Bathing Your Cat

Kitties are very clean: Fluffy will spend hours each day carefully grooming herself. You don’t have to bathe your feline pal, though you can if you want to. However, if you do choose to give your cat a bath, there are some things to keep in mind. A Sandstone, MN vet offers some advice on giving Fluffy her bath in this article.

Vet

Most of the time, there shouldn’t be an issue with bathing Fluffy, as long as you don’t do it too often. However, it’s best to check with your vet first, just to be sure.

Prep Work

Brushing Fluffy before you bathe her will be helpful, as you’ll be getting dead fur out of her coat in advance. You don’t have to wear full body armor, though it is an option. However, we do recommend wearing jeans and long sleeves. It’s also a good idea to put a mat down in the tub or sink to protect it from scratches.

Water

Make sure the water isn’t too hot. Cats have very sensitive skin, and can be scalded by water that just seems warm to us. Lukewarm temperature is ideal. The water also shouldn’t be any deeper than your feline buddy’s chest.

Shampoo

Be sure to only use shampoos made specifically for kitties. Products made for humans are much too strong for Fluffy’s fur. They could strip the oils from her coat, leaving her looking dry or even a bit frizzy.

Rinsing

It’s important to make sure that your furry buddy is thoroughly rinsed off. If you have a sprayer, you can use that. You can also use a teapot or pitcher. Take care not to get soap in Fluffy’s eyes, ears, nose, or mouth!

Drying

When you’re done, gently wrap your feline friend in a towel, and pat her dry to get as much water out of her fur as you can. You can also blow dry her on a cool, low setting, assuming she doesn’t mind. As soon as you let Fluffy go, she’ll probably run off and start cleaning herself to get her fur back in order. Offer your furry little diva a special treat or perhaps a new toy to get that motor going again.

Please feel free to contact us  with any questions about your cat’s health or care. As your local Sandstone, MN animal clinic, we’re always here to help!