How to bathe a cat correctly?

Bathing a feline of any age is the most stressful situation for both the animal and its owner. A rare cat owner can boast of his pet's inexplicable love for water treatments.

In most cases, breeders of mustachioed purrs have to go to all sorts of tricks and tricks that simplify and facilitate the notorious bathing.

What recommendations should be used to make this procedure minimally problematic? What nuances in it are very important to consider? Let's try to figure it out.

Some cat and cat owners think that these clean animals are able to keep their fur and body clean on their own. Considering this belief an undeniable argument, careless cat owners try to wash their pets as rarely as possible, bringing the frequency of this procedure to 1-2 times every couple of years.

However, professional breeders are convinced that such an attitude towards animal hygiene on the part of their owners is unacceptable. In representatives of the feline family, like in most living creatures, the skin over time becomes covered with a layer of dirt, dust, secretions of the sebaceous glands and other impurities.

In the absence of timely washing, the layer of dirt and sebum becomes thicker and denser. This not only leads to the fact that the animal begins to look untidy, but also inevitably becomes the cause of itching, the development of infectious skin diseases.

In addition, a layer of sebum and dirt, as well as tangled hair and hairballs, are ideal conditions for the reproduction of parasites and pathogens of dangerous diseases.

The main reasons why the animal needs bathing:

• contamination of wool and leather;
• molting;
• the appearance of parasites and fleas;
• preparation for the exhibition.

Bathing is also required for animals brought home from the street.

The auricles, neck, abdomen, axillary and inguinal folds are especially carefully examined.

It is important to remember that bathing an animal brought from the street is an extremely difficult, unpredictable and time-consuming job.

It is believed that bathing is necessary for cats during estrus. According to observant breeders, this procedure does not play a special role at this stage of the pet's life. However, in some cases, bathing may actually be necessary - for example, when a cat gets very dirty during estrus, rolling on the floor in the most unexpected corners of the apartment.

In addition, some cat owners claim that in some cases, bathing provides some relief for their cats during estrus. Experienced breeders believe that during this difficult period for the cat, bathing acts as a distraction.

The washed animal "switches" to putting itself in order, stops for a while piteously meowing and wandering around the house in search of a partner.

The frequency of bathing kittens, cats and cats is a very conditional indicator, depending on many factors.

First of all, it is determined in accordance with the individual characteristics of the pet - its breed, coat length and color, skin type, habits and lifestyle. An important role in the frequency of the procedure is played by where and in what conditions the animal is kept - in a house, a city apartment or on the street.

Animals with medium-length hair need bathing, on average, once every 3-4 months, and long-haired pets - once every 2-3 months.

Cats and cats of light color are bathed more often than brothers with dark hair - about 4 times a year. In general, breeders remind that animals with semi-long and long hair are not recommended to be washed more than 6 times a year.

The situation is more complicated with the sphinxes, bathing of which should be approached with special attention. Some breeders of this breed wash their pets about 2 times a month, others prefer to alternate bathing with wiping the pet with a damp cloth.

In either case, you should focus on the individual characteristics of the pet (for example, some sphinxes just love to swim and swim). It will not be superfluous to consult a veterinarian on the most acceptable frequency of bathing the sphinx.

After water procedures, it is necessary to place the pet in a dry and warm room without drafts. Leaving the animal after bathing in a cold room with drafts is strictly not allowed.

It is also forbidden to bathe kittens, cats and cats during illness, in the postoperative period and for two weeks after vaccination (vaccination). It is not allowed to bathe kittens in the first months of life, as well as lactating cats and cats in the final stages of pregnancy.

It is better to postpone bathing for a while even if the animal has recently eaten. In this situation, water procedures can provoke vomiting. Also, you should not bathe a pet that has undergone stress or is in a stage of severe fear, excitement, anxiety.

Bathing problems throughout the life of a pet will be much less if you teach it to this procedure from a young age. Experienced cat owners say that bathing a kitten is not as difficult as it sounds.

However, at this stage it is very important to adhere to a clear strategy, controlling not only the behavior of the baby, but also your own actions.

Very small kittens, born and raised at home, are usually not bathed until this age. The only exceptions are babies picked up on the street. With their bathing and antiparasitic treatment, it is strongly recommended not to hesitate.

If necessary (for example, when fleas or other parasites are found), it is allowed to bathe kittens whose age has not yet reached 4 months. According to experienced breeders, most babies tolerate washing quite calmly starting from the age of 2-2.5 months.

It is preliminarily recommended to protect the ears of the animal from the ingress of water with cotton swabs slightly moistened with vegetable oil. The kitten's head is not washed during bathing, but simply wiped with a damp palm. The pet's ears are cleaned after water procedures.

Bathing small kittens under 4 months old without preliminary preparation should only be done in cases of extreme necessity. In the absence of indications for emergency bathing, it is advisable to teach and prepare the baby in advance for the upcoming water procedures.

It is necessary to do these manipulations so that the kitten is not afraid of the noise of the water and the environment in the bathroom. During your stay in the bathroom, you should talk to the animal in a calm and affectionate voice.

