A cat doesn't like to bathe what to do

Pets resent bathing because their fur gets wet quickly and shampoo dries out their skin. In the wild, a wild cat will only venture into the water to save its life. Tigers and other big animals of the feline family are an exception: they normally tolerate water procedures thanks to the water-repellent properties of their fur and their ability to shampoo.

How to bathe a cat correctly

By nature, cats are very clean. But one way or another, the owner should periodically wash his pet, especially if he is outdoors. Not all cats like water, only a small percentage of animals allow the owner to wash themselves. How much you can bathe a cat, how to do it correctly and much more you will learn in our article.

Animal hair collects dust and dirt. In long-haired breeds of cats, dirty hair can be bunched into sloppy balls, which gives the animal an untidy appearance. If your cat lives outdoors or is out there a lot, it is likely that parasites can get into his fur. Washing your cat will help maintain the right level of hygiene, and your pet will always look well groomed.

How often should I wash my cat?

There are sebaceous glands on a pet's body that produce secret. This secret has a specific smell and it is different for each cat. This secret also helps provide a protective fat barrier to the skin. Frequent washing washes away this barrier and the pet's skin can become more sensitive.

It is recommended that a domestic cat be washed on average once every three months. The exception is when the pet's fur is heavily soiled or has parasites. Outdoor cats can be washed once every 4 to 6 weeks. Their fur collects dust and dirt faster, so you can bathe the cat more often.

When to accustom a cat to water procedures?

How to bathe a cat? It is extremely important to "introduce" the cat to the bathroom at a young age. There is an opinion that if the kitten is not accustomed to regular washing in time, you will not be able to do it later. Representatives of the feline breed are very sensitive to their habits, so you need to take care that they are formed in advance. A small kitten will be looking for your protection, and washing will most likely be perceived as something unavoidable. An adult cat will unleash its claws in case of such an unforeseen event, and may inadvertently cause deep scratches to the owner.

Try to calm the pet down before bathing him. Gently speak to it (cats sense human intonation and feel its mood), pet it and tell it that this is necessary because it's soiled. It would be a misconception to think that cats are incapable of deep feelings for their owner. Almost always these cute fluffers are so attuned to humans that they can have a beneficial effect on them.

During the process itself, firmly, but not strongly hold the animal with one hand, and with the other directly carry out the washing procedure. How to bathe a cat without consequences? First of all you should be confident in yourself. Reassure the cat if you have to and try to do everything as quickly as possible. No cat will tolerate such "abuse" for a long time. It is better to give it only 5-10 minutes, you won't need to wait for more.

Bathing accessories

Before washing do not forget to prepare everything you need so that your cat will not be frightened. Remember: he will not stand in water for a long time, so it is extremely important that you have everything at hand. How to bathe a cat and what to prepare? Shampoo (it should already stand on the table next to the bathtub), a non-rigid brush for brushing hair, a special towel for wiping, perhaps a small basin or a tub.

Many cat owners prefer to wash their pets in small containers, thinking that this way they will feel less stress. In fact, much depends on your attitude. Buy a baby bath is not necessary. How to bathe the cat, if he stubbornly refuses to get into a prepared container for him? Act gently, be patient and affectionate.

What I did

The first thing that frightens a cat sitting in a tub is the sliding of its paws on the bottom, which it feels during every bath. To avoid this, make the pet comfortable – put a small mat on the bottom of the container. It can be anything – cloth, rubber, whatever.

To make bathing only fun for the cat, you can throw in a couple of your cat's favorite toys.

As soon as everything is ready, you should put the cat in the bathtub and only then begin to pour water into it. The cat should see that this process takes place in front of him and very slowly.

This approach to bathing the cat will provide peace of mind not only for the cat, but also for you. Please note, however, that not only the right approach to the bathing process is very important for the pet, but also the presence of all the comfort conditions.

How cats like to bathe

First of all, make sure that all doors and windows are closed – while bathing in the bathroom there should not be a draught.

