|
Anyone who decides to bathe their cat, must be prepared for a long afternoon. Most cats do hate getting wet and they'll probably be very clear about letting you know that they don't like what you're doing. So think it through ahead of time. Get everything you need lined up and be prepared to remain patient, kind and good humored in the face of your cat's wrath.
Before you begin bathing your cat, you will need to gather a few supplies. At the minimum, you will need two absorbent terry cloth towels, a pet safe shampoo, a pet safe conditioner, a sponge, and a sprayer attachment for your sink or tub. If you don't have a sprayer attachment, you should have a pitcher or large cup that you can use to scoop clean water over your cat's body. Ideally, you should also have a non-skid mat to help your cat feel more secure.
If you decide to bathe your cat in the tub, you may have a harder time holding on to him if he becomes frightened. However, it is usually easier to keep him contained if he escapes in a bathroom than in the kitchen.
Place your non-skid mat in the bottom of the sink or tub. Add two to three inches of warm water and gently place your cat in the tub. Talk to him quietly and reassure him. He will most likely settle down within a few seconds. Once he is calm, begin to wet him down. If the sprayer attachment scares him too badly, you may have to pour water over him using your pitcher or cup, instead. Do not pour water on his head. You will clean his face later.
A little shampoo on your hand and your ready to massage it into your cat's coat. Be gentle and calm; some cats respond very well to being shampooed. The rinse is what can be difficult. It's essential you get all of the shampoo out of your cat's coat. Any residue left behind will cause skin irritation.
Now, work a palm sized dollop of conditioner into your cat's coat and then rinse it out. This step is actually optional if the cat has short hair. However, conditioner will not hurt a short haired cat, so, if he is not too upset, you may still want to use it.
Once your cat's body is clean, dampen your sponge and use it to carefully wipe down his face. Pay close attention to the area under his eyes.
Wrap your cat in a big towel and rub and pat him dry. Change towels when the first one is wet. Get as much of the water out of his coat as you can. He'll finish the last of it, if you get out most. Tell your cat how brave and wonderful he's been, tell him how pretty he's going to be and how much better he's going to feel now that he's clean.
Let him go as soon as he's dry. |