There are a lot of different opinions on how to give a cat a bath humor. Some people think it’s ok to put them in the shower and let the water run over them. Others think you need to use a special shampoo made for cats and a basin or sink filled with water.
Then some think that bathing your cat is not necessary at all. So let’s look at all of the options and see what works best for both you and your feline friend!
Contents
A Step by Step Guide on How to Give a Cat a Bath Humor
Step 1: Before You Start
The first thing you’ll need to do is gather your supplies. You don’t want to leave the house and realize that you’re seriously lacking knowledge on Giving a Cat a Bath Humor. Gather everything you could need in advance, including:
- A willing cat
- Warm water
- A bathtub or large sink
- Cat shampoo, conditioner, and a hairdryer, brush, comb, and towel
Fill up your tub or sink with warm water just a few inches deep. Make sure the water is comfortable to sit in so you don’t shock or frighten your cat. You should be able to touch the bottom of the tub/sink without too much discomfort.
Step 2: Use Lukewarm Water
Lukewarm water is best when you’re using it on your cat because it’s not too hot and not too cold, so the cat will enjoy it more than if it were either. Of course, you could also use cold water, but you risk turning your cat off from bathing by shocking them with the temperature change.
If you want to double-check that the water is at a comfortable level for your pet, have them step into the tub/sink without their claws or mittens on. If they don’t protest, you can proceed!
Step 3: Get Your Cat in the Tub/Sink
Put some of that lovely warm water on yourself. This will help calm both of you down. If your cat is reluctant to get in the tub/sink, place them on a stable surface like a table, and give them one of their favorite toys (this works exceptionally well with kittens).
If you’re struggling with getting the cat into the water, try gently lifting or guiding them into the tub/sink. Don’t grab; cats are sensitive about being touched in specific ways! You may be able to lure your cat into the water with treats (usually wet food works best), but if this isn’t an option for you, don’t worry. Just be patient.
Step 4: Use Shampoo and Conditioner
Make sure to read the directions on your cat shampoo and conditioner carefully. Different cats have different needs, so you’ll want to get something made specifically for their fur type. If you’re having trouble picking a good brand of shampoo, ask a vet or groomer for their opinion.
Once you’ve selected shampoo and conditioner, thoroughly wet your cat’s coat. How long this takes will depend on how big a cat they are and how thick their fur is. For most breeds, though, it shouldn’t take too long!
Step 5: Apply Shampoo & Conditioner
Shake up the bottle well before opening it to distribute the chemicals evenly throughout the solution. Once it’s ready, squirt a small amount of shampoo and conditioner onto your cat’s back. This should be enough for about five or six lathers. Of course, how much you use will depend on the size of your cat and how much fur they have.
Gently massage the shampoo into your cat’s coat by softly scratching her skin with your fingers. Cats love being scratched, so this step shouldn’t be too tricky!
Afterward, rinse out all the shampoos by pouring warm water over your feline friend’s body. Do it slowly, so you don’t get any soap in their eyes or ears! Repeat this step until no more suds are coming off your kitty.
Step 6: Rinse Thoroughly
Using cold water to rinse your cat will help close up their pores. It’ll also make the coat much softer! However, make sure that all of the soap is out of your cat’s fur before you try drying them off. They might develop clumps of soap in certain areas if you don’t.
If your feline friend has long hair, use a hairdryer with a low setting to speed up the drying process. How much heat you put through the fur depends on its thickness and breed; for example, using too high a temperature on short-haired cats can make their skin overheat very quickly! Also, be mindful of where you hold the hairdryer. Finally, don’t burn sensitive parts of your cat’s skin, like the belly or face.
A towel will work in a pinch if you don’t have a hairdryer! To dry your kitty off without getting stressed from an annoying hairball, gently pat them with the towel until they’re mostly damp. A clean surface reduces the chance of tiny particles clinging to their fur and becoming dirty again.
Step 7: Wash Face
Cats’ faces can get pretty messy, so washing them is essential. Put some shampoo on your finger and slowly massage the fur around your kitty’s eyes. Their eyes should be closed when you do this, but if they aren’t, be incredibly gentle!
After doing this for a few seconds, take a clean washcloth and gently wipe the soap off their face. Be careful not to poke your cat in the nose with the cloth! How much makeup you use depends on how dirty they are; most cats only need their faces washed about once a month or less.
Step 8: Take Your Cat Out of the Tub
Cats don’t like getting dressed, but they’re pretty used to this process by now. How you do it is up to you, though! If your cat loves being held in your arms, carry them out of the bathroom with your head cradled in one arm. You can also keep both hands free and gently lower them to the floor when taking the kitty out. How you’d prefer to do it is best.
Step 9: Make Sure Your Cat is Dry
Now that your cat is clean and has had its fun bathtime experience, it’s time for step eight! Use a lint roller or a pair of grooming mittens to remove all leftover loose hairs from their coat before putting clothes back on them – this ensures a clean kitty all over!
If the cat is an indoor-only pet, that’s it! How long you keep your cat in the bathroom depends on their tolerance for being around water. If they don’t seem to mind being damp or become restless after a short time, feel free to let them out of the room – be sure to dry off any wet areas on their fur first.
For outdoor cats, place a towel at the entrance and exit of your home, so they don’t return home dripping wet from rain or snow. It may not sound like fun for them, but this simple preventative measure helps keep more hair off your clothes and furniture! In addition, these steps will help in how to give a cat a bath humor.
Tips and Warnings
Tips:
- It is essential you keep the cat’s face wet during the entire process because cats tend to close their eyes when they are scared. If you do not get water into their eyes, it will lessen your chances of getting out alive!
- You should also try and antagonize the cat while bathing them; this will help you time how long their claws are. If they attack or swipe at you, you will need to clean them longer, so they forget about what just happened.
- When picking up your cat after bathing it, be sure to overcompensate with your reward for taking such good care of it. This way, that cat will think twice next time before attacking or scratching someone who tries to bathe it.
- Make sure not to alternate between bathing your cat and not bathing it; this system works best when both occurrences happen equally.
Warnings
- Do NOT scold the cat for whatever happens during the bath. This will cause it to panic and claw or bite at you even more!
- Do NOT give up if your cat hides under the couch for three days; they need time to process what happened.
Do Cats Need to Be Bathed?
The desire to bathe a cat may well depend on which side of the “cat-to-bathe” debate you fall on.
On the one hand, cats have an undeserved reputation for being clean animals. They are often fastidious groomers and will spend hours covering themselves with saliva, licking their fur to keep it in good condition. On the other hand, cats who live indoors rarely need bathing because they get plenty of opportunities to wash up throughout the day.
They tend not to have the muscular body odor that dogs do, and cleaning them isn’t necessary unless your kitty has been playing outside or tracking something in from there that she picked up during her playtime.
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Conclusion
If you’re still reading this, you’re considering bathing your cat. But, please, do not do this for the love of all that is feline. It’s traumatic enough for the cat without worrying about you slipping and falling in the tub with them. So trust us on this one – save yourself (and your cat) the trouble and give them a good brush instead. We hope this article will help you in how to give a cat a bath humor.
