What to Bathe a Cat With and Best Methods

Although they hate it, sometimes cats do need to be bathed.

It is important that you choose the right kind of shampoo for your cat and create a safe environment to bathe them.

Here are some tips for bathing your cat and how to pick out the right cleanser.

There are a few breeds of cats that love water and may want to actively play in it.

According to vetstreet.com, these breeds tend to love the water:

• The American Shorthair
• Turkish Van
• Bengal
• Turkish Angora
• Maine Coon
• American Bobtail

So bathing this type of cat may be easier. However most cats don't like doing something that they haven't decided to do.

So even though cats hate baths and will clean themselves, sometimes they need that extra boost.

Before you find your cat and start the bath you will need to gather your supplies:

• A nice fluffy towel or two
• Bathroom or area with a large sink that you can close off
• Brush (especially if they have longer, dry fur)
• Shampoo
• A small plastic cup or bowl (for scooping water)

You should never use human shampoo on cats.

Here are some of the things to consider when picking the right cleanser.

It is important to pick out a cleanser that is made for cats. This will insure that it has the correct balance for your pet and doesn't have chemicals that could make them sick.

Dogs and cats handle different ingredients in different ways so a shampoo that works for your dog may not work for your cat. For example, tea tree oil, found in some cleansers and shampoos has been shown to be toxic to cats.

After you have located the cat shampoo section of your pet store or online merchant, you will notice a wide selection. But how do you choose the right one for your cat?

Consider some of the options below based on your cat's fur, issues or needs.

Note: Do not use a flea shampoo if you are already using a topical flea medication or a flea collar. You can use flea shampoo and an internal medication such as Comfortis.

If your cat is older or sick, then the stress of a bath may be too much for them.

But sometimes they still need to be cleaned up, especially if they have been unable to clean themselves.

Try purchasing some pet wipes from the pet supply store or online.

These wipes work kind of like wipes used to clean babies up during a diaper change.

You simply wipe down the cat and there is no need to rinse.

This way you can clean them where they are resting and it will be more like being petted rather than being bathed.

This may not provide the deep clean that a full bath does but it will help your sick or older cat feel fresher and smell better.

Now that you have picked out the products, you are ready to bathe your cat.

It is best to bathe them in a room that you can close such as a small bathroom.

Also choose a place that they don't have a lot of places to hide if they jump out of the tub.

Here are the steps for bathing the cat along with hints about making it easier.

• While most cats don't like baths, it is sometimes necessary.
• Make sure the product you are using says it is safe for cats.
• If the cat is older or sick, consider dry shampoo or pet wipes.
• Create a safe environment to bathe the cat.
• Make sure they stay warm as they dry.

Although most cat owners do not have to bathe their pets as often as dog owners, it is sometimes still necessary depending on the breed and the particular circumstances for that cat.

With a little preparation, the task may not be as bad as you think.