Most cats never need to be bathed. They benefit from baths only
when they are so dirty that they cannot clean themselves, when they have a
substance on their fur that it would not be healthy for them to lick off or when
there is a medical reason for a bath. The rest of the time, they can groom
themselves.
From a behavioral point of view, baths can be stressful and, for
some pets, frightening. As in any situation producing fear, snapping and biting
are potential problems. So how can the stress of bathing be minimized for your
cat and you?
Contrary to all the jokes you're probably heard about bathing a
cat (most of them end up with the cat owner in the hospital), cats can be bathed
as efficiently as dogs. The work is simplified by providing a surface onto which
your cat can grab with his claws, such as a framed window screen. Otherwise you
might find yourself wrestling with a wet cat, or applying bandages to an
accidentally pierced arm.
Before the actual bath, brush your cat all over to remove any
tangles from his coat. Run some warm water into the tub or sink, lay in the
screen, then go get your cat. gently place a small cotton ball in each ear, and
place your cat in the water. Be sure to keep a secure grip on him!
Using a gentle shampoo made just for cats, soap your cat around
the neck first, and work back. Use a gentle spraying to rinse your cat
thoroughly. Hold the spraying right next to your cat's skin and lift the hair to
make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out. Any left behind will irritate your
cat's skin.
Wrap your cat in a towel, take out the cotton, and pat him dry.
Rubbing will cause tangles, so just keep patting, using several towels to get
your cat as dry as possible. Then use a soft brush to smooth your cat's coat.
keep him in a warm place until he's completely dry.
After soaping and rinsing, vigorous rubbing, shaking and rolling
are natural follow-ups, and the accompanying frenzy may stimulate conflicts
between cats. This kind of excitement-related or redirected aggression is common
after feline bath time. To avoid fights, separate your cats until all is once
again calm, and rub all cats with the same towel to distribute their scents.
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