Bathing a cat in itself can be difficult, but if you have a loving kitten, you can really find it a challenge. While cats and kittens are capable of cleaning themselves, sometimes bathing your cat becomes necessary because it has been exposed to something rotten or if its coat is greasy and needs grooming. Kittens need lots of love to learn to trust you and their bathwater, especially if it's your first bath. So how to bathe a kitten without making him panic and scratch? See Step 1 to find out.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Ready to Bathe Your Kitten
Step 1. Know when your cat needs a bath
The fact of the matter is, many cats don't need a bath at all, because they're good at grooming and grooming themselves. However, if your cat has fleas, if she's a small cat who likes to play outside and has stepped in the dirt, or if she looks and feels dirty, then it may be time to give her a bath. If your cat is very young, then you should treat it with a damp or damp cloth instead of giving it a real bath.
- Talk to your vet about when it's a good time to give your little cat a full bath. According to the Animal Compassion Network, you should wait until your cat is at least 8 weeks old before giving him a real bath.
- One of the benefits of bathing your cat from a young age is that it will get him used to bathing if he gets dirty regularly. Just remember that cats spend about 30% of their time grooming themselves and that they don't really need to be bathed more than once or twice a year unless they're really dirty.
Step 2. Trim your cat's nails
Even the calmest kittens will complain a little when you bathe them, especially if it's their first time. To protect yourself from being scratched by your favorite furry critter, you should make sure to trim his nails a little so that he's less likely to injure you when you bathe him. While a kitten's scratch may not be as severe as an adult cat's, you can still get hurt. It's best to do this to keep yourself safe, even if your cat complains a little.
- But you don't have to trim your cat's nails right before you bathe her. Do it the day before or at least a few hours before. Many cats get a little aggressive and irritated after having their nails cut, and you want your little critter to be in a calm frame of mind before you start bathing him.
- If you haven't trimmed your cat's nails yet, you're better off spending a little time between nail trimming and bathing – even if it's a full day. Nail trimming can be a new and scary experience for a young cat, and you don't want to make it worse by bathing them.
Step 3. Comb your cat's fur
Before you soak your kitten, you should brush its fur, comb its coat, its legs, its belly, and even the top of its head. This is important because you will make sure that the coat is free of tangles. If you put a cat with uncombed hair in the tub, you will only exacerbate the tangle and create avoidable problems. Don't overlook this important step.
Some cats really like having their fur brushed and see this as a very relaxing process. However, other cats become slightly panicked or agitated when their fur is brushed. If this process doesn't relax your cat, then give him at least an hour or two to cool off before the bath begins. Giving your cat a small treat after brushing her can make the process feel more positive
Step 4. Wear protective clothing
Do not bathe your cat while wearing a small tank top that exposes the arms and chest. Instead, wear a long-sleeved shirt of a decent thickness, which reduces the chances of your cat scratching you. Some extremists say you should even protect your hands, but this is only if you know your cat likes to bite and scratch. Better to be safe than sorry, and wearing a long-sleeved shirt can keep you from having claw marks all over your arms.
You should also try to choose a thick cotton material for your clothes so that your cat doesn't get its nails stuck in your clothes. Choose something that is hard for the claws to penetrate
Step 5. Prepare your cat's shampoo
Kittens need a special baby shampoo, and cats with fleas need one formulated to kill fleas, nits, etc. Cats without fleas can use a common cat shampoo. Go to a pet store, your vet, or shop at an online store. If in doubt, ask your sales associate for information about the best shampoo. Don't bathe your cat with common soaps or shampoos, or you can actually hurt the cat or irritate her skin.
Also don't use dog shampoo if you have one. The shampoo needs to be made according to your cat's needs
Step 6. Prepare your cat's bath ingredients
When you are ready to bathe the cat, take a cup to pour the water into and a towel to dry the cat. Prepare the shampoo. If you have an extra person to help you out, that's great too! All of your supplies ready in advance can help you bathe your cat when the time comes. You don't want to manage to get your cat in the bathroom and then realize you've left shampoo or towels in another room.
It is also a good idea to close your bathroom door to prevent your cat from escaping
Step 7. Make bathing interesting for your cat
If your cat is bathing for the first time and is just starting to face the world, you can try making the bath a less scary place for your cat. You can pick up some of his favorite toys and place them in the sink or basin you use, or even associate the area where you bathe him with fun and excitement, so he doesn't find it a scary place. You can even play with him in the sink or basin without bathing there at first, so that he becomes comfortable in that environment.
