How to properly bathe a kitten for the first time and at what age can you start?

The first bath in a kitten's life determines its further relationship to water. If for the first time to acquaint a feline baby with water carefully, then, most likely, in the future, the washing process will not cause difficulties, and the cat will not panic when he hears the sound of water from the tap.

At one month old or even earlier, it is impossible to bathe a kitten, since this process can disrupt the temperature regime and wash off the fatty film from the baby's skin, thereby opening up access to dangerous bacteria. At this age, the mother's way of washing is enough for him. The mother cat thoroughly licks her offspring, which ensures their hygiene. After one month of age, the kitten is allowed to bathe very carefully only after he is fully accustomed to the owners and the apartment and will not be afraid of anything. By this time, he will already get stronger and learn to lick.

Usually, kittens are not given immediately after birth, new owners are found for them at the age of 2-2.5 months, until that moment they are under the care of a mother-cat, and when you move to a new house you can start bathing them. The most favorable age is 3 months. Just by this age, the kitten's body becomes strong and will be able to endure the bathing procedure without colds and other complications. If the kitten is vaccinated, then bathing is possible not earlier than 2 weeks after vaccination.

While everything is clear with the owner's kittens, the situation is different with the homeless. It is important to take the foundling immediately to the veterinarian for a preliminary examination and testing, and if the specialist recommends to bathe the kitten, without waiting for reaching 3 months, then this should be done. In this case, washing an animal is not just a hygienic procedure, but a method of treating wool from fleas, fungi and other parasites.

In total, it is recommended to bathe the pet once every 3 months, but there is nothing wrong with the owner refusing to bathe the pet. Cats are clean animals and are able to maintain their own body hygiene. This is especially true for those animals that are kept exclusively in the house.

However, there are several reasons to bathe your pet periodically.

• A pet that is regularly washed has a shiny, silky coat that looks beautiful and is pleasant to the touch. If the animal takes part in the exhibition, then the shining coat immediately attracts attention.

• During molting, a cat, licking itself with its tongue, swallows part of the hairs, which often contain harmful substances. All this gets into the cat's stomach, causes discomfort in the animal and can provoke disease. This is especially true for kittens, their stomachs are not yet strong. During bathing, part of the wool is washed off with water, which means that the animal is less likely to swallow elements harmful to its body.

• Regular washing deprives the kitten of some of its fur, which means that the cleaning process in the house will be greatly simplified for its mistress. Usually this problem is relevant for apartments where long-haired animals are kept.

• It is important to get rid of various parasites for a street kitten. For a baby, special pills, sprays and suspensions can be dangerous, a weak body, deprived of immunity during street life, may not withstand the toxicity of special drugs. Therefore, washing with flea shampoo may be the only solution to the problem.

Before introducing the kitten to water, study the list of restrictions to this procedure.

While the kitten is developing sebaceous glands, it should not be bathed. An animal deprived of skin lubricant during the washing process becomes available for dermatitis and other skin problems. As mentioned, wait until three months old.

You can not wash the animal after vaccination. Even people from school remember that it is forbidden to wet the injection site. Vaccination is performed only on a healthy animal, and during the first bath, the kitten may catch a cold and get sick. Together with the vaccine, the disease can provoke serious consequences and even death.

If the kitten is sick, be sure to consult your veterinarian about the possibility of bathing. Most likely, all bath procedures during this period will be prohibited.

Try to avoid bathing your kitten in the tub itself. A large space filled with water will stress and panic your baby. To feel more protected, it is important for the pet to cling to something, and in the bath it is impossible to do this.

The sink is also not suitable for these purposes. Firstly, this is dangerous for the kitten, because it will break free and may fall from a great height, and secondly, it is inconvenient for the owners: splashes will fall on the walls and floor, the owner may slip, and besides, he will have to clean the bathroom later. rooms.

To prevent the feline child from escaping, it is recommended to attach it to a harness.

It looks like a chunky mesh with a special drawstring that is fixed around the neck. Such a bag reliably holds the pet and protects its owner from sharp claws and teeth. Water and shampoo penetrate well through the mesh cells. This attribute can be used for other unpleasant procedures for a cat, for example, when trimming nails or cleaning ears.

During bathing, it is very important not to wet the kitten's head and carefully avoid getting water into the ears. To do this, you can use cotton pads or purchase a bathing cap. A scrubber is not needed to wash the animal; it is easier, faster and of better quality to wash off the dirt from the cat's fur with your hands. In addition, the kitten may be frightened by a foreign object, and he is probably already used to human hands.

Never wash your kitten with human shampoo, even if it is a hypoallergenic baby shampoo. Detergents for puppies, dogs, ferrets and other animals are also not suitable for kittens. It is worth giving up the use of shampoos for adult cats.... In babies, mucous membranes and skin are more susceptible, they may not withstand the action of the components of the product for adult animals.

The following varieties are suitable.

A reliable, convenient product that lathers well. A very small portion is required for one session. The wool of the washed animal is shiny and soft and silky to the touch.

Suitable for pets who are afraid of water. Such funds are not related to the bathing procedure. Spray in the form of a powder is applied to a dry coat, which is combed out immediately. Faded hairs remain on the comb along with the dirt.

Apply to wet kitten fur. The advantage is the ability to practically not dry the skin, which is important for kittens under six months of age.

Most often it is offered as options for a specific breed or for animals with a specific type of coat, for example, for long-haired kittens, for British kittens, etc.

Special shampoos for kittens are expensive. To save money on the product, take small bottles, since kittens grow quite quickly, and a small bottle will be enough for the entire childhood of the pet.

Before starting the actual bathing process, read the following guidelines.

• Introduce the kitten to the bathroom first. Put him in a dry bath and try to play. Let him feel that this place is safe. Gently turn on the faucet so that a thin stream of water appears, let the kitten get acquainted with the unusual object.
• Prepare a treat in advance, with which it is desirable to reward the kitten for the patience and courage after the bathing procedure.
• Talk to an animal in a gentle voice. The pet will not understand human words, but by the emotions in his voice he will know that no one wishes him harm.
• Use unscented shampoos for your first bath.

Now we proceed to the session itself.

1. Pour warm water into the basin so that its level reaches the pet's abdomen.
2. Catch the kitten, put on a harness or place in a special bag, close the ears with cotton pads.
3. Take the animal by the scruff of the neck and gently lower it into the pelvis. Do not forget to accompany all actions with conversations in an affectionate voice.
4. Draw water in the palm of your hand and moisten the pet's fur.Try to avoid using the shower during your first session. Its sound will scare the kitten, in addition, the shower must be adjusted in advance so that the water is at the right temperature and does not get too much pressure.
5. Lather the shampoo and massage into the fur of the animal. Do not take too much product, this will complicate the rinsing procedure.
6. Rinse the lather off the coat thoroughly. If some of the product remains on the cat's fur, this will lead to dry skin, itching and discomfort of the animal.
7. Wrap the washed baby in a towel, blot the moisture and move it to another, dry towel. Place the kitten in a heater or house.

The kitten does not need a special drying procedure. Licking wet fur with his tongue, he copes with this task on his own. A rough tongue is able to remove moisture, evenly distribute fat over the coat, and comb the hairs. If a kitten is preparing for an exhibition, and its coat needs to be beautifully styled, then you need to accustom the baby to a hairdryer. Choose a medium setting for drying, as cold air can chill the kitten after the bath procedure, and hot air can burn the skin. In any case, it is not recommended to dry cats too often with a hairdryer, as this device dries out the skin of the animal.

For information on how to properly bathe a kitten for the first time, see the next video.