A cat bath is a necessary cat grooming procedure to prevent disease and parasite infection. Cats by nature do not like to get their bodies wet. However, by following simple tips, a cat bath can become a less tiresome procedure.
It's important to know that cat's don't require a bath every week. Felines are particular about self grooming and several cats engage in excessive licking of their coats. It's best to give your pet a bath once every month. Before giving pets a bath, it's necessary to trim all their nails as cat nail trimming reduces the risk of scratches during a bath.
Preparing the Cat Bath
- Fill the tub with the required amount of water and make sure the water is not too hot or cold.
- Keep necessary bathing items such as shampoo, towels, bath mats, brushes and cat toys within reach.
- Wear appropriate clothing for a cat bath and use garden gloves to prevent scratches.
- Pets shouldn't be aware that they are going to be bathed. The bath should be conducted quickly and carefully. Pets that have fleas should be bathed with flea shampoos. However, kittens shouldn't be bathed with flea shampoo as it's too harsh for their bodies. Baby shampoo works best for kittens.
Bathing the Cat
The cat should be quickly put into the water. Care takers should talk to their pets in a reassuring tone. Exert caution when applying flea shampoo, as it shouldn't get into the cat's eyes. Fleas might try to enter into the pets eyes or ears and visible fleas should be carefully removed with tweezers. The pet should be rinsed thoroughly with water and immediately wrapped in a towel. Use a flea comb soon after bathing the cat with a flea shampoo as this will remove any fleas that are stuck to the fur.
Treatment of Cat Fleas and Skin Diseases
Some pet owners prefer to treat cat fleas without using flea control products. This can be accomplished if the cat is bathed with a gentle shampoo 2 to 3 times a week. It's important to remember that flea shampoo shouldn't be used on cats already being treated with topical flea control solutions. The dual medication is toxic and may prove fatal in pets. Kittens, too young for topical flea medication should only be bathed and brushed regularly with a flea comb.
Cat dander is another concern for many pet owners. It's beneficial to bathe pets with cat dander once a week. Hypo-allergenic pet wipes may also be useful for pets however it's best to consult the vet before using any products on your cat. Regular grooming will gradually eliminate symptoms of flea infections, dander and cat skin diseases. Pet owners that find it very difficult to personally bathe pets should hire a good pet groomer to maintain proper hygiene in their pets.
Tips to Prevent Spread of Cat Skin Diseases
- Vacuum and steam clean carpets and upholstery routinely. Pet owners should replace or remove carpeting when necessary.
- Use proper disposal of cat feces and choose dust free litter when appropriate.
- Thoroughly wash cat bedding and disinfect surrounding areas.
- Don't allow healthy pet's to come in contact with diseased or sick cats.
- Allow plenty of sunshine to penetrate the household to kill germ causing bacteria.
- Anti-mite products may be necessary for homes with mite infestations or cat dander.
- Since fleas are a common problem in most pets, an all round approach that involves treating pets and maintaining clean surroundings, provides a long term flea control solution.