There is no denying that cats are adorable. They make great companions, as well as being powerful Internet celebrities. However, the question of whether to bathe a cat does not typically arise in conversation. Many people may wonder if it is a good idea or if the cat would enjoy it. Read this article to find out more.
Many cat lovers find it difficult to resist the adorable face of their feline companion, but should you bathe a cat ? Let’s dive into this question and see if we can figure out the answer to this question.
You should only bathe a cat when it is necessary and if the cat is cooperative. If you are unable to get your cat into the tub, you should not attempt to bathe it.
If you do choose to bathe your cat, you must do so at least once a month. This will help prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach of your feline friend.
You should also brush your cat’s teeth at least once every week or two. This helps remove plaque buildup and keep their breath smelling fresh!
You should probably bathe a cat.
Cats are amazing pets—they’re intelligent, affectionate, and they make great companions. But they also get dirty. A lot. And cats don’t always enjoy being clean. So you have to ask yourself: Is it worth the trouble?
The answer is yes. Here are five reasons why you should bathe your cat:
1) Cats can be pretty gross sometimes, and if you don’t wash them, their stinkiness will become your stinkiness too.
2) If you don’t wash your cat regularly, they could get fleas or worse—and then those fleas will come back to bite YOU! (Literally!)
3) Cats will love you even more if you give them a bath because they feel like they’re getting special attention from their owner(s).
4) Bathing your cat can be fun! You might even want to try giving yourself a bath along with them (it’s not as weird as it sounds).
5) Bathing with your cat may lead to other activities that are also fun (if done responsibly).
Should You Bathe A Cat
It’s interesting to me that, whenever this question gets asked, it’s always about how often as opposed to at all. The question itself is an example of how we tend to look at cats through“dog-colored” glasses. Since it’s pretty well-established that dogs need to be bathed regularly, it is usually presumed that cats do, as well. But the truth is, there is simply no reason to bathe your cat.
So should you bathe your cat? NO! Absolutely not.
In fact, cats can spend up to 50% of their waking hours grooming to cover themselves with their scent. So when you step in and bathe them, you are essentially erasing their ID—a Raw Cat staple and a source of serious mojo. Moreover, if you choose to bathe your cat regularly, you are cultivating a negative association with merely handling her. It can get to the point where, even at times when you innocently reach out to love on her, she won’t necessarily know that you’re not about to haul her away to the tub, and she could take a defensive posture toward you. This kind of association can be difficult to break.
So now that we’ve established the no-bathing rule, we do want to point out that there are tub-less ways you can proactively clean your cat like…
- Clean inside of their ears
- Trim their nails
- Brush regularly, especially if your cat is a long hair
Here are a few notable exceptions to the no-bathing rule
- Your cat has been skunked, soiled himself, or rolled in some indescribable source of nasty;
- Your cat is a hairless breed, in which case(because of their unnatural physiology and production of excess oils) they’ll need to have a bath once a week;
- Your cat is a recent rescue from the street and is exceedingly filthy and/or covered with fleas;
- Your cat is either elderly and doesn’t groom much anymore, or is obese and can’t effectively clean themselves.(In either case, they can be wiped down with a baby wipe.)
Those exemptions aside, please remember the mojo mantra—“Cats are not dogs!”—and step away from the bathtub!
So if you ever find yourself in one of these above situational or breed related ‘exceptions’ we do have a few tips for making a trip to tub town a little less stressful for you and your cat.
- Fill the tub or sink with water beforehand, the sound of running water is never good for a cats nerves
- Clean the face first with a washcloth, covering their ears and eyes with water while trying to keep them still is a losing battle… trust us
- Research and consider DIY cleaning solutions, especially an unscented formula
- Clean on a non-skid surface, if they continually slip through the cleaning it will cause them to fight back even more
- Keep loads of towels on hand, we’re talking lots and lots of towels
- Take it slow, cats can sense our nerves so keep it cool