Bathing your Cat

With the Corona virus on the loose, the health and hygiene of our family members from other species need special attention.

When it comes to felines, I, as a cat parent have some useful tips for bathing your cat:—

Things you will need:

1. A large plastic bucket or sink, depending on the size of your cat to use it as a bath. Line it with a no-slip bathmat for the feline in the tub to grip the sides.

2. Cat or kitten shampoo, preferably a mild and medicated one to control the ticks, fleas or lice. It shouldn't contain harsh chemicals or too much of perfume. NEVER use human shampoo on cats, for it's unsuitable for cat fur and skin due to the difference in pH levels.

3. A clean towel or two.

4. A soft or wide-toothed brush to remove tangles and knots (if your cat is long-haired).

5. Water level 1/5th the height of your cat with the temperature ranging from 36-39°C.

Bathing your cat:

Once you've filled the cat bath with water following point number 5, gently put your cat in, allowing them to feel the temperature of the water and settle down. If the feline starts scrambling immediately after getting into the tub, then something's probably gone wrong with the water you've prepared.

It's a myth that cats dislike water and bathing in it— for cats that are accustomed to regular bathing since kittenhood (at least once a month with lesser intervals as they grow up), actually enjoy their baths without throwing a tantrum.
And those furry babies for whom this is a new experience, they need to be kept calm, with plenty of praise and a pleasant talking throughout. Induction of even a miniscule amount of panic can totally upset the whole thing.

For a full body cat bath, avoid the head (especially the eyes and the ears) and focus on pouring small amounts of lukewarm water. Never put jugfuls of water on your cat like an imbecile moron, for it might lead to a temporary/permanent damage of lungs by water entering into the alveoli, leading to further respiratory and cardiac problems, a really bad cold, or even driving the animal to comatose.
Use small amounts of shampoo, gently lathering the rest of the body including the neck, backside, underside and the tail.

For cleaning the facial area use a damp cloth (without any shampoo) to gently rub, keeping the head completely dry.

Repeat the process till your cat is ready to be rinsed. It is extremely important to rinse the shampoo and excess water off their body throughly, for cats are always licking their fur clean like maniacs. Any kind of ingestion of chemicals or soapy water might lead to serious health hazards such as liver problems.

To rinse, it's best to use a handshower, otherwise small jugfuls of clean, lukewarm water work as well. Hold your cat with the other hand, protecting the eyes and ears. Once your cat is fully rinsed, let them shake off the excess water.

Drying your cat:

Cats that aren't used to blow dryer since kittenhood, generally prefer to be towel dried. Use a clean towel to rub your cat dry (don't over-rub). If need be, this process can be followed by a second round of rubbing with a clean and dry towel (a bit warmed with a blow dryer) to be rubbed all over your cat. Next, leave them in a warm room to dry off naturally, without letting them to go out until fully dry; they might catch a cold due to fluctuating temperatures.

Good luck on giving the purrfect bath! 🐱