Can I give my cat bath?

In this post, we’ll answer some of the most common questions including:

• Do I need to bath my cat?

• What supplies do I need to give my cat a bath? Reasons to bathe a cat

Before bathing your cat, it’s important to think about whether a bath is necessary. There may be a better solution. Genuine reasons your cat might need a bath include:

• Your cat has a skin condition, and your veterinarian recommends bathing in a medical shampoo

• Your cat has a severe infestation of fleas, and its coat is full of flea dirt (Note: flea dirt is digested blood, so it turns the bathwater red. This can look scary, but it’s the dirt, not your cat)

• A large area of your cat’s coat is muck or toxins that could harm your cat if licked or won’t come off with a brush

Will bathing my cat get rid of its fleas?

No, a cat with many fleas may need a bath to get rid of the flea dirt, but a bath is not the best way to get rid of the fleas themselves.

Only 5% of the flea population is on your pet at any one time. The other 95% is living in your home. Washing your cat only addresses 5% of the problem. A better way to kill fleas is to use flea and tick preventatives (given by mouth) or drops (a small amount of liquid applied to the skin on the back of your cat’s neck). Ask your veterinarian for guidance on which product to choose.

What supplies do I need to bathe my cat?

If you’ve established that your cat does need a bath, you will need the following equipment to bathe your cat. Be sure to have all your gear ready and laid out before you get your cat, so you can keep a smooth and relaxed manner once the bath is underway.

•A bath with a nonslip surface – You can use a human bath or a sink. To make your bath nonslip, use a stick-on rubber mat or an old towel.

• Warm water – do not use water that is too hot or too cold. Test the temperature of the water by sticking your elbow in it – this is the same technique used to test babies’ bathwater. Your elbow is more sensitive to temperature than your hands. A cat’s skin will only cope with very slightly warmed water, just enough that it’s not going to shock them from being cold

• A plastic jug, bowl, or shower head with a gentle setting – for rinsing

• Shampoo – keep reading to see suggestions on choosing a shampoo

• A large towel to dry your cat afterward. The towel needs to be large enough to wrap your cat – cats can find it reassuring to be wrapped, so this can be a helpful way of getting them dry

• A cat-appropriate comb or brush  – A stiff but soft-ended bristle is best – metal with plastic bobbles on the tips can work well.

What shampoo do I use on my cat?

If you are bathing your cat for a particular skin condition, always use treatments recommended by your veterinarian. You can do more harm than good if you use an off-the-shelf shampoo that is inappropriate for the condition you are treating. If you’re bathing your cat to get rid of muck, dirt, or toxins, a mild cat-specific shampoo or Dawn dish soap is best. Please don’t use human shampoo.  Human shampoos can irritate cats’ skin.

How often should you bathe a cat?

Most cats don’t need bathing at all. If your cat needs medicated baths, follow the advice of your veterinarian. Cats receiving medicated baths may need frequent bathing in the early stages of treatment.

Only bathe your cat for non-medical reasons if absolutely necessary, and certainly not more than once a month. Bathing your cat too often can disrupt the normal oils on your cat’s skin and can cause skin irritation.

Do cats feel better after a bath?

Most cats feel anxious and stressed by baths because they dislike water. If you do need to bathe your cat, it’s essential to follow our advice regarding how to wash your cat safely and with minimal stress. By safely, we mean without hurting your cat and without getting scratched yourself!

Hope this info helps

Till next time

Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester

Royal Veterinary Centre

Tel: +853 28501099

Emergency: +853 66776611

Email: [email protected]