A little later, when the kitten gets used to this procedure, you can move on to the stage of training it to the pelvis. At this stage, the baby is placed in an empty dry basin and, stroking, they hold him in it for several minutes.

The main task at this stage of training is to familiarize the kitten with the pelvis, as well as to develop and consolidate in the animal a calm and indifferent attitude to the container.

Then they move on to the next stage of training based on the reaction and behavior of the pet. If the baby normally perceives the situation in the bathroom and does not show fear at the sight of the pelvis, you can proceed directly to the first bathing procedure.

It is carried out as follows:

• they collect a small amount of water into the basin (the recommended water level is a few centimeters from the bottom);
• cover the bottom with a rag or waffle towel, which will provide stability to the baby;
• gently lower the kitten into the basin;
• with quick and confident movements, they wipe the head of the animal, after which they wash the body, legs and tail.

In the case when the baby needs a full bath, only specialized zoo shampoos designed for kittens should be used.

During washing, it is important to firmly fix the animal, while not causing him pain. You need to act quickly, trying to keep bathing time to a minimum. If shampoo has been used during bathing, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse off its residues at the end of the procedure.

Some young animals love to swim, and this feature remains in them even to adulthood and even to old age. Despite the fact that there are no special problems with washing such pets, you should not bathe them longer than the recommended 15-30 minutes.

Adult animals are taught to bath and water procedures in approximately the same way as presented above. In both cases (both in small and adult pets), it is important to develop and consolidate a calm attitude towards the environment in the bathroom, towards the water and its noise, and towards the bathing itself.

According to some cat owners, most pets are not afraid of the water procedures themselves, but of those unfamiliar and frightening details that are associated with them. Such details usually include dim bathroom lighting, the noise of pouring water, high humidity in the room, an abundance of sharp and unpleasant odors of detergents.

The owner of a cat or cat is able to minimize the negative influence of most of these factors without much difficulty (for example, make the lighting brighter, refuse to use shampoos and gels with a strong aroma).

In each case, the process of accustoming a kitten or an adult animal to the bathroom should be carried out taking into account its individual characteristics. Regardless of how fast the educational process is progressing and what difficulties it is accompanied by, the cat owner must remain patient.

It is categorically not allowed to shout at a pet in the process of accustoming him to the bathroom, and even more so to use brute physical force in relation to him.

Before you start bathing your pet, you need to prepare a set of accessories and equipment. Typically, this list includes such accessories and tools as:

• pet shampoo and (if necessary) conditioner;
• bathing basin;
• a basin with clean water for washing off the shampoo and a ladle (necessary if the animal is afraid of the shower and the turned on tap);
• rag, rubber mat or towel (for laying on the bottom of the basin);
• 2 large clean towels (one is required for preliminary wiping of the pet, the second for final drying).

Other accessories that are often used for bathing cats:

• special swimming net;
• massage mitten;
• fixing collar with suction cup.

The bathing net is an auxiliary accessory used for washing aggressive and restless cats and cats. The mesh reliably fixes the animal, depriving it of mobility and the ability to show aggression towards the owner. It is advisable to use this accessory only in the most extreme cases.

The massage mitten is a practical and functional accessory for bathing animals. With the help of such a mitten, a quick, light and uniform lathering of the wool is provided, and a soothing or tonic massage effect is also achieved.

The fixation collar with a suction cup is an accessory used to fix aggressive and restless animals. The suction cup is attached to the tub wall, limiting the mobility of the cat or cat. This accessory is characterized by mixed reviews from breeders and veterinarians. Some argue that the use of such a collar is advisable in relation to very shy and aggressive animals, while others believe that its use is at least inhumane and can only aggravate stress.

Another accessory that makes bathing much easier is a special shower head with a button that regulates the intensity of the water flow.

Some of these nozzles are equipped with a lock button that turns on and off the water as needed.

One of the common mistakes that can permanently fix the fear of bathing in the memory of an animal is the incorrectly selected water temperature. Most felines are very sensitive to changes in ambient temperature, which cause them strong anxiety.

You can determine the desired temperature level during the preparation process using a special water thermometer. If you do not have such a device at hand, you can try to estimate the water temperature "empirically". For this, an elbow or wrist is immersed in a basin of water. The water temperature should not cause uncomfortable sensations, strongly cooling or, on the contrary, burning the skin.

During washing, the condition of the animal should be monitored. If it trembles, feverishly fingering with its paws, trying to escape, you can pour some hot water into the basin, bringing its temperature to 40 °, but not higher.

In some cases, warm water helps to relax the muscles and, as a result, a little calming of the pet.

As the pet grows up, its owner develops its own tactics and technique for bathing. Some cat owners cope with this task alone, others only with the assistance of an assistant.

Someone does not need any auxiliary accessories when bathing a cat, someone definitely needs nets, collars or special bags.

If the animal is afraid of the noise of pouring water, then two basins should first be prepared for bathing. One will be used to wash the animal, the other (with clean warm water) - to rinse the fur from the shampoo residues.

