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| Do you need to bathe your cat? |
Do you need to bathe your cat?
The short answer is yes. Is it a daily necessity? More than likely not. You essentially want to give your cat a bath if he/she has regularly gotten into something very dirty like mud or some type of vegetation with a lot of bugs, dirt and debris.
Cats typically keep themselves very clean, but you probably want to stick to bathing them maybe once a month at the very least. If your cat likes to sleep in the same bed with you or right next to you on a pillow, you will want to give him/her a bath more often obviously. Read also: Cat’s closeness to their masters.
Bathing a cat can and will reduce shedding fur, but you can also buy a cat comb for this as well. Giving your cat a bath will make your cats fur coat shinier and healthier, and will also reduce the amount of fleas and parasites. Ultimately you want to just play it by ear according to your own personal preference and how clean you want to keep your house. For flea control, it is recommended that you use a flea shampoo made for cats.
Long-haired cats will need to be bathed a little more often than short-haired cats. Indoor cats will not require as much bathing as outdoor cats. Just use your own judgement as to how often you should bathe your cat and how stressful it might be for the cat. For example, if you have an outdoor cat with long hair, you will typically want to bathe him/her a little more often.
How to bathe a cat that hates water?
Try not to submerse the cat in water, use a lightly running faucet instead for mainly rinsing. Also, it is a good idea to brush the cat beforehand to remove excess hair and dirt to save time. Trim your cat’s claws so you won’t get scratched. Read also: 3 Rules for Solving Pet Behavior Problems.
Use a mat to prevent slipping and to give the cat stable footing and traction. Also make sure you use a gentle shampoo, the key is to lessen the bath time as much as possible so preparation is important. Depending on how fidgety your cat is, you may consider using a second person to help.
Drying – it is a good idea to wrap your cat in a nice, thick towel after the bath for comfort and a good dry. Rewarding your cat with treats after the bath is also a good idea so the cat can associate bath time as being a positive experience.
Is it safe to bathe my cat with Dawn dish soap?
Yes. Dawn dish soap is much gentler than other shampoos and soaps, and will work just fine if you are on a budget. Dawn dish soap has also been known to help prevent fleas, but probably not as good as a commercial flea shampoo. Try it out for yourself and see if you notice a difference. Read also: Biting, Aggression, and Rough Play in the Cat.