How to Give a Cat a Bath Without Getting Scratched | Expert Guide

Most of the cat dislikes water. If your feline friend can talk and you ask her for a bathe, she would say, Nopty, Nopty, NOO! So, if you are planning for the first time to bath your kitty, then you have to go through the article. I will show you the ways on how to give a cat a bath without getting scratched because when she is angry, she might do anything to you.

Having all the bathing equipment ready

Before turning on the bathtub faucet and give a shower to the kitty, you need to prepare items required for her bath. Because, when your kitten is in the tub, you must not leave the room for a second. Now, you might ask what the required items to bathe my kitty are? I am giving you a complete list below:

• Brush for long-haired kitty
• Comb
• Towels (Minimum two)
• Pitcher or rinsing container
• Cat shampoo
• Rubber mat to protect the kitty from slipping

From my personal experience, I can assure you that, if can borrow one more pair of hands it will be much easier for you. Two persons can handle an aggressive kitten very easily. Another notable point is to use cat-friendly materials. You must use a tear-free cat-friendly shampoo and a rubber pad to protect her from slipping. Now, everything is set to bathe the kitty.

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Step by step instruction for bathing a cat

Step One: The first step is to catch the kitty. You know from your experiences that some cats like water and some cats don’t. If you have a hydrophilic cat, then you don’t have to go through a hard time.

But, unfortunately, if you have an aggressive, water phobic kitty, then you have to grab him technically by giving a treat. You need to be relaxed all the time and make the cat more relaxed. Don’t ever stress out, because it will create panic in your cat.

Step Two: Now, you need to prepare the tub. First, fill the tub around four to five inches of warm water. After filling up the sink, check the temperature of the water.

You can check the temperature with a thermometer or just but touching the surface of the water. If you can tolerate the heat of the water for more than ten seconds without any burning issue, then you need to wait for another five minutes.

After five minutes, grip the cat with both hands and hold firmly. Now, place the kitty into the tub.

Step three: Time to wet the cat properly. Don’t spare any fur. After getting this part done, pour some kitty shampoo on her body. Gently spread and rub the shampoo on her fur. Use bare hands to do it.

Step four: After washing the entire body of the cat now its time to rinse off the shampoo. You have to use warm water to wash off all the foams. It is very crucial not to leave any soap residue behind. You may ask why? What’s the issue? If you leave behind some residues, after drying it will irritate the skin. Even, if she leaks her fur, foams will get wet and get into her stomach. It will upset her stomach. So, wash the cat quickly and adequately.

Step five: Its time to wash the face and its one of the most crucial steps. Carefully, take a towel and soak into the warm water. Take off the towel from the water and let drain off some water from the towel.

Now, if you are worried about cleaning her ear, you can do it after drying her off. I will explain this in the next step. Now, wipe the face of the kitty with that warm wet towel. Never dunk the head of a cat into the water. It is not as acceptable as human behavior.

Step Six: At this part, you are almost done with the rinsing part, and now you need to take your feline friend out of the tub. Cover her with a warm towel and its very important to use a warm towel.

The warm towel can resist thermal shock if she has got any. It is always a great choice to use a warm towel to dry off the cat.  Also, you can use a hairdryer to dry her out fast. Many cats are afraid of the sound but if you think that your cat has an initial introduction to your hairdryer, give it a try.

Unless, you may, dry off by a towel. Now, if you want to clean her ear, you might use a sterilized cotton bud. Most of the cotton buds are packed after sterilization. Take a cotton bud and softly and slowly clean the surroundings of the ear wall. Don’t go too deep. If she resists too much or not remain calm, then you must postpone the session for next time.

The essential thing to bathe a cat is patience. You need to have a lot of coolness and calmness. Be cautious about the water must not enter into the ear or any other channel; it may cause infections.

A Handful of tips for showering a cat

• Take all necessary things into the bathroom before taking the cat into the bathroom.
• Use cat-friendly soap or shampoo for washing.
• Use warm water for bathing.
• Check the temperature before putting the cat into the tub.
• Wash soap or shampoo residue by rinsing with water.
• Wash the cat face with a warm wet cloth
• Dry the cat with an air blower or dry towel.
• You need to hold your patience.
• It is always better to introduce bathing to your cat as earlier as possible

What if the cat doesn’t cooperate at all?

If all the hard work and patience doesn’t pay off, then you need to go for plan B. You can consult with a professional groomer or even take the cat to a vet’s office. They will handle all the procedure on your behalf, and it is entirely risk-free.

Conclusion

The guide will help you to understand kitten behavior while bathing and take necessary actions accordingly.