Cat + Bath = Madness (sometimes)

Posted by Charlene Eberle on January 16, 2014

If you’re like me, I dreaded the thought of giving my cat a bath. I’d have to have a bottle of wine to numb myself from the impending ordeal :). And really you don’t NEED to bathe them but sometimes you have no choice. Here are some helpful tips on how to bathe your cat. I wish I had this info when I had my two cats Elias and Neon. They have since passed on and did not like to be bathed, period.

1. Perfect timing: Try and have the baths when your cat’s at their most mellow. Maybe even try and tier them out before you make the leap of fate.

2. Clip, snip: For your own protection, make sure their nails are not sharp.

3. The brush-off: Next, give your cat a good brushing to remove any loose hair and mats. Now’s also a good time to gently place some cotton in their ears to keep the water out. Please don’t force this its just a helpful tip.

4. Stand firm: Place a rubber bath mat in the sink or tub where you’ll be bathing your kitty so he/she doesn’t slip. Fill with three to four inches of lukewarm (not hot, please!) water.

5. Just add water: if you don’t have a spray hose, a plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup works great. Please don’t submerge, douse, spray water directly into your cats face/ears.

6. Lather up: Gently massage your pet with a solution of one part cat shampoo (human shampoo can dry out her skin) to five parts water, working from head to tail, in the direction of hair growth. Take care to avoid the face, ears and eyes.

7. All clear: Thoroughly rinse the shampoo off your cat with a spray hose or pitcher; again, be sure the water is lukewarm. Make sure that all residue has been removed, as it can irritate the skin.

8. About face: Use a washcloth to carefully wipe your pet’s face. Plain water is fine unless his/her face is very dirty—in which case, it’s recommend using an extra-diluted solution of shampoo, being very cautious around her ears and eyes.

9. Dry idea: You’re almost there! Wrap your cat in a large towel and dry her with it in a warm place, away from drafts. If your kitty doesn’t mind the noise, you can use a blow dryer—on the lowest heat setting. And please note, if your pet has long hair, you may need to carefully untangle her fur with a wide-toothed comb.

10. Good girl!: Your little bathing beauty deserves endless praise—and his/her favorite treat—after all this! And with such a happy ending, next time he/she may find that bath time isn’t so bad.