Cat Bath. When do we bathe our cat?
Cats! The finest groomers!
They are perhaps the most diligent groomers of the animal kingdom and those who share their home and daily life with a cat, know that their personal hygiene is an absolute priority. They are rightfully considered one of the cleanest animals, as they groom themselves for hours on a daily basis, to ensure they have a cared for and clean coat, face, and paws. That is why we mainly do not need to bathe our cat except on some special occasions. And on those occasions, it is absolutely necessary to choose suitable and safe products for cats. *
When do we bathe our cat? (Detailed bathing tips further below)
- When our cat has mobility problems or disabilities and cannot groom themselves, or if they suffer from incontinence and get dirty very often. Those who take care of disabled animals know that they need to adjust their daily routine, as their increased care needs prerequisite devotion and time. Our vet is the one that will direct us to the proper care routine depending on the particular needs of each animal and one of the things that we need to make adjustments to is their hygiene routine.
- When they have been overly soiled either by dirt or because they passed/rolled in some very dirty place or in case a lucky cat was adopted as a stray and everyday life on the streets has made the coat very dirty. In this case, it is advisable to help our cats clean, as in their effort to lick themselves all the dirt will end up in their stomach.
- When we have very senior cats, they lack the energy or the clarity to take care of themselves to the necessary degree. There may be a decrease or complete loss of the mood for grooming in cats of very old age, resulting – especially in the case of long-haired breeds – to dirty and tangled coat that causes them extreme discomfort.
- When our cat is obese and therefore cannot reach a sufficient part of her body for complete grooming. Initially, it is a matter of health to maintain the right weight of our cat according to its age and breed, as obesity can cause serious health problems. However, in any case, if our cat cannot properly clean itself, we need to intervene by helping it with a proper bath.
- Our cat faces skin problems that require special care. The only expert specialist, in this case, is our veterinarian, who - based on the severity of the dermatosis - will guide us on how and with which specialized products we should bathe our cat to treat the problem.
- After flea/parasite treatment. If our cat “accommodated" these annoying and potentially very dangerous parasites and we applied a treatment to get rid of them, we can help them even more by giving them a healthy and well-cared coat with a good bath.
So, let's look at some basic tips on how to bathe your cat.
Let's be honest. Most cats do not like water and even more so the "hassle" of a bath.
Therefore, it may take a lot of work from us to get them acquainted with the routine of a bath and it will probably not be a completely fun experience.
Preparation
1. In any case, the bath should be done when the cat is calm, the room is warm, the doors and windows are CLOSED, and we have in advance with us all the "accessories" and products that we need.
2. An important step before we start is to "associate" their bath with pleasant emotions and "rewards" that may differ for each cat (treats, praise, game, or other), as well as us to feel confident that we can handle it. If we are not sure, we can always reach to a professional pet groomer, having made sure that they know how to handle cats as the procedure and handling is different from that of dogs.
What will we need?
• Shampoo suitable for cats * (we do not use human shampoo or other kinds of cleansers)
• Soft towels (during winter, it is better for the towel to be warm to make drying faster and more pleasant)
• A spacious basin or if we use the bathtub to have the tap in hand
• Rubber gloves (for a better grip but also because we might receive some defensive scratches)
• A small easy-to-use container
• A brush or a brushing glove
• Patience
The bath. Moment of truth
1. Let the cat explore the area and calm down
2. If we have a long-haired cat, we start by gently brushing it to untangle the hair. If we find any knots, it would be good to use a special detangling product such as Top Dog EASY COMB or Top Dog MIRACLE DETANGLER (for more intense and difficult knots) to make the untangling less painful and to effectively remove the knots.
3. If our cat is short-haired, we can groom it using a brushing glove.
4. If our bathtub causes stress to our cat, we can use a spacious basin or even our sink. It is important that the cat feels safe and does not slip thus we can place a special non-slip mat.
5. We can wear a pair of rubber gloves to have a better grip but also for protection from any scratches.
6. Fill with lukewarm water to the height of their legs (if the cat is calm and does not show signs of stress, we can put a little more water up to the height of their belly).
7. Gently and with calm movements place the cat in the water and using a small container, wet its back and abdomen very well. CAUTION. We do NOT wet the cat's head and ears. It is also best not to try to use the shower or faucet as our cat may get frightened by the sudden flow of water.
8. Evenly apply - diluted according to the instructions - a shampoo suitable for cats * on the wet hair and gently massage for a few minutes making sure to cover all spots (for very dirty cats we may need to repeat a second time). DO NOT allow your cat to lick the shampoo. Even cat-friendly shampoos should not end up on her stomach.
9. After we finish lathering, we empty the dirty water and thoroughly rinse our cat with clean lukewarm water. Make sure there are no shampoo and foam residues left on the cat's hair and skin.
10. For the rinsing procedure, we should either make sure we have the 2nd container with clean lukewarm water and follow the same technique by rinsing slowly with the help of a container, or for better results this time we can use the shower but with low water pressure. Important: Check the water temperature on the inside or your arm to make sure it’s not too hot.
11. After rinsing, dry the cat very well by wrapping it with a warm towel. We will probably - especially for long-haired cats - need 2 towels with the second one to ensure that we dried it as best as possible. With a gentle massage and without rubbing the cat, remove the moisture very well. The use of a hairdryer is not recommended as it is very likely that the cat will get terrified by noise. However, if we know that our cat can tolerate the hairdryer and we feel confident that we can use it on them, then we just make sure that it is not on the very hot air setting as we run the risk of skin burns.
12. We don’t forget to calmly speak to them from time to time, rewarding our cat, and under no circumstances do we scold or force them more than they tolerate.
13. After the bath we leave the cat in a warm and intimate place and we will probably see them complete the grooming by doing the final touches on their own, drying and layering their hair. We do not leave our cat outdoors after bathing (even in summer). We make sure they are completely dry before allowing them to go out. Especially during winter, it is recommended to keep them inside for at least 12 hours.
14. After the bath, it is likely that the cat will look for a hiding place to calm down, thus delaying the drying. So, we can apply a warm towel in their carrier box and put them in for a while, this way giving them the space and time to calm down and dry properly.
If you got here congratulations are in order! You just "went" where few have dared to go and came out unscratched to tell the story ????. It is best our cat feels that the bath is a game or at least tolerates it as necessary but not traumatic. If our cat shows signs of intense stress and panic, we do not move on. It is best, if possible, to do it at another time or to turn to a professional pet groomer or our veterinarian for alternatives.
*A few words about the award-winning, Top Dog Golden Line suitable for cats * Green Clay shampoo. Golden Line products were created to cover increased and special care hair needs. The main feature of the series is the use and combination of luxurious natural ingredients that give amazing results and solutions for demanding situations.
* Green Clay Shampoo, the crown of the series, is the most innovative product of the company with a high concentration of active organic Aloe (80%), Bentonite, and Green Clay which has a deep cleansing action. It removes dead cells and non-bacterial odors, eliminates oiliness, and helps to better hydrate the skin and hair. Plant-based Keratin proteins enhance the moisturizing effect of the shampoo and give an amazing shine. Moreover, the high content of Argan oil, Olive Oil, Primula, Calendula, and Jojoba contribute to the long-term health of the pet's hair.
For all the above reasons, Green Clay is the ideal choice for your cat's bath!
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