When it's time to bathe your cat, you can even throw in some of his favorite toys, or a few bath toys, to make him comfortable. You can even get him used to playing with bath toys in a dry environment first
Step 8. Bathe your cat when she feels calm
This is a very important thing. Don't give your cat a bath a minute after you've been playing for half an hour and get him overly excited, or after he's gone limp after finding bugs in the room. Avoid bathing her before her usual mealtime, or she may become restless and anxious, wanting to eat instead of bathing. Instead, choose a time when he's usually calm, resting, or just relaxing and doesn't need anything.
- While he will naturally settle down fairly quickly, it's best to start with a calm cat so that you make the bathing experience easier for yourself and your little critter.
- You can also schedule play sessions that tire your cat and then wait half an hour for her to get tired and rest before bath time.
Part 2 of 3: Bathing Your Kitten
Step 1. Prepare your cat's bath
The most common places to bathe your cat is in the sink or basin. The small container makes it easy to bathe your cat and to maintain self-control. The tub will make it more difficult to bathe your cat. While some people want to fill the container and then "dunk" their cat in the water, this can actually cause your little one to panic, so you should try this only as a last resort. More generally, you should place the cat in a basin and then slowly pour warm water over it.
- You might also consider placing a rubber bath mat under the sink or basin to help prevent your cat from slipping.
- Some people like to fill a container with warm water just an inch or two to get the cat's paws used to the water before the bath begins. You can even do this as training in preparation for a later shower, if you like. If your cat is really afraid of water, then you may have to slowly introduce your little one to the process.
Step 2. Help your cat stay calm
Cats will most likely cling to everything in an attempt to avoid the tub. Just gently tuck him in, one leg, then the other. Place him back in the sink. You can try gently holding the front shoulder in front of the chest down and using the other hand to shampoo the cat's back while you keep the underside inside. Keep panic or worry out of your voice and your cat may feel more calm and reassured. If you start to panic, he will sense that you are worried and will be more likely to imitate your reaction.
Pet your cat while preventing it from gripping its back or shoulders. If he's calmer a little sticking out of the container with his front paws, then you can leave him in this position instead of placing his whole body in the basin
Step 3. Just add water
While the cat is in the kitchen sink or basin, start using a cup to pour warm water on the cat until it is completely wet. Gently pour on your cat, even petting and petting her fur as you do so that she feels calm. If you have a helper, one person can help maintain control of the cat by holding it by the shoulders, while the other person pours the water. Pour no more than a half full cup of water over your cat at a time, and try to avoid his face at this stage.
Or, you can fill the sink halfway and dip the kitten in the water. If you choose this approach, then you can first put your cat in slightly warm water until the paws are wet, compliment her, and then dip her in more water. However, if you do this, try to fill the container or sink when your cat is in another room as some cats are afraid of the sound of running water
Step 4. Shampoo your cat's body
Use a small amount of shampoo, rub in, and start on the cat's back. Massage up to the tail, hind legs, forelegs, and neck. Make sure to go to the stomach too. If your cat really doesn't like this process, you can shampoo the kitty a little at a time, wash her, then repeat. You don't want to cover your cat with soap and then find that she doesn't have time to rinse before she runs away. You can use your hands or even a washcloth to help clean your cat.
- You should gently massage the shampoo into your cat's coat and body. Treat the baby's hair like that and avoid stroking the fur too hard. Be kind and gentle and your cat is more likely to relax.
- Your cat may really not like shampoo. Just keep reassuring him and try to keep the cat calm by staying calm.
- Try to keep soap out of your cat's eyes. You don't want to hurt the little creature in the process of bathing it.
Step 5. Rinse the cat with warm water
After you have cleaned your cat with shampoo, you should start rinsing him. You can gently pour water on your cat from the dipper, using your hands to wash the fur until the water runs clear. If your cat is in the sink, you can drain it to get the soapy water to dissipate. Keep pouring water all over your cat little by little until she doesn't shampoo. For added assistance, you can also use a damp cloth and wipe it all over your cat.