Make sure the water temperature is as comfortable as possible for the cat – about 30-35 degrees. There's no need to fill the tub completely – just fill it up to cover the cat's paws.

To wash the cat, use only special hypoallergenic shampoo without a strong odor (in no case do not use laundry soap – cats do not like it). Prepare in advance a linen towel with which to dry your cat – it should be linen.

While washing, try not to touch the cat's head – don't forget that their ear and eye area are very sensitive, so improper touching may cause discomfort to the cat.

By following these simple bathing rules, you can get your cat used to the water treatment very quickly, and without unnecessary fighting with the cat.

Have you ever bathed a cat? What tricks have you used to get him to love bathing?

How do you bathe a cat?

While there are many breeds among dogs that not only aren't afraid of water, but adore it, it's very rare for cats. Most often they have a panic fear of bathing and in every way express dissatisfaction with this process. So the question arises: How do you bathe a cat if it is afraid of water?

Of course, a cat should be bathed much less often than a dog. Healthy domestic cats often lick themselves, so you should wash them only after a walk in case of heavy soiling and before pet shows. It is very harmful to bathe a cat every day just to shampoo its hair so that it smells good: it weakens the protective function of the skin.

How do you bathe a cat if it's afraid of water? Preparing

• Start accustoming your cat to washing when she's still a kitten. Wipe its coat as it gets dirty with a damp cloth, accustom it to water gradually. Kittens under two months of age should not be bathed unless absolutely necessary.
• Clip claws a few days before you bathe your cat. Without sharp claws, bathing will be less traumatic for the owner.
• Comb the cat's hair frequently, so that it won't tangle too much after bathing.
• Under no circumstances should you drag your pet into the bath or switch on the water suddenly. This is almost 100 percent traumatic for the cat. Start with toys in the bath that the cat can only play with there. You can put a piece of food on the tub to lure the animal in. The water should be turned on gradually and never on the muzzle and ears.
• Prepare everything you need for the bath in advance. The animal should not be stressed along with the owner, who is looking for a clean towel, flicking the shampoo caps and checking the water temperature right on the cat. You need to hang a dry towel in advance, put a mat on the bathroom floor so the cat won't slip. It is worth to close the door to the bathroom, remove all objects in which the animal can bump into if it thinks of escaping.
• If it is possible to bathe the cat in two, one person should pet and gently hold the animal, and the other person should wash it. However, don't turn bathing into torture for the cat. If it is urgent to bathe and it is panicking, it is better to give it dry shampoo than to hold it by force. Try to get your cat used to bathing gradually.
• Before washing make sure you feed the cat, play with it, make sure the animal uses up as much energy as possible and does not run in the bath.
• If the pet is afraid of running water, fill the tub in advance (no more than to the cat's belly) or start accustoming it to water by bathing it in a basin or sink. There are also special faucet attachments that allow you to bathe the cat in the most gentle way possible.
• Protect yourself. Cats often scratch their owners while bathing, so wear comfortable clothing and protect your hands with gloves if you have serious concerns.

What shouldn't you do when accustoming your pet to water?

Some actions of the owners can lead to the fact that the pet will get stressed from bathing and subsequent attempts to wash will become impossible. The main mistakes while accustoming the cat to water procedures:

• It is not recommended to wash the kitten in the bathtub, it is better to use a basin. A small plastic basin with low walls will normally be accepted by an animal. He has an instinctive fear of drowning when he sees the high sides of the tub and the water coming in, so a small basin is preferable.
• Do not open the faucet to full power or raise the shower head too high above the pet. Droplets falling and flying in all directions cause anxiety and discomfort.

• Do not plug your pet's ears with absorbent cotton, as it may provoke irritation.
• Hand-holding and yelling are the worst things you can use to restrain your pet. The procedure will be associated with pain and fear in the cat.
• The cat should not be tied down while bathing. If she panics, she may hurt herself by trying to jump out and get rid of the collar or leash.
• The pet should not be washed in too hot or cold water.
• The sooner the procedure is over, the better.

