Although cats have a grooming system that is built in (their tongues and teeth), oftentimes, they would benefit from having a bath. Â
pets.webmd.com, have several tips on how to give your cat a bath with minimal stress and maximum results. Â
Here are some of their recommendations:Â
Perfect timing: Schedule baths when your cat’s at her most mellow. A play session with a cat dancer or other toy of choice can help tire out even the friskiest of felines.
2. Clip, snip: For your own protection, ASPCA experts recommend trimming Fluffy’s claws before bathing.
3. The brush-off: Next, give your cat a good brushing to remove any loose hair and mats. Now’s also a good time to gently place some cotton in her ears to keep the water out.
4. Stand firm: Place a rubber bath mat in the sink or tub where you’ll be bathing your kitty so she doesn’t slip. Fill with three to four inches of lukewarm (not hot, please!) water.
5. Just add water: Use a hand-held spray hose to thoroughly wet your pet, taking care not to spray directly in her ears, eyes and nose. If you don’t have a spray hose, a plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup works great.
6. Lather up: Gently massage your pet with a solution of one part cat shampoo (human shampoo can dry out her skin) to five parts water, working from head to tail, in the direction of hair growth. Take care to avoid the face, ears and eyes. We recommend Soothe-N-Itch Shampoo for your cat needs.Â
7. All clear: Thoroughly rinse the shampoo off your cat with a spray hose or pitcher; again, be sure the water is lukewarm. Take good care that all residue has been removed, as it can irritate the skin and act as a magnet for dirt.
8. About face: Use a washcloth to carefully wipe your pet’s face. Plain water is fine unless her face is very dirty-in which case, we recommend using an extra-diluted solution of shampoo, being very cautious around her ears and eyes.
9. Dry idea: You’re almost there! Wrap your cat in a large towel and dry her with it in a warm place, away from drafts. If your kitty doesn’t mind the noise, you can use a blow dryer-on the lowest heat setting. And please note, if your pet has long hair, you may need to carefully untangle her fur with a wide-toothed comb.
10. Good girl!: Your little bathing beauty deserves endless praise-and her favorite treat-after all this! And with such a happy ending, next time she may find that bath time isn’t so bad.
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