Some cats love and are fascinated by faucets. If your cat is not afraid of tap water and you bathe him in the sink, you can use the gentle stream of this water to help rinse your cat
Step 6. Wash your cat's face with water
There is no real need to wash your cat's face with shampoo. Just a little water on his face will help keep him clean and fresh. You can use a damp cloth to wipe his face to make it easier. Be careful not to get water in your cat's eyes or nose and be gentle with his face. Some cats don't want their faces touched, especially when there's water involved, so you need to be as gentle as possible.
Whatever you do, don't dip your cat's face under water. Doing this is guaranteed to make him panic
Part 3 of 3: Drying Your Kitten
Step 1. Pat the cat dry
At first, you can pat the cat dry before wrapping it in a towel. This will help some of his moisture down and will prevent him from feeling like you're trapping him in a wet noose. Just gently brushing her face, body, and fur can make you feel a little more relaxed before you put her on the towel.
Some people even use a hairdryer on the lowest setting to help dry their cat. You have to do what's best for your cat. Some are fascinated by dryers and some are afraid of them. If your cat is okay with a hairdryer, then set it on the lowest heat setting and gently dry the fur as you would your hair, just being a little more careful not to scare the cat or harm her
Step 2. Wrap the kitten in a large fluffy towel to dry him
Once you are successful, you should quickly dry the cat to remove most of the moisture. Be aware that this little animal can lose a lot of body temperature through wet fur so dry the cat as dry as possible, before providing a heat source for him to dry in front of him. Towels can make your cat feel a little claustrophobic and she may panic a little, but it's important to dry her as much as you can. Your cat will probably also shake the water off himself, just like a dog.
If you have a cat with long hair, then you should brush its coat after bathing to get rid of any tangles that may have been caused by the bath
Step 3. Reward your little one for obeying well
After that, give snacks, hugs, and kisses. Your poor little one has just experienced one of the worst things. Most cats hate water! (The two exceptions, however, are the Turkish Van, and the Bengal.) Even if your cat will get used to the bath, the initial experience is likely to be a little irritating, and you have to admit that.
Also, if you give your cat a treat after a bath, then she will associate bathing with the good things instead of the bad, and she will be more likely to want to bathe in the future
Tips
- Give them a treat after you bathe them.
- Be sure to confine the cat to a certain place to dry, or keep documents or other important items away. If this is left alone, the cat will use it as an opportunity to dry off instead of using a towel!
- Remember not to bathe your kitten too often. The water will dry out the skin and fur! Twice a week is the absolute maximum!
- Keeping his front paws out of the water allowed him to feel in control. Just let the front legs hang over the side of the sink or tub. This will also help keep water out of the cat's face and ears.
- Note: If you start bathing your cat at a young age and make sure that he associates a nice idea with the bath (such as a treat or a treat), he's probably less likely to turn it down as he grows up.
- If that kitten shampoo is too expensive for you, Johnson's head-to-toe baby wash can work just fine!
- Lifting the kitten in its "scuff" (the flesh on the back of its neck that its mother uses to carry it) can allow it to calm down enough that you can just dunk the kitten in the water.
- The kitten will sink right in the water. Take it easy and pet the kitten with shampoo. After that, make him feel comfortable to calm down.
- The way with latex gloves can help too when you trim your cat's nails.
- For cats that grind their teeth into your hands when you bathe them, use 2 old oven mitts, or buy 2 new ones. After the bath, put the gloves in the laundry and dry them for the next use. (Keep these gloves away from those you use for cooking; keep the cat gloves under the sink.)
- You can also try nylon or leotard to hold the cat.
Warning
- Never put soap on your cat's face, but if it gets on it, rinse it off quickly and if it gets irritated, take it to the vet.
- If you have multiple cats, it's possible that the other cats won't recognize the cat you're bathing and will be suspicious of him because you've removed the identifying odor. Bathe all your cats if you can. Whatever happens, it will take days for the distinctive smell to return.
- Bathing can present serious health risks to kittens. They can catch a cold very easily, both from the cold of the water and the loss of insulation/evaporation once the coat is wet. If your kitten is very dirty, consult a veterinarian. The same is true if there is reason to suspect that a substance that soils your kitten may adversely affect her health, be it from contact with her skin or ingestion during bathing.
- Make sure you and your cat don't have any soap residue!
- Keep the soap off your face, but if it does, seek medical attention.