In this case, step-by-step instructions for washing your cat will include the following points:

• prepare two basins - one empty, the second with water;
• pour warm water into a basin about 5-7 centimeters from the bottom of the container;
• dilute and lather a small amount of pet shampoo in water;
• prepare a towel;
• lower the animal into the pelvis, holding it firmly under the ribs (it is important to control efforts so as not to cause pain to the pet);
• with your free hand, rinse the back and neck of the animal with soapy water;
• if necessary, apply an additional amount of zoo shampoo to the back and neck;
• lather the pet's fur, being careful not to touch the head and ears;
• with quick and confident movements, rinse off the remaining shampoo with clean water;
• remove the animal from the pelvis and wrap it in a towel.

Next, you need to thoroughly blot and dry the pet with a towel, then wrap it in another towel to dry it.

During this time, the remaining water will have time to be absorbed into the terry cloth. After this washed cat, you can let go, giving him the opportunity to dry completely in a dry and warm room without drafts.

Approximately the same actions are provided by the technique of bathing animals that are calm about the noise of the water. In this case, you can do with only one wash basin, using tap water for rinsing.

In this case, one person will hold the animal, and the other will bathe. When washing, it is extremely important not to allow water to get on the head, ears and eyes, otherwise the pet will make every effort to escape.

Cats and cats that can show aggression and even bite while bathing are safer to be treated with a net. This accessory will not allow the animal to escape or bite (scratch) the owner.

The bathing technique using a mesh is as follows:

• prepare bathing equipment (basin with water, pet shampoo, towels);
• the animal is placed in a net, the locks are fastened, the level of fixation of belts and Velcro is adjusted;
• immerse the pet in a basin of water or a bath and start washing.

The cells of such a mesh are large enough so that the zooshampoo can penetrate to each hair and remove impurities from the skin. After soaping, they proceed to rinsing, which is also carried out without removing the mesh.

Despite the convenience of using the net for bathing cats and cats, this accessory has one significant drawback. It lies in the fact that animals very quickly remember this object, as well as the unpleasant sensations associated with it. This usually leads to the fact that in the future, pets try to hide, barely seeing the net in the hands of the owner.

It is very important to thoroughly dry the animal's fur after it has been bathed.

Some caring owners, trying to help the animal quickly get in order, try to dry their pets with a hairdryer. The use of this device is not prohibited only if the cat or cat is familiar with the drying procedure and does not cause panic.

In other cases, the use of a hair dryer is strongly discouraged. The fact is that the animal experiences stress after bathing, and the noise of a working hair dryer can aggravate the pet's condition at this moment.

For this reason, after bathing, the animal should be given the opportunity to calm down and tidy up in a secluded warm and dry corner.

An alternative to traditional water treatments is the use of special dry shampoos. They are used in cases when the animal's fur needs to be cleaned of contamination, but this cannot be done by bathing for some reason.

The principle of using dry shampoos is quite simple. It provides for the application of these products, which have a powdery appearance, directly on the pet's coat. After a certain amount of time, determined by the instructions, the product is combed out. During contact with the hair, the particles of the dry shampoo absorb impurities and fragments of sebum, thereby cleaning the fur coat of the animal.

Shampoo towels are another good alternative to bathing. For this procedure, special towels are used, impregnated with a special organic composition. To achieve the desired effect, it is enough to thoroughly wipe the animal with such an accessory. It is noteworthy that, together with dirt, such towels also eliminate unpleasant odors from wool.

For cats and cats with short or semi-long hair, you can also use this cleaning method:

• heat 0.5 kg of bran in the oven or in a dry frying pan;
• lightly chop the warm bran by rubbing them with your fingers;
• rub them into the pet's coat with light massage movements.

Usually cats and cats take this procedure very calmly.

Warm bran, having good absorbent properties, when rubbed into the wool absorbs dirt and sebum particles. At the end of the procedure, the pet is carefully combed out.

For bathing cats and cats it is necessary to use only special zoo shampoos with the appropriate composition. The product lines of modern manufacturers are represented by mild hypoallergenic products with a good cleansing effect.

In modern sale you can find such shampoos for cats and cats as:

• insecticidal (against fleas and parasites);
• therapeutic (improving the condition with infectious skin lesions);
• facilitating combing (used mainly for show long-haired breeds);
• having a lightening effect (for animals of white color);
• regulating the work of the sebaceous glands (anti-seborrheic);
• dry (for cleaning wool without using water).

When choosing a suitable shampoo for a cat or cat, one should focus on such parameters of the product as hypoallergenicity, the absence of perfumed fragrances and aggressive chemical components.

It is not allowed to wash cats and cats with laundry soap. This agent has an aggressive effect on the acid-base balance of animal skin, which can cause severe dryness of the skin, dandruff and itching.

If exo- and endoparasites are found in a pet, bathing with tar soap is not prohibited.

The use of this tool allows you to destroy parasites and reduce itching resulting from scratching. Tar soap also promotes the healing of small wounds, inflammations, abrasions and other injuries that often appear against the background of most skin diseases.

How to bathe a cat, see the video below.