How to Bathe Your Kitten or Adult Cat

Cats are expert groomers, starting at about two to four weeks old—but a cat bath is beneficial because it can remove excess oil, stimulate the skin, and help your feline shed old hair. It also gets your cat accustomed to being handled or using gadgets such as an electronic cat door.

Supplies You’ll Need

The items you’ll need for a routine cat bath include:

• Grooming shampoo
• Rubber gloves (protect against scratches)
• Clean towels
• Water pitcher or spray nozzle
• Small cloth (for your cat’s face)
• Cotton balls (to clean its ears)
• Floating cat toys

Preparation

Trim your cat’s claws beforehand; this will protect you in case it scratches. Next, brush it thoroughly to remove excess fur. If she’ll let you, place some cotton in her ears to keep out water.

Determine whether you’ll use the sink or tub. To protect your cat, place a rubber bathmat at the bottom and run the faucet lukewarm until the water is at a level of the height of your hand. If you use a hand-held hose for bathing, avoid the eyes, ears, and nose, but a cup or plastic pitcher works as well.

Bathing Your Cat

• Kittens can be washed in the kitchen sink or in a bucket set in the bathtub. Lower your cat gently into the water. With your kitten standing on its hind legs, wet its fur thoroughly, and then apply shampoo. Dip the cat back into the container to rinse it off.
• Adult cats can have water scooped over them, or you can use a spray nozzle at a low spray force. Running water often scares cats. If you spray them, keep the nozzle close to the fur and don’t spray their face. Have a firm grip on your cat and rinse it from the neck down.

With a dry towel, dab the fur or wrap the cat in it. If using a blow dryer, make sure it’s at the lowest heat setting.

Watch for signs of distress. If your cat is hissing, crying, meowing, growling, breathing hard, or sneezing, they may be panicking. Stop what you are doing and take things slowly at first.

Order a Cat Door Today

At Australia Pet Doors, you can find a microchip pet door for your cat to come and go as it pleases. If you need assistance, contact us at +61-437-644-330.