Things You'll Need:
- Waist-high wash basin (ideally); cat shampoo, cat comb and slicker brush, two towels, optional cat carrier (for drying time).
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Step 1
Ideally, establish a bathing routine when your cat is just a kitten, bathing it a couple times a month the first few months, then about every six months thereafter. And whenever bathing him or her, pour on all the loving chin-tickles and sweet talk you can fit in! Compliment them, caress them, keep their attention on the love, not the activity (until you feel confident that they don't mind the water and the bath).
Kittens are used to having their mother cats lick them vigorously, so in most cases they will readily accept your ministrations as just another way of receiving the care they received from their biological "momcat." Making a bath part of a "love fest" with your pet will make all future baths a pleasure for both of you.
Tuck a cotton ball into each ear, to keep soap and water out of the ear canal. Clip the critter's needle-sharp toenails back a little bit (just remove the sharpest part of each claw to avoid cutting into the quick). -
Step 2
If you've never bathed your cat before and it's now beyond kitten age and size, it's doubly-imperative that you remain relaxed and calm. Don't tense up. Your cat will feel your emotions, so make sure you're in the right mood to expess love and tenderness -- don't be in a hurry, even if you're bathing it because it has been sprayed by a skunk (tomato juice works well for this) or because it has come home with pitch or oil in its fur.
Ahead of time (before fetching the cat), fill the basin with warm (not hot, not cool) water to a depth of about mid-chest high for the cat. Prepare the cat shampoo by placing it into a plastic or metal cup beside the basin. (Most pet shampoo is concentrated, so mix it 50/50 with warm water.)
Place two towels next to the basin within easy reach. (Optional: You can even place a third towel into the basin, so the cat has a "cushy" base to stand or sit on -- your choice.)
Groom the cat with a cat brush and then a cat comb before you place it in the basin. This will make the bath a lot easier! Then place the comb next to the basin, so it will be within reach in case you want to remove additional hair during the bath.
Here's the secret to successfully bathing a cat, stress-free:
Cats hate feeling trapped or in any way controlled. So, if your cat is more than six or eight weeks old and larger than an an easy handful in size, be sure to allow it some freedom to move around in the basin. I know this sounds insane, so let me explain: A cat will try to escape (if it's unhappy in the water) by moving forward or jumping upward; rarely will it try to back out of the basin.
So, place your open, "free" hand in front of the cat's chest at the start of the bath and ALLOW the cat sufficient (perceived) "freedom" to move forward, or around, a bit in the basin. Got that? "Perceived freedom" is important to a kitty. Never forget that. -
Step 3
Place the cat into the basin. If you have a basin with a spray attachment on it, use that to wet down kitty's fur. If not, just use a plastic (or other unbreakable) cup or the stream from the faucet. (If the sound of the running faucet fightens the cat, use a cup instead and get water from the half-filled basin.)
You'll have between ten and twelve minutes of "peaceful coexistence" while bathing most cats. After that, they begin to get antsy to get out. You'll get increased activity, a sense of impatience, indications they're thinking, "Fer crying out loud, how dirty do you think I am!? Lemme outta here, already!" By now you should have spent about two to three minutes shampooing them (twice), a bit of time combing out additional loose hair, and several minutes rinsing them to be sure all the shampoo is out. Throughout this time, be sure to "love on" them with caresses, chin-tickles, fur-petting.
When the bath is over, tuck kitty into a towel (if it's a long-hair, it may take two towels) and help it dry off before releasing it to groom itself. Assist in the grooming a couple times over the next half hour using a brush or comb. Clean the outer ear canal with a Q-Tip and mineral oil. (If there is dark, oily build-up in the ear, a visit to the veterinarian for an ear mite killer is in order. If you notice an unusual knot or knob on your cat that hasn't been there before, that's also an indication that a veterinarian should take a look.)
If you follow these guidelines, you will develop a bath-time loving relationship with your cat that it only experiences during baths. If what you show it during its bath is 100% loving, peaceful and positive, you'll both enjoy the process immensely.
P.S. In the unlikely event you should you find your cat "going ballistic" despite all the care and calmness you've brought to the bathing situation (not unheard of, but rare) please DO NOT throw a strangle-hold on him or her! Such an action will just panic him or her and you'll have a fight on your hands.
If your cat does freak out, instead of trying to "manhandle" it into submission, simply grasp it very firmly behind the neck, the way a mother cat would do when carrying it from one place to another, and lift it off its feet. This action will cause the cat to retract into an almost fetal-like position and lie still. This hold should not be used for more than a few seconds at a time should only be used as a last resort, but it's very effective.
Comments
SelenaRodgers said
on 7/25/2008 A very well written and true article.
-Selena Rodgers