How to Wash a Cat

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Knowing the aversion most cats have to water of any kind, you may wonder how to wash a cat, and indeed, why it should be necessary at all, given the amount of time all cats devote to doing that exact thing for themselves. Most of a cat's life seems to be taken up with licking and grooming itself, but in fact there are good hygienic reasons why it is important that you master the art. In most cases, an average cat only needs a bath once or twice each year, but there are circumstances where more frequent bathing is necessary. For example, a cat with skin problems such as dandruff, or one of the many "hairless" breed of cats may need bathing every fortnight or so. Also, if there are any members of your family with breathing problems such as asthma, who may be at risk from cat hairs, then you may need to rinse the cat twice weekly and shampoo the cat weekly to alleviate the problem. And of course, there are those occasions when the cat has rolled in something unpleasant.

Preparation

Attempting to bathe a cat for the very first time can be a daunting experience, so preparation and a well thought out plan of action are essential. First of all, don't feel sorry for putting the cat through such an ordeal, because the cat will benefit from the bath. Secondly, decide where the bath will take place, such as sink, bathroom, plastic dish etc. Your action plan will then need to include four consecutive steps, so bear in mind that firstly you will need to soak the cat right down to the skin; secondly, you must then lather in warm shampoo from neck down to tail; thirdly you'll rinse the cat thoroughly and then finally warm towel the cat dry.

Before you start, make sure you brush out any tangles, because water will make them worse. Get someone to help you, because it is easier to concentrate on the washing and drying aspect if someone else is holding the cat, and will reduce the ordeal for the cat by speeding the process up. Make sure you have all materials to hand, such as brushes and combs, shampoo and towels and a suitable sprinkler hose. Get a plastic squeeze bottle, to hold your warm shampoo mix and a large plastic container for your rinse water, both of which should be prepared in advance. Your shampoo mix should consist of 50/50 shampoo to water; your rinse mix 8/1 warm water to white vinegar (or lemon juice).

Be prepared to get wet, so wear old clothes, put a rubber mat in the sink and you are now ready for action.

Giving the Bath

Make sure any water flow is not directed at the cat, instead let the water run into your hand and then onto the cat. Thoroughly soak the coat and then squeeze some of the shampoo mix onto neck, body and tummy, lathering those areas before finishing with armpits, thighs and tail. Wash the face with a warm wet face cloth and then rinse away all remnants of shampoo, remembering that any residue may irritate the skin, so be thorough. Press the water out with your fingers and then pat the cat dry with a warm towel. Leave the cat in a warm dry place until it is totally dry. Throughout the whole process make sure you keep calm and speak continuously to the animal in a gentle, relaxed manner so that stress levels are reduced.

Final Thoughts

Don't forget to keep your eyes open for lumps and bumps, ticks, sore places and so on, because you can in effect carry out a health check at the same time. By regularly bathing your cat you will very quickly learn how to wash a cat correctly and once the cat becomes used to it, the bathing process can become a regular, stress free occasion.

Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Publisher of http://www.catcote.com.

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