Bathing a cat

buster's owner · 01-10-2005, 07:04 PM

Just did a search here on bathing a cat and found some interesting reponses.

I bathe mine as follows:

First fill bathtub (make sure cat can't escape from room) with a few inches of nice, warm water (cat's body temperature is higher than yours). Fill a bucket with more of the same for rinsing and have a scoop to use for such. Place cat gently but firmly in tub...BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF IF HE/SHE/IT HAS CLAWS!

Helps if you start them when young and bathe regularly (but don't over do it).

Use the scoop to pour water from tub gently over cat wetting from head to tail (try to avoid eyes). Gently stoking, petting, talking helps to calm/reassure animal. Again BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF IF HE/SHE/IT HAS CLAWS!

Now lather cat up starting around face neck and working back to tail using pet shampoo or bar soap. For fleas, you should let lather remain on cat for several minutes to kill them. Now using scoop again, rinse cat off with tub water. Repeat process (IF YOU DARE!) and use clean bucket water for final rinse. Pet conditioner optional.

Now remove cat from tub and have a couple large bath towels on hand - wrap and rub cat as dry as you can - cat will probably want to shake a bit. Keep it wrapped and snuggle it to keep he/she warm (AWWWWW!!)

I have an open mesh animal cage I place my cats in to final dry them with a blow dryer while they groom themselves.

By the way, is there a good bar soap for cats available? Anyone?

coaster · 01-10-2005, 07:16 PM

this is an excellent way. the key here is:

Quote:

Helps if you start them when young and bathe regularly

icklemiss21 · 01-10-2005, 08:03 PM

My Magnum loves baths and about once a month will constantly bug me until I bathe him.

He likes to be bathed like this:

4 inches of nice warm water (with some shampoo in the water so he can play with the bubbles until his mummy starts to get worried about him playing in the freezing cold water (plus she doesn't want to stick her hands in cold water).

Then shampooed from head to tail, including between the toes! Rinsed off using nice warm water from a running faucet (which must be tasted for safety!!!)

The a nice deep conditioner left on for a few mins so he can have more play time in the newly warmed (from rinsing water) then rinsed again.

Take him out hissing and spitting because he wants more play time, wrap him a nice fluffy towl and cuddle him til slightly less wet then lay by the heater while mummy brushes him.

With the other three, they stand holding onto the tiles for dear life while they get a quick shampoo, rinse then conditioner and rinse, then try to grab them before they hide under the toilet.

Oh and I have to take all three of them into the bathroom with me at once, otherwise I can't find the othert two by the time I have finished the first

AddFran · 01-10-2005, 08:18 PM

I hope you know that while that is possibly one of the cutest things ever, your Magnum is quite the minority when it comes to cats and bathtime.

My older one, Franny, showers with me regularly, but that's because it's on her terms. If I ever try to hold her in a bathtub and put her in water, it's I who will be playing with bubbles. And, by playing, I mean EATING.

icklemiss21 · 01-10-2005, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AddFran

I hope you know that while that is possibly one of the cutest things ever, your Magnum is quite the minority when it comes to cats and bathtime.

My older one, Franny, showers with me regularly, but that's because it's on her terms. If I ever try to hold her in a bathtub and put her in water, it's I who will be playing with bubbles. And, by playing, I mean EATING.

LOL

I completely know Magnum is the minority - I have 3 other cats to contend with - and by the end of their bathing, I am usually wetter than them

AddFran · 01-10-2005, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buster's owner

By the way, is there a good bar soap for cats available? Anyone?

There are two on this webpage.
http://www.healthypooch.com/shop/cats/s ... page1.html
I have used the bottom one in liquid form and liked it a lot. I also use something call "Buddy Wash" by Cloud Star, which is a bar soap made of coconut oil base and lavender fragrance on my dog. I've used it for a long time and love it. It does have a dog on the picture on the box but just keeps referring to your "four legged" friends and cleaning your "pets" on the box. Doesn't seem like anything harmful in the ingredients, you may be able to use it on cats. It smells GREAT.

01-10-2005, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
buster's owner Cat Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: michigan Posts: 119	Bathing a cat Just did a search here on bathing a cat and found some interesting reponses. I bathe mine as follows: First fill bathtub (make sure cat can't escape from room) with a few inches of nice, warm water (cat's body temperature is higher than yours). Fill a bucket with more of the same for rinsing and have a scoop to use for such. Place cat gently but firmly in tub...BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF IF HE/SHE/IT HAS CLAWS! Helps if you start them when young and bathe regularly (but don't over do it). Use the scoop to pour water from tub gently over cat wetting from head to tail (try to avoid eyes). Gently stoking, petting, talking helps to calm/reassure animal. Again BE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOURSELF IF HE/SHE/IT HAS CLAWS! Now lather cat up starting around face neck and working back to tail using pet shampoo or bar soap. For fleas, you should let lather remain on cat for several minutes to kill them. Now using scoop again, rinse cat off with tub water. Repeat process (IF YOU DARE!) and use clean bucket water for final rinse. Pet conditioner optional. Now remove cat from tub and have a couple large bath towels on hand - wrap and rub cat as dry as you can - cat will probably want to shake a bit. Keep it wrapped and snuggle it to keep he/she warm (AWWWWW!!) I have an open mesh animal cage I place my cats in to final dry them with a blow dryer while they groom themselves. By the way, is there a good bar soap for cats available? Anyone? __________________ And we'll have fun, fun, fun 'til our Daddy takes our catnip awaaaayyyy!!!!

01-10-2005, 08:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
icklemiss21 Cat Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Burlington, Canada Posts: 2,976	My Magnum loves baths and about once a month will constantly bug me until I bathe him. He likes to be bathed like this: 4 inches of nice warm water (with some shampoo in the water so he can play with the bubbles until his mummy starts to get worried about him playing in the freezing cold water (plus she doesn't want to stick her hands in cold water). Then shampooed from head to tail, including between the toes! Rinsed off using nice warm water from a running faucet (which must be tasted for safety!!!) The a nice deep conditioner left on for a few mins so he can have more play time in the newly warmed (from rinsing water) then rinsed again. Take him out hissing and spitting because he wants more play time, wrap him a nice fluffy towl and cuddle him til slightly less wet then lay by the heater while mummy brushes him. With the other three, they stand holding onto the tiles for dear life while they get a quick shampoo, rinse then conditioner and rinse, then try to grab them before they hide under the toilet. Oh and I have to take all three of them into the bathroom with me at once, otherwise I can't find the othert two by the time I have finished the first __________________

01-10-2005, 08:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
AddFran Premier Cat Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,480	I hope you know that while that is possibly one of the cutest things ever, your Magnum is quite the minority when it comes to cats and bathtime. My older one, Franny, showers with me regularly, but that's because it's on her terms. If I ever try to hold her in a bathtub and put her in water, it's I who will be playing with bubbles. And, by playing, I mean EATING.

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