You see cat lovers all over the internet saying how they love to bathe their cats. You might wonder if you should wash your cat or not. Are cats supposed to be washed? Will it ruin his coat, or cause him stress? The answer lies in a paradox where you’ll learn that keeping a cat clean might just mean washing him and in turn help save his life.
As a cat owner, you’ve probably asked yourself some variation of this question before. And now, after reading the title of this article, your answer to the question is most likely a definitive and resounding “yes”. You’re probably thinking about how much debris could get lodged into Fluffy’s fur, or how much dirt could get tracked into your home. But is either outcome really that likely? And do you trust your judgment enough not to hurt your pet?
Should you wash your cat?
This is an important question, because cats are sensitive animals who don’t always like to be bathed. If you’re not sure where to start with washing your cat, here are some tips for how to do it safely and effectively.
First of all, you should only wash a cat that is comfortable with the process. Some cats enjoy being bathed and will tolerate it easily. Other cats will fight you every step of the way. If your cat is not comfortable with being washed, don’t force it! You can try again in a few days or weeks when they are more relaxed around water.
If your cat does seem okay with being bathed, make sure you have everything ready before starting out: shampoo or other cleaning product; towels; a place for them to dry off afterward (like a large bathtub or sink); and treats afterward as a reward for good behavior while bathing!
You may want to start by gently stroking their fur while talking softly in order to get them used to having their coat touched by someone else besides themselves or their owner. Then take them into the bathroom and fill up an empty bucket partially full with warm water so that they can get used
Of the many questions that have been asked about cats, “Should I wash my cat?” is one of the most common.
Washing a cat can be a very different experience from washing other pets. When you bath your dog or cat, it’s important to know how to do it correctly and safely. You should never wash your cat like you would wash yourself because cats are very different from humans and their skin is much more sensitive than ours.
The first step in washing a cat is getting all of the supplies together. You’ll need:
-A bowl or sink full of water
-A towel
-Special shampoo for cats (you can find this at any pet store)
-An old t-shirt or pair of socks that are worn but not torn or too thin
-A hair dryer (optional)
Should You Wash 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