Should i wash my kitty

Grooming your cat by brushing them can help you to build a strong bond and your cat will trust you more after each grooming session. Many cats really enjoy being brushed and it can help to reduce stress. The right cat brush helps to soothe and massage your feline buddy whilst removing dead hair and preventing matts, particularly important for long-haired kitties.

Regular grooming sessions, either yourself or with a registered cat groomer, can help to check your kitty for abnormalities like lumps, bumps or skin conditions, which are best caught early for the necessary treatment. Most cats, especially short-haired breeds, are excellent self-groomers, but you may need to bathe a cat in extreme circumstances. For example, if your cat has been unwell with diarrhoea or has been stuck up a chimney and is covered in soot, you may need to wash their coat.

Showering rinses away dead hair but you can always achieve a similar result with brushing alone. The average indoor cat may never need a bath, but if you do decide to take the plunge, we do not recommend bathing your kitty more than a couple of times a year.

Cats that have been bathed regularly since they were kittens are the most likely to tolerate being bathed as an adult cat. Find a mild all-rounder with no harsh chemicals or perfumes.

A cat conditioner if required. A towel or two. A brush to help remove matts and knots. Bathing your cat. Explore our cat brands:. Related articles:. Guides To Cat Parasites. Cat Digestion. Here are additional suggestions from Anthony for how to bathe a cat without getting scratched—and more importantly, without stressing your pet too much.

Tracey L. Kelley headshot. By Tracey L. Pin FB More. So when a bath is inevitable, staying calm will help you both. First, get prepped to:. If possible, trim her nails before the bath, filing the ends as well after they're clipped to dull them. Put all your bath supplies within easy reach, including treats to reward her with afterward. Some cat lovers even warm a towel in the dryer and use aromatherapy so the experience is more comforting.

Make sure to use shampoo and creme rinse specifically formulated for cats. Plan for a short grooming session to make handling her fur much easier. Recruit an understanding friend to help.

One of you can hold the cat while the other bathes her. Minimize running water. The actual sound causes many cats to panic, and the last thing you want is to grab a slippery, sharp cat.