How to wash a cat if it is afraid of water

Many owners who decide to bathe their pets do not know how to do it correctly. Most cats are terrified of water and become very nervous, lashing out and meowing at the sight of a bath.

If you know a few tricks, you can wash your pet easily enough (and painlessly for yourself). Experienced owners share tips on how to bathe a cat who is afraid of water:

• Using a ladle or other container, wet the cat's fur and soap it up;
• use only shampoos that are specially made for pets, cats do not need conditioners;
• try to avoid getting it in the eyes, nose, mouth and ears (the latter can be covered with absorbent cotton for safety);

Important: A comfortable water temperature for bathing cats is 30-38 degrees.

Bathing always upsets the cat, so be sure to soothe him: stroke him, hold him in your arms. You can give an extra serving of tasty food after the bath to make the pet forget the unpleasant moment faster. By the way, if you treat your cat after the bath every time you will teach him to tolerate water better, because he will know that a tidbit is waiting for him afterwards.

How to train a cat to the water

Almost all cat breeds are terrified of bathing. The exceptions are May Coons and Chowsies. But many have noticed that quite often cats are fascinated by water in a full bath. Curious by nature, they scrutinize the unfamiliar space. Sometimes animals touch the water with their paws or even jump, if the water is not much. It is at these moments that you think about how to accustom the cat to the water.

It is important to introduce your pet to bathing as early as possible, but not from infancy. Then the animal will not be afraid of this necessary procedure.

Important: Veterinarians strongly recommend not to bathe kittens younger than three months. A pet may not tolerate a lot of stress or become seriously ill.

In the bathtub the cat should stand firmly on its feet, not slip, then it will feel confident. Put a rubber mat on the bottom. Pour just a little water and try to put the cat in the "pond". Try not to frighten the cat: soothe it by playing and talking, distract it with toys.

With each new bathing you can increase the water level. Think of a code word (e.g., "bathe!") so your pet knows what to expect. If the pet continues to be nervous, give him some sedatives.

If your cat manfully endured an unpleasant procedure, don't ruin the situation with a dryer. Let him lick or shake himself first, then towel him off.

Important: Don't try drying your pet with a hair dryer. Cats cannot tolerate this sound. It will be another stress for them. And then it will be harder to accustom the cat to bathing.

Be sure to put the cat in a warm, draught-free place after bathing. A wet animal can catch a cold.

Are wild felines afraid of water?

Most wild cats are not afraid of water. They have a strong immune system and are not afraid of hypothermia, overheating or pathogens. In addition, wild cats after bathing shake off, unlike domestic brethren. Dogs do the same, so they bathe more willingly than cats.

Tigers, lions, jaguars, servals, and jaguarundi are great swimmers and love to eat fish and waterfowl. A special attention should be paid to the cat-fisherman, also called "speckled cat", which not only likes water, but can dive to the bottom of the reservoir in search of prey. This animal has webbed feet on its front legs.

Not all wild representatives of the feline family are comfortable with water. The wild Nubian cat, or steppe cat, just like domestic cats, does not like to bathe. It lives in deserts near saxaul thickets, as well as in mountainous areas. The steppe cat has a lot in common with domestic cats and is considered their progenitor.

Which breeds of cats like to bathe?

Cats of some breeds have a love of water. Even in ancient treatises it was said that Siamese cats accompanied their owners while bathing in the pool. This quality has been preserved in representatives of the breed to this day. To bathe in the bathtub and climb into the sink under the faucet do not mind and representatives of such breeds as:

• Bengal cat;
• Kuril, Japanese, American Bobtails;
• Norwegian forest cat;
• Turkish van;
• Manx;
• Maine Coon;
• angora;
• Abyssinian cat.

Most cats that are calm about water procedures are close relatives of "feral cats". Their genes "remember" contact with bodies of water, so they have no fear.

Animals not afraid of water include representatives of hairless and some short-haired breeds (Devon Rex, Sphynx). This is due to the fact that they dry off quickly and are not bothered by a wet "coat". Such cats are accustomed to water early and are not afraid of bathing from an early age.

