Can a cat be washed with regular shampoo and what will happen?
Bathing a cat is a laborious and demanding procedure that should be taken as seriously as possible. So, many novice and inexperienced cat owners believe that ordinary shampoo for humans is quite suitable for full bathing of an animal. However, professional cat breeders and veterinarians completely disagree with this opinion. Is it possible to wash a cat with ordinary shampoo, what to do if there is no special detergent for cats at hand, you will find out by reading the article.
The opinion of veterinarians and breeders
One of the most important indicators of the degree of skin protection - the level of its acidity. The condition of the skin, their integrity, resistance to unfavorable environmental factors depends on this characteristic. In animals (in particular, cats and cats) and humans, these indicators are very different. This is the main reason veterinarians do not approve of shampooing pets for humans.
By neglecting the use of special pet shampoos, the owner of a cat or cat can harm his pet. Prolonged use of detergents made for humans can, over time, lead to deterioration of the animal's skin, hair loss, itching, irritation and dandruff. In addition, regular shampoos often cause allergic reactions in four-legged pets.
Of course, occasional use of shampoo for people in most cases does not cause negative consequences.However, for regular washing, you should still use a special product designed specifically for cats and cats.
What to do if there is no animal tool at hand?
In the case when the pet needs urgent washing, but there is no special shampoo at hand, it is allowed to use a product intended for children. High-quality baby shampoos do not contain aromatic additives, harmful surfactants or other unsafe chemical ingredients.
The fact that the product is suitable for washing an animal is evidenced by:
- the simplest and most understandable composition;
- lack of additives that can cause allergies;
- neutral aroma.
Shampoo designed for babies under three years old is best suited for bathing a pet. It is believed that such detergents have the most gentle effect on the skin, cleanse it well and gently from impurities and sebum.
Can i wash kittens with baby shampoo?
Veterinarians do not recommend bathing kittens and adult animals in cases where washing is not objectively necessary. In a situation where the kitten needs to be bathed immediately, but there is no zoo shampoo available, it is allowed to use baby bathing products, as already mentioned above. At the same time, baby shampoos should be used in very limited quantities.
If the breeder is afraid of an allergic reaction to shampoo in a small pet, it is better to refuse to use detergent. According to experienced owners of cats and cats, you can bathe your animal in clean water without soap and shampoos.
It is only important to choose the optimal temperature and water pressure, and during bathing, thoroughly rinse the wool, paying attention to the most polluted places.
It should be borne in mind that it is forbidden to bathe kittens recently vaccinated. In addition, weakened and sick animals should not be washed. Bathing restrictions for kittens, cats and cats may also be weather and season related. So, in winter, as well as in the off-season, when it becomes cold in the apartment, it is strongly not recommended to wash animals in order to prevent the development of colds in them.
How to properly bathe a kitten, see below.
Which is better to use?
So, given that human shampoo cannot be used for animals on a regular basis, you should pay attention to special zoological products for washing and bathing. To date, manufacturers offer a wide range of various pet shampoos, including such types of products as:
- dry shampoos;
- anti-mats shampoos;
- antiparasitic (against ticks and fleas);
- medicinal (anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti-seborrheic);
- caregivers.
Dry products are ideal for animals undergoing extreme stress from the bathing procedure. These shampoos are available in powder form, which must be applied to the pet's coat and then combed out thoroughly. During the action, the powder will absorb impurities, excess sebum, which will restore the purity of the coat and the attractive appearance of the animal.
Anti-mats are essential for long-haired cats and cats. The composition of such products includes special components that ensure easy combing of the coat, strengthen the hair follicles, and prevent the hairs from knocking into clumps and tangles.
Antiparasitic or insecticidal agents (against ticks and fleas) are required for animals that spend a significant part of their time outdoors... They include disinfecting components that prevent infection of the animal with skin parasites. However, it is not recommended to use such products for a long time and regularly, as they can cause dry skin.
Medicines are used depending on the indications. As a rule, such shampoos are prescribed by a veterinarian when detecting any skin disease in an animal. Their use makes it possible to reduce the manifestations of the disease, restore the initial immunity of the skin and its protective functions, and normalize the work of the sebaceous glands. As in the previous case, it is impossible to use medicinal detergents for a long time.
Grooming species are recommended for constant use when washing and bathing animals. They often include all sorts of useful additives that provide high-quality and gentle care for the coat. The use of such detergents allows you to strengthen the pet's coat, making it shinier and thicker.
In addition, quality grooming shampoos reduce hair loss during shedding.
An important feature that any high-quality pet shampoo for kittens and adult animals should have is absolute hypoallergenicity... This condition affects not only the comfort of the pet while bathing, but also the health of its skin. In order to prevent the appearance of skin allergies in a cat or cat to shampoo, products of well-known brands should be preferred. In the modern market, they include such manufacturers as: Trixie, Goodman, Bioflor, Agrovetzashita.
