Although cats are well-known for their attempts to self-groom, many require a bath. Pet owners are often surprised to learn that most cats tolerate a bath quite well if it is given in a feline-friendly manner. “What is that?” you ask. The steps are outlined below.
- Trim the claws. If you happen to be scratched by the cat, a freshly dulled claw will do less damage than a sharp one.
- Never use a grooming loop around a cat's neck. They lack the muscle structure dogs have in their necks and can be seriously injured. Instead, use a Trach Saver restraint or a figure eight harness.
- Choose a cat-safe shampoo. This can be trickier than you think because some products are labeled as okay for cats but contain ingredients known to be unsafe. Avoid any shampoo with essential oils, d-limonene, citrus, or peppermint, and be very careful about pesticides (flea and tick shampoos). Choose a brand that adequately discloses its ingredients. Learn to read labels and look up any ingredients you are concerned about when in doubt.
- Cats don’t like the look or sound of water flying towards them. They often do their best if gently submerged into warm, sudsy water. If that is not an option, hold the nozzle of the hose you are using close to their body, so the sight and sound of the flow does not overstimulate them.
- Use warm water, never hot or cold.
- Wash the face with a soft cloth dipped in warm water. Avoid soaking it unless the cat has some foreign substance that must be washed away. Generally, wiping gently will cleanthe face and not upset the cat. Keep water out of the cat's ears.
- Repeat the shampooing process to make sure the cat is very clean. Many cats have oily coats and require more than one shampoo to get fully clean.
- Apply a cat-safe conditioner to replace the sebum you have just washed away after rinsing the shampoo.
- Rinse, rinse, rinse, and then rinse again. Because cats will lick their fur after being groomed, every trace of shampoo and conditioner must be removed.
- If you clean the cat's ears, be sure your ear cleaner is safe. Many ear cleaners contain alcohol, which can be a problem for cats. Mint is also commonly used in ear cleaners and should be avoided. Simply wiping the ear with a baby wipe or a cloth moistened with water should suffice unless the cat has an ear infection or excessive waxy discharge. If you notice either of these, refer the pet to their veterinarian. Never flush a cat's ear; merely wipe them.
- It is wise to avoid any coat sprays or colognes on cats.
- Use a super absorbent towel and a warm terry towel to remove as much water as possible from the coat.
Most cats respond well to a bath, as outlined above, and they seem to enjoy the feeling of being groomed.
