough to come up with the cats legs and nothing more. All cats are afraid of water, but some cats will literally have a heart attack if the water is up to their bodies or necks. Ready a few soft towels and lie them beside your work space.
Ask your partner to hold the cat by the scruff of the neck, and apply a layer of blue painters tape to each paw to cover up the claws. I've found "painters" tape is best, since it isn't very sticky and won't rip out hairs or damage skin at all when you need to take it off.
With most cats, your partner will need to hold the cat still while you apply the shampoo and rinse. Don't hold by the legs, hold by the back of the neck and (if the cat is small enough) the front chest. We had to bathe our 6 week kittens for the same reason, and they were small enough to literally sit in our hands for the bath!
If you have a good hold on the cat, and you feel brave, you can go along it's coat with a flea brush or tweezers after you bathe him to get out any fleas that were killed by the shampoo or are still surviving in there.
Remember to check the face! Fleas will run to the face and right behind the tail mostly.
Before you let go, take off the painters tape. The fact that it isn't so sticky combined with soaking in the water should make it easy to take off.
Open up one of the towels and have your partner hand you the cat. Wrap the cat up completely in the towel.
One of two things will happen:
- the cat will either resign to being wet and miserable and try to find solace in the warm towel
- or your cat will use this opportunity to freak out and bolt out of your arms and as far away from you as possible.
If this happens, don't worry about. The cat will air dry soon.

The more you do this at a younger age, the easier it will become.

Or you could just take the cat to a vet or pet store that offers bathing services. ^_^ good luck!

Answer 4

Firstly, if you're going to give a cat a bath for fleas, you need to get a flea bath. Just soaping the cat down won't get rid of the infestation. You'll need to consult with a vet to make sure the animals does, in fact, have fleas and not some other problem like an allergy or mange.

Secondly, giving a cat a bath isn't that big of a deal as long as you put a rubber bathmat on the floor of the tub. The cat will grab onto that with its claws and you won't get ripped up.

Answer 5

Don't use strong soap or flea shampoo on a kitten. Don't use powders or sprays or anything that the cat will lick from it's fur. Try a flea comb which just pulls the fleas off the fur/skin.

But what are you going to do to keep the fleas off afterwards? They are likely in the bedding or your carpet. You have to deal with that. Vacuum alot!

Check with a vet's office for some over the counter advice.

Answer 6

sometimes bathing a cat will not get rid of hes fleas and cats dont have too have baths cause they clean themselves

the best thing too do is get some flea tablets and mix them in with your cats food if you have any other cats in the house I say you should give them tablet too just too make sure that there gone

or you can buy a spray you can spray the cat spray the couch and even yourself

hope you find some help if this dosnt help you
my mum was a vet for 7 years!!

Answer 7

First off, let me tell you.. I've had cats my whole life.. .they can be bathed, it's not as big of a deal as people think..

BUT..

The BEST thing for fleas, that works the best, is he drops you put behind the neck. Frontline, advantage, revolution.. ones you can only get at your vets..

Works better than a flea bath.. And for a flea bath to be anywhere near effective you'd have to use special flea shampoo you find at the vets, and do a "dip" which his kind of like a special chemical rinse you do after the bath..

Get the drops.. ask your vet.. they're KINDA pricey, but not too bad.. You apply every month.. Or, for idoor only cats like mine.. you'd only have to do it one or two months, and then they'd be fine...

Trust me.. they work better than anything else.

Flea collars, BTW.. are pretty much a joke...

Answer 8

Very very carefully.
Actually bathing the cat won't solve the problem in itself - you will need to treat the house with a spray to get rid of any eggs and larvae. Really you need to do the whole lot at around the same time in order to cut down the risk of re infestation.
Phone your vet for advice on the best products to use.
Good luck - I hate fleas.

Answer 9

Though cat owners may want to depend on a cat to clean herself, there may be a time when you will want to give your cat a bath. The following tips will help you and your cat have a more pleasant experience.

Prior to the bath, you will want to groom your cat. Use a grooming glove, fine-toothed comb, or soft brush for shorthaired breeds and a wide toothed comb and a soft slicker brush for longhaired breeds. Brush your cat thoroughly being especially gentle on the skin because it is thin and sensitive. Also, make sure to brush out any mats you may find - they are much harder to remove from wet hair. This is also a good time to check for sores, abscesses, lumps, and other skin problems. Clean your cat's ears and look for any excess wax or debris in the ears. You will also want to clip your cat's nails at this time. If your cat does not enjoy any of these procedures, wait until your cat has calmed down before starting the bath.

Assemble all the materials you will need before you get the cat. Include a soft towel, soft brush, and shampoos and conditioners formulated especially for cats. If the shampoo is very thick, it is sometimes helpful to dilute it with some water before applying it to the cat. Just prior to the bath, place cotton balls in the ears and apply ophthalmic ointment to protect the eyes. Place a towel in the bottom of the sink or tub you are going to use to prevent slipping. Be sure the area where you give the bath is warm, and your cat will have a warm place to dry off.

Remember that cats do not like to be restrained, so the less it feels like you are controlling her, the better. Speak in soft tones and try to appear calm, since your cat will become more nervous if she senses you are apprehensive. Signs that your cat is anxious include flattening of the ears or whiskers, tail thumping, loud vocalizations, and open mouth panting.

Use lukewarm water. Cats generally dislike sprays, so it is often better to pour water over the cat rather than spraying. If you must spray, avoid hard sprays and spraying near your cat's face. You may want to wrap your cat in a thin towel and wet the coat through the towel, and then apply the shampoo. After shampooing, rinse your cat thoroughly. Rinsing is the most important step. The old adage is: 'Once you think you've rinsed your cat thoroughly, rinse her again.'

Dry your cat gently with a towel. 'Blotting' is better than rubbing, especially in longhaired breeds. Longhaired breeds will also benefit from an additional brush out and a blow dryer on no-heat setting (if your cat will tolerate the noise).

If your cat absolutely cannot tolerate being wet, try using a waterless or powder shampoo, pre-moistened bath towelettes for pets, which have recently become available, or give your cat a 'sponge bath' with a damp towel.

Remember, the younger a cat is when you begin to bathe her, the more likely it will be that she will come to enjoy an occasional bath.

Answer 10

I just recently got a kitty who had fleas.. I gave her a bath with a flea shampoo., but since she was barely 4 weeks i used very very little amount of shampoo. And I give her a bath with that shampoo once a week. since she is so small, she doesnt cry when I bathe her. She doesnt love it but she wont scratch. She's 10 weeks now and all her fleas are gone..but I am planning to give her Frontline once she is 12 weeks.. you shouldnt use any flea medication on them including collars before they are 12 weeks.

Answer 11

uhhh, throw it in the bathtub and put some soap in there and then scrub the stinkin thing!!! :) good luck. (they have sharp claws)