Follow these easy tips for bathing a cat from the comfort of your home.
Despite the fact that cats groom themselves, they can still need a helping hand to get rid of natural oils and dirt after a few months. Some cats, such as obese or injured cats, are not able to groom themselves at all and rely on other cats and the groomer to help them. There are steps you can take to bathe your cat without it scrambling, leaping away, or scratching you. Follow these easy tips for bathing a cat from the comfort of your home.
Gather Your Supplies
The first step is to gather all the right supplies. You will need to have a shower or bathtub that preferably has a removable shower nozzle. It may also be possible to purchase one separately. If your cat is small enough, you could also use the kitchen sink.
Once you have your bathing area ready, you will also need cat-friendly shampoo and possibly conditioner. You can also choose to get a small tub to fill with water for your cat and a plastic cup for pouring water over your cat.
You can allow your cat to air dry, but you could also use a blow dryer. Have at least one towel ready to dry excess water off your cat.
(Don’t forget that after bathing and drying your cat, you will also need to brush out its fur to get out mats and tangles.)
Get Your Cat Used to Bathing Early
The earlier your cat starts getting a bath, the better accustomed it will be and the less likely it will complain or try to escape. If you are adopting an adult cat that is not used to bathing, you can still make progress. You do not need to overbathe your cat; a bath is only necessary once every four-to-six weeks or when dirty.
Clip Your Cat’s Nails Before the Bath
If you have a cat that is prone to panicking in the bathtub, then you can reduce the risk of getting scratched by clipping its nails before the bath. You can either set the cat in front of you or on your lap to do this step.
Watching Out for Fearful Behavior
Does your cat startle at loud noises or sudden movements? Be sensitive to your cat’s behavior and do not force anything on your cat.
How to Keep Your Cat from Escaping: A Towel
If your cat keeps squirming in the bath, you can make it feel more comfortable by wrapping a towel around it while soaking the cat.
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