If you are a feline lover or have a kitten at home, surely you have ever wondered if bathing a cat is good or bad and if it is really necessary to do it. Well, in this article on our site we are going to answer all these questions and we are even going to give you some advice so that you know exactly what you have to do in case you have to give your pet a bath.
The belief that cats don't like water and that they spend the day cleaning themselves and that's why they don't need to be bathed is not really true, and if you continue reading below we will discover you the why. The truth is that everything depends on various factors, such as whether you've used it since childhood, if it has had any negative experiences with water, or if we really need to clean it for some specific reason, among others. So take a look at this article and you will see if bathing a cat is good or not.
Is it necessary to bathe a cat?
The answer to this question depends on each animal, and the vets say that it is really not necessary to bathe a cat if it is he althy and looks good, at least not on a regular basis but only when it is strictly necessary, since if we frequently bathe our feline, it is possible that it loses the essential oils that its fur contains and on top of that, we cause a traumatic experience. So bathing a cat is absolutely not necessary, but it's good if you need it. In addition, felines are one of the most hygienic animals that exist, since they spend most of their time grooming themselves by passing their tongue all over their body, so if your cat has short hair and is indoors, with a good regular brushing will almost always suffice.
Everyone knows the typical phrase that cats hate water, but this statement is uncertain, since everything is a matter of getting them used to it. As happens with other animals, you can educate a cat from a young age and get him used to bathing and having contact with water, yes, the ideal would be to start bathing him from 2 or 3 months of age, which is when the pertinent vaccinations have been given to him and he is in the full stage of socialization, so that he does not get sick and learns that the water is not "bad". If you have to get used to bathing an adult cat, it will be much more complicated.
Likewise, there are also some breeds of kittens that like water, such as the Bengal cat, which have no problem playing with water and are excellent swimmers. But obviously, of these races there are only a few exceptions. However, it is possible to get a cat used to bathing at home without running away and without having a negative experience.
When to bathe a cat?
Whether or not you have been used to bathing, there are some extraordinary situations in which it may be necessary to bathe a cat:
- If you have taken in a puppy or adult stray cat and it is dirty.
- If your cat has any allergies or skin infections.
- If your feline has suffered a heat stroke or it is simply very hot in the environment.
- If your kitty has long or semi-long hair, and you can't untangle it with a brush or has oily skin.
- If your cat has fleas and you have to remove them with a special shampoo.
- If your cat has ringworm that affects the hair, skin and nails.
- If your feline has gotten dirty with any product, especially if it is chemical or toxic, it cannot be removed and/or with the help of wet wipes.
- If your kitty has stopped grooming for some reason.
Only in these cases will it be really necessary to bathe a cat, otherwise it will suffice with its own daily hygiene, more or less regular brushing depending on the type of fur it has and also, you can use wet wipes soaked in dry shampoos specific to respect the pH of cats' skin to remove certain traces of dirt without actually giving them a bath.
Tips for bathing a cat properly
Before giving a cat a bath it is important that we take into account a series of guidelines that it is best to follow to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
The cats' first bath is always the worst because everything is unknown to them and they don't know what awaits them at that moment, so it is very important that we be Calm down, let's be patient, and don't make sudden noises or raise your voice when speaking so as not to upset or make our pussycat even more nervous. You should pet him and treat him very lovingly at that time.
Also, if possible, ask someone familiar to your feline to help you bathe him and hold him if necessary. Also try to fill the bathtub or the container you are going to use with warm water and before you put your cat in, since the noise of the water spouting from the griffin can make your kitty even more nervous and make him aggressive. You can also lay out a towel for him to dig his nails into the bottom of the tub if he wants.
Use a specific shampoo for cats so as not to damage your pet's skin or fur and bathe him gently, trying not to touch the entire area of his heador getting too close to him so he doesn't scratch your face if he tenses up. Once you have soaped and rinsed it well, take your wet cat out and dry it with a towel as best you can to remove as much moisture as possible. If you think your cat will tolerate the noise of the hair dryer well, then set it to a medium temperature and power and start drying its fur from a safe distance.
The sooner you do it and the more times you give your cat a bath, the more likely it is that he will end up liking the experience and the easier it will be for everyone, so don't be afraid and stop wondering if bathing a cat is good or bad because it all depends on many factors.
