I've never had a cat and I don't know what to do here... I've always had a dog and those are easy to just toss in the tub every once in awhile. Is there something special you have to do with cats when it comes to keeping them clean? Or do you NEVER wash them? Please help!!
2007-11-27 08:34:01 · 14 answers · asked by lilhottiebug 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
If your cat is indoor cat you really don't have to bathe them. I have 2 indoor cats and I don't bathe them at all. Cats are very clean animals and they are always bathing themselves. You have a long haired cat you can take them to a Groomer like Pet Smart and get them groom about every 2 or 3 months. This will help with the knots that can occur naturally. You really don't want to bathe them to much like you do with dogs because you will dry out their skin as well as their fur.
2007-11-27 08:42:49 · answer #1 · answered by Lisita 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about washing them unless they get fleas, skunked, or some medical condition that requires bathing. And I never had a cat that I could really make sit still for flea powder either.
If a cat is healthy, he will groom himself very well indeed. Though you might help with a soft-bristled brush so he won't get hairballs.
If you let your cat out to do his business, you might want to invest in Frontline, Revolution, or Advantix to keep the fleas and ticks away. What you do is squirt the drops onto the nape of the cat's neck, as close to the skin as you can get. Then rub it around so that it does get down to the skin.
By the way, there are some cats who LOVE water. I even read an amusing anecdote about a feline who jumped into a tub of bubble bath with his caretaker- much to her shock!
2007-11-27 08:46:04 · answer #2 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have actually bathed my cats before. I only do that when it's absolutely neccessary, because I value keeping my fingers and hands intact! My suggestion is to do it carefully, and only when using other methods won't work. You can find some "dry bath" products for your cats (and dogs) at many pet stores. I've used doggie wet-wipes on both the cats and the dogs, but I've never used the powders. I've heard mixed reviews of bathing powders, but it's worth a try!
2007-11-27 08:45:29 · answer #3 · answered by autumn rose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You only need to wash a cat if they got into something stinky and dirty, otherwise they do a great job grooming themselves on their own. The odd time we have bathed our two indoor cats we used a puppy/kitten shampoo, had two people one to hold the cat and paws in place and the other to scrub...it can get a little crazy so I don't recommend bathing unless the cat is very dirty or smelly.
2007-11-27 08:43:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cats cry and cry and cry somemore till it sounds like they are dying when i give them a bath.....They are perfectly fine though, they just hate water.
So i would say, go ahead and give her a bath. The best thing to do would be to have someone hold her (probably by the feet, i know it sounds mean, but otherwise your arms get clawed up from them squirming around trying to escape) while you wash her.
make the process as quick as possible and try to towel dry her off...(contain yourself from laughing...lol...this is your cat who will prolly look like a freakish rat when wet...)
make sure your home is warm so she doesn't get cold and shiver....afterwards i would give her a treat just because...
we only wash our cats maybe 3 times a year at the most...for the most part cats are pretty good at keeping themselves clean
2007-11-27 08:48:03 · answer #5 · answered by SaMi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only wash your cat if it needs it - like it got into something that it can't remove itself. Cats can be bathed, but they hate it. Be sure to close the door and be careful not to get scratched if the cat tries to escape.
2007-11-27 08:40:52 · answer #6 · answered by hwinnum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only give cats a bath when they need it. Such as, when a new foster comes in infested with fleas, or when an orphan kitten gets poop on itself, or other instances where cats are dirty.
Other than that, cats do a fine job of taking care of their own cleanliness.
If you need to give your cat a bath, and you know he/she doesn't like water, best to scruff her. For your sake. Soak quickly, lather if you're using shampoo, rinse, and don't make a big scene about it. Get it over with quickly for your kitty. Sometimes it's best to do it with a partner. one to hold, one to wash.
2007-11-27 08:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by Almost Home 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats take care of themselves - they will bathe themselves about 2x a day. There's no need for you do bathe them unless your cat was a stray and really needs to be cleaned thoroughly.
2007-11-27 08:51:33 · answer #8 · answered by veggurl21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wash my cat about three times a year.
Mild shampoo, (expect LOTS of protest and claws!! Just hold him still and dont take no for an answer!) pleanty of rinsing and not in cold water, needs to be warm.
Good towl dry and keep him indoors til hes dry.
He will hate you for about 6 hours or until dinnertime, whichever comes first!
2007-11-27 08:53:00 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
normally you don't bathe cats unless there is a problem with fleas or dry skin. cats are really good at keeping themselves clean.
2007-11-27 11:03:58 · answer #10 · answered by pbJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