TIPS FOR HOW TO BATH YOUR CATS

New cat owners usually face such questions about bathing a cat.

1. Do you need to bath your cat? Is it safe?

Fortunately, for you and your cat, our feline friends don't need regular baths. Cats are known for their good grooming habits. They usually lick themselves clean.

However, it is still necessary to bath them once in a while to keep your cat’s skin and fur coat healthy. Here are some good reasons to bath your cat.

• Your cat have gotten into something messy or sticky. (Mud, gum, etc.)
• Vomited on themselves or had a horrible litter box "accident".
• Caught some fleas and your have to remove them
• Got injured or caught some skin disease, and you need to apply anti-fungal medications.

There are many more reasons that you will need to bath a cat and a lot of cat owners face this issue "Cats don't like water!. Most cats become irritated when you try to bathe them, and they get aggressive. That's when it is not safe to bath a cat. (I'm writing most here as some minority cats are okay to water)

2. How to keep us safe as I bath my cat? How can I calm my cat down for the bath?

There is really no one solution fits all. Every cat behaves differently. So, we will be giving tips based on the majority of cats. And here are some tips to help on bathing a cat safely (for you and your cat)

• Trim their claws first: Cat’s claws are super sharp. It is one of their primary form of defense. An upset cat may claw and injure anyone nearby during bath time. Cat scratches can really hurt. So it is in your best interest to trim your cat’s nails before attempting a bath. You can use our Cat Blindfold Mask to keep them calm and make it easier to trim your cat nails.

• Time It right: Cats generally don’t like to be wet. They tend to get upset and may turn aggressive if we force them to get wet. Pick a time when your cat is at their calmest — often after they had their meal.

• Brushing your cat before a bath: Brushing your cat first before a bath helps to remove excess loose fur that may otherwise cause a mess or even clog the pipe. We recommend using a soft cat comb that will effectively remove dead hair, tangles & knots while it massages your cat's fur as well. (Get the 3PCS CAT HAIR REMOVER MASSAGING COMB)
• Get help: If you are a beginner, it will be better if you can get someone to help you out until your cat and yourself are used to it. Cat baths might turn into something like a natural disaster.

• Get traction: Use a rubber mat or towel in the tub to make sure your kitty doesn’t slip. Claws can be real slippery in a bath tub. Any accident might just give them a phobia and the bathing task gets harder.

• Get the water temperature right: Use warm water to bath them instead of cold water to avoid the cold shock. The best temperature is a few degrees above lukewarm.

Once all these are done, it is time to bath the cat.

3. How to bath the cat?

Just spray water on them? No! Definitely not! You will just scare the heck out of your cat. Tom might just leave a few scratches on you. (best case scenario)

Jokes aside, as a start. Placed them slowly into the bath tub near the water, but not underneath it. Your cat probably won’t willingly go under the water. So, you have to cajole them to slowly touch the water with their paws.

• Pour over method: Once their paws are wet, use a pitcher, or a plastic cup, to pour warm water over their body gently until they’re thoroughly wet.

• Use a cat shampoo (not human shampoo): Don’t use human shampoo on your cat. It is not safe if your cat licks it, and it may hurt their delicate skin. Instead, use specialized shampoo for cats. Start at your cat’s neck and gently massage the shampoo toward its tail. Avoid their face, eyes, and ears. We recommend using soft bristle brush like our Foam Dispensing Bathing Brush that can brush, clean and massage them at the same time.

• Rinse Well: Once you’ve fully lathered up your cat, you can begin rinsing them off.  Rinse them off well. Anything that’s left will be ingested by your cat when they lick themselves. It can cause bowel irritation 
• Clean the Face: Use a damp cloth, gently wipe your kitty's face, and brush the fur away from their eyes and nose.

• Dry them up after bath asap: This last step here is also the most important one. Get them a big towel to dry them up while giving them the warm and cosy feeling after a warm bath. If they get comfortable on their first bath, they will be more willing to cooperate with you on their next bath. First impression matters!

• Grooming: If your cat lets you, you can also use a hairdryer on its lowest temperature setting to speed up the process. If your cat has long fur, comb it out with a wide-toothed comb. If you need to do both simultaneously, try this Ingenious 2-in-1 Brush Dryer.

Last but not least, end their bath with some cat treats, and play with them to reward them. This will help your cat to look forward to their next bath time, and you will have a much easier time bathing them.

Remember, bathing a cat doesn't need to be a regular activity like it might be with dogs. Only do this if necessary, but now you are well equipped and ready for the most “pleasant” cat bath experience possible. If your cat has a medical need for baths and freaks out every time you try, discuss options with your vet.

So, there you have it! Hopefully, our tips are helpful to your cat bath struggles. Bathing your cat successfully isn't just a myth, and now you're armed with the supplies and tips for giving your feline friend a good soak to keep her clean and shiny! 

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