How often can cats be washed and what does it depend on?

Bathing a cat or a cat is a laborious procedure, requiring from a person not only dexterity and skill, but also patience and a benevolent approach. The vast majority of mustachioed pets are extremely negative about this procedure, so pet owners usually try not to abuse bathing. Let's figure out in the article how often it is allowed to wash cats, cats and kittens, whether there are contraindications to this procedure, and what veterinarians think about this.

According to veterinarians, there is no need to wash the animal unnecessarily. Bathing is very stressful for most cats and cats, therefore this procedure should be used only when necessary. However, there are reasons that can be considered objective indications for bathing.

If a kitten has appeared in the house, taken from a well-groomed domestic cat, then it is often not required to bathe it.

Bathing is usually not required for small pets taken from the shelter. Employees of such organizations and volunteers, as a rule, give their wards to the new owners already clean, tidy and combed.

The situation is somewhat different when a kitten, picked up on the street, appears in the house.In this case, the animal must be carefully examined, paying special attention to the condition of the ears, eyes, nose, abdomen and groin.

You should also carefully examine the wool by running your fingers against it (you should first put on gloves). The presence of bald spots in the coat may indicate the development of lichen, and the presence of streaks and traces of pus in the area of ​​the nose and eyes - an infectious disease. After examining the pet, you need to carefully bathe using a special antiparasitic shampoo.

Although cats and cats are considered clean animals, some of them do not fit this stereotype at all. Some representatives of the feline family even manage to get dirty, being in a clean house, without even leaving its limits.

In some cats and cats, the coat can quickly and often get dirty, falling into untidy mats due to the increased production of sebum. Often this phenomenon is observed in animals experiencing changes in hormonal levels. In this case, pets also need bathing. using a special zoo shampoo with anti-seborrheic effect.

The period of intensive undercoat change is one of the main reasons requiring more frequent bathing. During moulting, some of the dead hairs remain and become entangled in the wool, forming ugly tangles and lumps. The animal is not able to cope with them on its own... Moreover, trying to put itself in order, a shedding pet often chokes on its own fur. Bathing is also required here with further careful combing out of the dead undercoat.

The detection of parasites and fleas in the animal's fur is the reason why thorough bathing should be carried out urgently. During the procedure, it is important to use a special zoo shampoo with an insecticidal effect. Such detergents help to destroy parasites and prevent their further appearance. In some cases, the procedure is repeated.

Professional cat and cat breeders are well aware of how much effort it takes to prepare for a show. Before the show, thoroughbred pets are washed using very expensive shampoos that add shine and volume to the coat. Additionally, the wool is combed and laid with professional gels and varnishes.

The reasons listed above are the main reasons for the next bathing of the pet. Owners of cats and cats who prefer to wash their animals too often are reminded by veterinarians that this can threaten the development of skin diseases up to massive hair loss.

Often there are situations when it is strictly not allowed to bathe a cat or a cat. It is customary to include the following circumstances in the list of such contraindications when:

• the pet has just or recently eaten (vomiting may open due to stress);
• the animal has suffered severe stress, it is scared or aggressive;
• the pet has undergone surgery (after surgery, cats are not bathed for at least two weeks);
• the animal is currently diagnosed with a disease.

The frequency and frequency of bathing cats and cats depend on a number of specific factors, under the influence of which some animals have to be washed more often than others. So, the frequency of this procedure may depend on the age of the pet, its breed and, consequently, the length of the coat, the state of health.

Very small kittens veterinarians recommend not to bathe in the first months of life. During this period, their mother actively looks after them. For the first time, it is allowed to bathe a baby after his milk teeth have fallen out. This usually occurs at 4 months of age.

Kittens younger than 3-4 months should not be bathed. At this age, the immunity of animals is still weak, which can cause the development of colds after water procedures. In addition, after bathing a kitten using detergents, a nursing cat may not recognize the baby's smell and, therefore, keep him away from her.

Adult animals with medium-length hair are bathed on average 2-3 times a year. Active individuals that get dirty quickly are washed a little more often. Elderly cats and cats, who prefer to spend a significant part of their time in solitude and rest, are bathed about twice a year.

