Any pet owner knows that dogs get dirty and sometimes pretty smelly. As a result, they need regular baths. But cats, well, they take care of their own bathing, right? Besides, cats hate water. Everyone knows that.
However, as a cat owner, you might find that your moggie gets a little too dirty to take care of cleaning themselves. Or perhaps they have been into contact with something nasty that you just have to wash off straight away. So how do you make the experience as painless for the cat – and yourself – as possible?
Head to your local pet shop or vet for a shampoo designed for cats. The shampoo in your bathroom isn’t suitable, and may irritate your cat. You’ll probably find it easier to wash your cat in a large bucket rather than your bath. Be careful to place the tub somewhere with a non-slip floor – there’s likely to be lots of water that ends up on the floor so put the tub in a spot where you’ll be able to easily hold onto your cat.
Your cat will fight you, so have a friend on hand to help handle your pet and offer reassurance. Keep any treats or favourite toys close to help calm your cat. If you do get scratched or bitten, you might need the friend to help you out too.
Use a small amount of shampoo and lather up the back then the belly, avoiding the face and eyes. Rinse thoroughly and don’t let go of your cat before giving her a thorough rub down with a towel.
You might want to give her a cuddle to help calm her, and now that the weather is cooling down, wait till she is completely dry before letting her outside.
