Cats spend a large part of their time grooming themselves: after eating, after sleeping, after going for a walk, after resting, ... well, after doing anything. Even if they are noticed strange they will also clean themselves. They are animals extremely clean by nature, since in the wild, an animal that smells too much can be easy prey for predators. We know. A furry man at home does not need to protect himself from anyone, but little can be done against instinct.
Still, sometimes we will have no choice but to take care of your personal hygiene ourselves, so I'm going to tell you From what age can a cat be bathed and how to do it so as not to cause stress or any other type of discomfort.
When to bathe a cat
Cats can start bathing at 2 months, although it is better to wait three months when they have the first vaccination at least. Doing it before can be very harmful for the animal, since we could even endanger its own life. Thus, when they are at least 8 weeks old, you can gradually accustom them to the bathroom. At no time should you force him to do anything, because doing so would end up associating the bathroom (and not only the toilet itself, but also the toilet), with something negative (Stress).
Puppies are very curious, so it will not be very difficult for you to feel like approaching the water. Of course, before putting it in the bathtub, I recommend that the first few times you bathe it in a baby bathtub or in a basin that you will have thrown into no more than 2cm of water warm. Speak softly, calmly, while making sure no foam gets on their face or ears. Then you will only have to remove it with water and dry it with a towel.
It is not difficult to bathe a kitten, but it is difficult to accustom an adult cat to the bath. So if you plan to bathe him from time to time, the sooner you start (remember, never before eight weeks of age), less it will cost you.
How to bathe a cat?
Although our beloved cat is a very clean animal by nature, sometimes we will have no choice but to give it a hand, especially if it is sick, very dirty or if, due to age, it no longer remembers so much about taking care of its hygiene. But, how to do it?
Before bathing your cat
Before bathing your cat (when you have never done it before), you must first have everything at hand so that you do not forget anything. When you have everything at hand, then:
- Do this in a large plastic tub or sink with a non-slip mat.
- Use special shampoo for cats without chemicals or perfumes.
- Use cat conditioner only if necessary, never use human.
- Use a towel or two to dry him off.
- Also have a brush handy to remove knots.
Bathing your cat
If you have to bathe your cat even if it does not like it, first, you must arm yourself with patience. For the bathroom, keep the following in mind:
- Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water that is not hot
- Put your cat slowly into the water and do not fill it too much so that your cat does not feel anxious
- Give your cat lots of praise and reassurance all the time. Treats can be very helpful.
- Do this with another trusted person to hold the cat's head and reassure it if necessary.
Steps to follow
It is best start getting used to being a kitten; That way when he is older it won't be so strange to him and he may even end up liking it. But I'm not going to fool you: the first few times are experiences that can be very stressful for both the feline and you, so the first thing I'm going to recommend is that you stay calm. Nerves will not help you at all.
Once you are calm, fill a bowl previously clean -those where we put the clothes when we take them out of the washing machine- with a little warm water, which is at about 37ºC. It is important not to fill it all in: just covering the legs is more than enough.
The next thing you have to do is call the cat with a very cheerful tone of voice so that he does not hesitate to come to you. As it is a very clever animal, it would surely turn around as soon as it saw the bowl of water, but for that you have to offer it a treat as soon as you see it enter the bathroom. Later, take a small towel and moisten it and then wipe it over the animal's body (I know. The ground is going to get lost of water. But you have to go step by step so you don't get scared).
Scratch the neck and the part of the back where the tail is born. Surely he will love it and it will make him feel much better, something that will help you to see that nothing really bad happens.
If you see that it feels comfortable, you can take it gently and put it in the bowl to finish cleaning the head -Make sure that no shampoo gets into the eyes, nose or ears-, legs and tail. Afterwards, towel dry it, brush it with a card brush or with the Furminator, which is a brush that removes almost 100% of dead hair. Don't forget to give her another cat treat as soon as she's calmed down. If it is very uncomfortable and tense, pat it dry and try again after a few days.
After bath
Once you have bathed your cat, you do not have to do it regularly and less if your cat does not like it. The best thing is that if it gets dirty, you clean it with special products without having to bathe it so as not to cause unnecessary stress or anxiety.
Do cats need a bath?
At this point, you may wonder if your cat really needs a bath or if you can go without bathing him. In reality, cats do not need to be bathed, unless they are excessively dirty. But if since childhood you have not accustomed them to the bathroom, then it is better not to do it. If it gets dirty there are special wipes for cats that will help you keep it clean.
In case your cat has so much dirt that it cannot wash itself or that it is not possible to clean it well with special wipes for washing cats, it will be only then that a bath can be a good idea.
How to bathe a cat that is not used to being bathed?
Most cats do not like baths and it can be really stressful for themespecially when they have never bathed before. As we just mentioned, if you can clean the isolated area of ​​dirt, instead of wetting the whole body.
But if you have to bathe him, it will be important that you know how to do it so that it is a comfortable experience for both of you. Although if your cat has been in contact with toxic substances, then the first thing you will have to do is take him to the vet.
If you have to bathe your cat even if it does not like it, first, you must arm yourself with patience. For the bathroom keep the following in mind:
- Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water that is not hot
- Put your cat slowly into the water and do not fill it too much so that your cat does not feel anxious
- Give your cat lots of praise and reassurance all the time. Treats can be very helpful.
- Do this with another trusted person to hold the cat's head and reassure it if necessary.
If your cat is afraid it will try to scratch or bite you, if it happens stop bathing it and talk to the vet to opt for other methods to wash it. He may recommend a groomer experienced in nervous cats. that can bathe your cat for you.
It is important that you think about your cat's well-being first at all times before even cleaning the dirt. Don't let your cat have a bad bathroom experience Or then, you will never be able to reach out to clean him when he really needs it.