How to bathe my cat at home
We all know that cats, besides being quite independent pets, are very neat. Their hair does not smell bad and they groom themselves quite frequently. But nevertheless, under certain conditions, you should give them a bath to remove dirt, debris and any other residue on the skin. Bathing your cat is also a good opportunity to make sure he is healthy and in good condition. This can be done at home but you have to keep in mind some recommendations so on OneHowTo.com we give you the keys so you know how to bathe your cat at home.
Steps to follow:
If you have your cat from when it was a kitten, it's probably used to water and it is not a foreign concept for them. If your cat is not used to water, start by preparing a bowl and letting it approach so it can get used to it.
There is a widespread misconception that cats hate water, the reality is that this it depends, there are cats that do and cats that do not, the fact is that we as owners can make the bathroom as comfortable and fast as possible to avoid excess stress.
If you're going to bathe them in a tub use a slip mat so the animal will not slip. If not then use a large plastic container that is spacious and allows you to perform this task.
Before bathing brush their hair to remove knots and calm the cat down while stroking it. It is very important that you are calm because if you are both nervous, an accident could occur.
Have everything you need on hand, the special cat shampoo (never use products for dogs or humans) and a sponge to rub. Prepare the water at a tepid temperature that the animal will like.
Put cotton in its ears this way you will prevent water from entering its ears which can cause inflammation and subsequent complications.
Never put the cat right in the tub or container, you must go bit by bit, take it by the neck with one hand and the body with the other and slowly slide it into the water. Let the animal get accustomed to the water and make sure it knows it doesn't need to be nervous.
Wet the cat always starting with its body. The head should be the last thing to wet and wash. If you start by washing your cats head, he will be stressed throughout the entire bathtime. Apply shampoo and rub gently, such as massaging but also to let the dirt out of your hair.
Leave the shampoo for the time indicated on the packaging always petting your cat and making it feel safe. Take this time to dip his head slowly, then remove the shampoo pouring water from the back down, make sure it is free of impurities which may later cause allergies and discomfort.
It's time to dry its hair with a towel but do not rub on the animal's hair, sudden movement can bother it, rather press delicately, gently and use words of affection so your cat feels secure. If you follow these instructions your cat will be clean easily and in no time.
It is very important to point out that you should only bathe cats in special situations, such as if they have got dirty with mud, paint or similar, as cats have their own cleaning mechanism and cleaning your cat with chemical products can really damage their skin.
For more cat advice, learn why does your cat meow so much and how to keep your cat from jumping on your bed.
If you want to read similar articles to How to bathe my cat at home, we recommend you visit our Pets category.
Tips
- Bathing a cat is much easier than a dog because their size makes it quicker and simpler, so keep it calm
- If you've tried and the animal gets nervous or aggressive then it is best to leave this job to the professionals.