How to wash a cat and stay alive, instructions and tips

Many cats are terrified of water. In this case, even the most compliant pet is capable of turning into a real fury. Given the fact that the pet is naturally equipped with sharp claws and teeth, the attempt to wash him turns into a real ordeal. Why are cats so afraid of water? How do you manage to wash the cat and not come out of the bathroom scratched and gnawed?

Many cat owners know what it's like to bathe a resisting animal. She needs not just to dip, but to hold in water, soaking, lathering, washing off the shampoo. Read our instructions and our tipsters in this material.

Why cats are afraid of water

The vast majority of our pets are descended from one common ancestor: the steppe cat Felis silvestris lybica, which appeared 130,000 years ago. There are problems with water in the steppe, so many cats are genetically afraid of it. But according to zoologists, in the case of bathing, cats do not have a fear of water, but rather a fear of everything that accompanies the bathing procedure.

What is so unpleasant for cats in the bathing procedure? Many things. For example – pungent smells. For us, all of these shampoos, foams and other "soap and water" smells good, but for cats – no. Our sense of smell is developed 14 times worse than the cat's, so we do not feel how unpleasant it smells chlorine water. Also, the water people pour into the cat's bathtub is cold. We don't do it on purpose, we're afraid of burning our pet, but we forget that the average human body temperature is 36.6 degrees and a cat's is 38-39 degrees. Water that is warm for us is cold for a cat. Cats feel insecure in water. Their paws slip and it is harder to move in water than on dry land. In addition, cats are genetically conditioned to wet their coats to give themselves away to prey or predators. A wet coat smells stronger. Never mind that she is in the apartment and there are no predators nearby. Well, and drying after bathing is difficult for the cat, most of these animals have a dense undercoat, when it gets wet, the pet starts to freeze.

Cat bathing: step by step

If a pet is really afraid of water, it is important not only to prepare in advance everything necessary for its bathing, but also to organize the process itself correctly. A step by step guide will help you cope with this task (this plan will suit both for washing an adult cat, and for accustoming a very small kitten to water procedures):

1. Fill a basin with some water of a comfortable temperature (37-40°C) so that the liquid does not reach the pet's belly. It is best to do this in the cat's absence.
2. Place the cat in the basin. Using a ladle or your own palm, gently scoop water from a basin and thoroughly wet the back and head of your pet, while avoiding getting the liquid into the cat's ears and eyes.
3. Shampoo the whole cat (except for the muzzle) without prolonging the process. It's enough to run your fingers lightly over the back and belly of the cat, remembering to hold it tightly with your free hand.
4. Thoroughly rinse off all the soap foam that has formed, using the palms of your hands or a ladle. Don't use a shower, the noise of it can frighten the cat.
5. Without making any sudden movements remove the pet from the basin and throw a large dry towel over it.

There is a high probability that even if you follow all these recommendations, the cat will be frightened by bathing. Panicking, it will scream and lash out. Do not raise your pet's voice or use physical force on her. This is not an act of disobedience! The poor guy is stressed, and there's no need to aggravate the animal's condition by undermining his trust in his owner.

The cat is washed. What's next?

Bathe the pet is half the battle. You must properly dry him, without overcooling. To do this, you must go over the pet's fur with a towel, so that the cloth absorbs the maximum amount of moisture. The thicker and longer is the hair of the pet, the more time this procedure will take. For example, you will need at least 10-15 minutes and several dry towels to dry the Persian.

If the apartment is warm, that will be enough to prevent the cat from catching a cold. However, when there is a draft in the apartment and it is cold outside, it makes sense to dry the cat with a hair dryer. The procedure will cause extra stress for the cat, but it is better than hypothermia and its complications (pneumonia and the like).

It is not necessary to brush the cat after bathing until its hair is completely dry. Otherwise the procedure will cause discomfort and pain to the animal, as the brush will cling to the tangled wet hair.