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How do you give a cat a bath?
Horseshoe
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Wasn't ever a cat person, then a couple of months ago I found a kitten that somebody abandoned near my place of work and adopted her.
Anyway, she smells kinda bad right now.
And she hates water.
What's the best way to go about this?
Anyway, she smells kinda bad right now.
And she hates water.
What's the best way to go about this?
Horseshoe on
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Though it may look like it, she won't actually hate you forever.
Though in truth, the majority of cats never need to be bathed at all. The only reasons I can really think of to do it would be if the cat is physically incapable of washing itself, or if they've gotten something on their fur that wouldn't be good for them to be licking.
If you really do need to bathe the cat, you're first going to want to go to a pet store and get a shampoo that's designed for cats, as anything else may be too irritating to their skin. Do it in the bathroom with the door closed and use warm water (not hot or cold).
A quick google search for giving a cat a bath turns up several links that go into much more detail (like getting something to put in their eyes so the shampoo doesn't get in, putting small cotton balls in their ears to avoid ear infections, etc).
http://www.catsplay.com/thedailycat/2004-07-12/bringing_grooming/bath/bath.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2208_give-cat-bath.html
http://www.petplace.com/cats/how-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/page1.aspx
I'm sure there are other ways, but I grabbed scruff cause that's the only way I can hold her where she can't scratch me.
Our inside cat keeps herself pretty clean, and the outside cat is ... always outside.
Recycled picture of miserable bathed kitty.
You're pretty much going to get torn to shreds the first time you do it (that's why she wears the sweatshirt now); the only real advice I have is try to keep most of the water off of the cat's head, it seems to keep them calmer. My wife uses baby shampoo, for the same reason you use it on babies: it's a mild soap, won't hurt their eyes, and smells good.
Thanks for the tips guys... she's a polydactyl and spends a lot of time sharpening her claws on her favorite tree, and going by your suggestions and links, it looks like there's some ways to help me from getting too much of the lady deathstrike treatment from her.
edit: sonofabitch, it's like she knows I'm planning something. She just took a chunk out of my hand.
We keep them trimmed anyway, so they don't scratch us, but we usually time it so bath + trim coincide. We bathe our guys about 2-3 times a year, using cat shampoo (has keratin, which is naturally in their spit, so they don't get sick cleaning themselves and makes their coat soft).
I think you can also buy wipes for the cat too, but I've never tried them out.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Just as a general note, when my cats were young my boyfriend and I "manned up" and stopped reacting/pulling away if our cats tried to get scratchy or bitey during claw trims and baths. When they realised that I could care less that they were gnawing on my hand we got a pretty surprised cat o_O and they have resigned themselves to their fate during baths and trims now without fussing.
And if it starts screaming like it's being tortured, it's been easier to quickly scold it than to start cooing and sympathizing. The former makes them quiet down and the latter keeps them whining the entire bath.
But if we have to, I would recommend pour warm water on them from a pot/cup, never use the tap directly (as it freaks them the fuck out). As for holding, I would recommend having one person holding them by the "scruff" (fatty area on the back of the neck) with one hand not too tight, but just enough to keep them from moving, and using the other hand, hold their two front paws together (they can't scratch you if they're immobilized).
Then just get the cat wet, shampoo (you can use special cat shampoo, we just roll with johnson & johnson baby shampoo), and then rinse.
Definitely do not attempt to do it yourself if you value not having huge scratches on your arms. Clipping nails beforehand is a good idea too, but might want to space the clipping and bath an hour or so apart, so they're not all riled up from the nail clipping during the bath.
She just kinda smells bad and not like her normal self... like she picked up a smell that she can't necessarily wash off on her own.
I live alone so I'm not likely to get much help on this one. But she does tend to freeze up when I pick her up by the scruff, I'll definitely be using that technique.
I'm hesitant to clip her nails. I'd rather take a few cuts (I'm used to them, she plays rough and she knows it doesn't bother me) than leave her defenseless or unable to effectively climb out of harm's way if one of my asshole neighbor's asshole dogs makes it down the road to my house.
Those work
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AleZLZjDUbs
Not really, but I love this video.
We use a deep sink & warm water right from the sprayer, sprayer is really gentle though, not like the usual black sparayer you see on most sinks. Wife washes cat while I hold the cat with a hand on the cat's back of the neck and a hand on the cat's chest. (You can tell where they're going to go before they go, I've found)
You will get scratched sometimes. The cat will get away from you sometimes.
Most of the time it works ok.
PSN: Broichan
Anyhow, clothes, lots of big clothes like sweatshirts, sweatpants, thick socks, etc because they'll claw you if they get a chance. Second, rose gloves if you can get them. That way the cat can't claw through your hand.
Second, lay a towel down in the tub so they don't freak out because the surface is too slippery for them, it will help to calm them down. Also, be calm yourself, animals pick up on your anxiety. Talk softly and slowly to them, they're freaked out since this isn't a normal activity.
If you make it a habit of giving your cat a bath they'll get used to it and won't fight you as much. We went through a period with my cat (longhair) where it kept getting into really nasty stuff and I had to give him a bath almost weekly. He got kind of used to it for a while until I had to leave him with my parents who never bathe him (which he doesn't need as much anymore) so he hates it all over again.
Lastly, you mentioned it's cold where you're at. Towels, lots of them, make sure you keep your cat warm, they're small and don't have a lot of mass and will get cold very easily. I wouldn't recommend a hairdryer as it will scare the bejesus out of them.
Also; cat thread. Pictures needed.
Yeah, the first time the cat went apeshit, got out of the tub and then hauled ass all over the apartment with water going everywhere.
The only time I've seen the cat run faster was when he accidentally got a paper bag handle stuck around his head and thought the bag was his own personal grim reaper trying to chase him or something.
Buy baby soap, it's cheaper then "cat soap" and much easier to find. Have a large volume of towels nearby and close the bathroom door.
This is her at about three months old.
D'awww
My cat would always be furious. But after it was over he wasn't afraid. He would usually dart under the nearest table but would have no issues with me pulling him back out to towel him off. So basically as soon as he got out of the bathroom all was forgiven.
1) Lure kitty into the bathroom and shut the door behind you.
2) I usually let mine watch the tub fill up, usually only about 4 inches deep. They seem to enjoy WATCHING water.
3) I close the shower curtain 80% of the way, leaving about a human's width at the end nearest the wall. This closes off possible avenues of escape.
4) Getting them in without losing a digit is usually the hardest part. Just have to do it quick before they realize what's happening and declare nuclear war on you.
5) Once in the warm water, they'll let loose the most piteous cries, but usally if you block off whatever opening is left they'll stay put. Use a cup to pour water over them, and use cat or baby shampoo. Avoiding their head and eyes if possible.
6) Depending on the cat they may tolerate getting rinsed from the tap, but if not just use the cup again.
7) Wrap in a towel and rub kitty down as much as you can get away with. Then expect to spend the rest of the night being glowered at from a hard-to reach shelf as kitty plots her revenge.
My cat also seems to like playing with water - he'll try to stick his head in glasses, tip over buckets, and slap at the stream from the faucet. They just don't like being immersed - really, my cat doesn't like ANYTHING that isn't on his terms, and I think the problem with bathing is more that than water, as he's managed to get himself wet without my help and not brought down ruin upon the earth.
I've had better results with a wet rag or sponge bath than dunking him in water. He hates it, but generally doesn't freak out too much. He's an indoor cat, so he doesn't get that smelly, and can go months without a bath really, but it is part of the monthly routine of trimming his nails. I figure if he's going to hate me for three days anyway, I might as well get all the things he hates me for done at the same time.