Things You'll Need:
- Flea Shampoo (for CATS)
- Empty container (ex. Tupperware)
- Clean, dry towels
- One extra person to help
- Bath tub (preferable over shallow showers)
- Bathing suit/swim trunks (optional)
- Thick rubber gloves with grips on the palms and fingers (optional)
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Step 1
Put the cat in another room and have the other person cat sit while you fill the tub about 2" full of warm water. If your cat doesn't like baths, make sure that while you're filling it, the cat is far enough away so that it can't hear the running water. I would HIGHLY suggest wearing a bathing suit or clothing you don't care about during the bath, as you will most likely get wet, and some flea baths may stain clothing.
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Step 2
With the second person in the room and while holding the back of the cat's neck firmly, place your cat in the water as quickly as possible so as to reduce the risk of the cat trying to escape (NOTE: Do NOT grab around your cat's neck--you could strangle it. Try grabbing closer to the cat's spine--the lower part of its neck). If necessary, have your friend help hold the cat (if it's easier for you, you can have one person hold the cat while the other bathes it). It will struggle at first, but don't be afraid to keep the firm (but not TOO firm--you don't want to hurt your pet) grip on your cat. If you are able to do this, proceed to step 4.
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Step 3
If your cat is uncooperative to the point that holding it is not enough, I would suggest purchasing a harness (one that goes around the cat's front legs and neck, NOT just around the neck--neck collars can hurt your cat) and a leash. Tie the cat to something in the tub (such as the faucet) so that he can't get out (make sure the knot is tight and that the length of the leash is short--probably under 1 foot--so that your cat can't jump up at you, or out of the tub).
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Step 4
Once the cat has settled down a bit and gotten used to the fact that he won't be able to escape, fill the container with water and begin to slowly pour it over your cat (but not over its head). Once the cat is saturated, follow the instructions on your bottle of flea bath (ALWAYS use flea bath as directed so as not to cause harm to your pet), working it into your cat's coat. If your cat is a scratcher and holding the back of its neck isn't helping, I would suggest using thick rubber kitchen gloves--the kind with grips on the palms and fingers that are sometimes used to clean fruits and vegetables. Personally, I don't use gloves, and just use my fingers to work the flea bath into the coat (this way I know I'm not hurting the cat with a scrub brush that might be painful), but rubber kitchen gloves are also a safe choice.
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Step 5
Make sure that the flea bath reaches every part of the cat's body (in the crevices of the ears, between toes, around anus, etc.), making sure to avoid the area near the eyes, mouth, and nose. Most flea baths will have you leave the flea bath on your pet for a certain amount of time, which you should follow according to the bottle.
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Step 6
Rinse your pet off with the plastic container again, making sure that none of the flea bath is left, otherwise it could be toxic.
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Step 7
Drain the water out of the tub WITH THE CAT STILL INSIDE. Once all of the water is gone, dry your cat thoroughly with a clean towel. Doing this inside the tub will prevent your cat from shaking off the water all over your bathroom.