Non-castrated adult cats require more frequent bathing than their neutered cousins. In males with a preserved reproductive function, the sebaceous glands, under the influence of hormones, produce more secretions, as a result of which the wool gets dirty faster, acquires an oily sheen and sticks together.

The frequency of bathing depends on the breed and on the color of the animal. So, if ordinary cats with medium hair are bathed about three times a year, then long-haired individuals are allowed to be washed about once every 2 months. Short-haired cats are rarely bathed. Representatives of the Sphynx breed are wiped with a damp cloth if necessary, although many cats of this breed adore water procedures. Some owners of sphinxes who love to swim arrange this procedure for their pets once a week.

Besides, frequent bathing is required for cats of white, beige and peach colors. They can be bathed every 2-3 months using a special shampoo.

If your pet suffers from an allergy accompanied by itchy skin, you can relieve its condition by bathing. Usually, this procedure is performed once a week using special mild shampoos with a calming effect. The frequency of bathing and the type of detergent should be recommended by your veterinarian.

Some internal diseases (for example, hormonal disorders) are often accompanied by an increased production of sebum. As a result of this, the cat's hair begins to stray into lumps, hanging down in untidy "icicles". With abundant sebum secretion, the secret clogs the pores of the skin, which can cause the animal to itch a lot. In this case, you can also resort to bathing with the use of funds that regulate the work of the sebaceous glands, while not forgetting about the treatment of the underlying disease.

It is not allowed to bathe animals with acute infectious skin diseases, with severe skin injuries. And also pets who have colds or have recently suffered from colds fall under the ban on bathing.

The frequency of washing your cat depends on where it lives. If a pet spends a significant part of its time outdoors, it should be bathed quite often - about 4-5 times a year. Animals that are raised at home and do not go outside are washed less often - about 2-3 times a year.

You can determine that your pet needs bathing by its appearance. In dirty animals, the coat begins to stick together, shine, and after contact with it, a feeling of a greasy film may remain on the hands.Another sign that your pet needs to bathe is the appearance of an unpleasant odor coming from the fur.

Bathing pregnant cats should only be done when absolutely necessary (for example, when parasites or fleas are found). If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, and the animal tolerates bathing calmly, it is allowed to wash it carefully.

It is undesirable to bathe future mother cats shortly before giving birth. Frightened by water or sudden movements, the animal can cause serious harm to itself and future babies.

If the need to bathe a pregnant cat has become obvious, the procedure should be performed as carefully and accurately as possible. At the same time, it is important to keep track of the time, trying not to keep the animal in the bathroom for a single extra minute. During bathing, you need to communicate with the animal, talk to him extremely affectionately, avoiding shouts and a raised voice.

Equally cautious should be exercised when bathing lactating cats. If the procedure is not necessary, you should not disturb the animal unnecessarily. Under the influence of a stressful situation, which is bathing, a lactating cat may lose milk.

Even if the pet belongs to the category of those animals that require frequent bathing, it is not recommended to carry out this procedure more than 6 times a year. In some cases, it is better to combine water procedures with dry bathing, which uses special powder shampoos.

It must be remembered that in the cold season cats and cats are washed less often. If the apartment is cool, then you should not rush to swim. After water procedures, animals are very cold, so in a cool room (especially in the presence of drafts), they can easily catch a cold. For this reason, after bathing, the cat or cat must be placed in a warm room where there is no draft.

In very hot weather, some inexperienced cat breeders try to bathe their pets more often or simply rinse them with water. According to veterinarians, this is not necessary. To alleviate the condition of the cat in the heat, you can use the following recommendations:

• place a damp towel or a clean cloth soaked in water near the cat bed;
• little by little spray the animal with water from a sprinkler, covering the muzzle and ears with your palm;
• provide the pet with unhindered access to clean water;
• periodically wipe the cat with a damp cloth.

In an effort to help their pet get through the heat with the least distress, some owners use air conditioners and fans. Often these devices cause severe colds in cats and cats.

The frequency of bathing cats and cats is a conditional indicator that depends on the individual characteristics of animals, their lifestyle, age, health status and conditions of detention. These parameters are well known to caring and attentive owners, therefore, with the determination of the moment when it is time to bathe their pets, they do not have any difficulties.

For information on whether to bathe your cat and how often to do it, see the next video.