How to Help Your Cat Enjoy Having a Bath
Start bathing your cat when she’s a kitten., Clip your cat’s nails before you give her a bath., Put a non-slip mat on the bottom of the tub., Start the bath training process., Get your kitten’s feet wet., Use a washcloth to wipe down your kitten...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Start bathing your cat when she’s a kitten.
The earlier in her life that she gets use to having a bath, the better.
If you give your cat a bath when she’s just a kitten, she’s more likely to tolerate it when she’s grown up.
It can be useful to give your kitten a bath so she gets use to it, even if she doesn’t need one.If training your cat as a kitten isn’t possible, you can try training her as an adult cat.
If you do this when she’s an adult, be patient.
Each training step may take longer for her to successfully complete. -
Step 2: Clip your cat’s nails before you give her a bath.
If your cat or kitten hates getting her nails clipped, you might want to do this a day or two in advance, instead of the same day as the bath.
Clipping your cat’s nails beforehand will help limit the number of fabric items (e.g. towels, shower curtains, bath mats, etc.) her nails can get caught on if she struggles.
Clipping her nails will also help reduce the number of scratches you end up with., Your cat or kitten will most likely want to stand up while she’s in the bath and you don’t want her to slip.
Put some sort of non-slip bath mat on the bottom of the tub or sink where you’re giving her a bath.You could also put a towel in the tub or sink.
The towel will obviously be soaked, but it will provide a soft place for your cat to stand. , Start by gathering all the necessary bath supplies and taking your kitten into the bathroom with everything.
Run the water and let her explore the sounds and the tub.
Talk to her softly and gently throughout this whole process, and give her treats as a reward for good behaviour.
For this step, she doesn’t need to get wet.Allow your kitten (or cat) to play in the bathroom (or wherever you might bathe her) whenever she wants.
Ideally she should not have any fear of the room so she won’t associate it with something scary. , This time take your kitten into the bathroom with all her bath supplies and run the water.
Allow the tub to fill up an inch or two and then stop the water.
Gently place your kitten into the water so her feet get wet.
While she’s in the water, praise her and pet her gently.
If she’s able to stand in the water without struggling, give her some treats.If she struggles, don’t give her treats, instead try this step again the next day.
When you take her out of the water, regardless of whether she struggles, wrap her in a towel and cuddle her.
Repeat this step until your kitten doesn’t struggle while in the water. , Teach her how wonderful it is to get washed with a washcloth.
Bring her into the bathroom with all her bath supplies.
Fill the tub 1-3 inches and place your kitten in the water.
Wet a washcloth and gently wipe your kitten all over her body.
Keep eye contact with her while you’re washing her, and praise her in a calm and gentle voice.
If she doesn’t struggle, give her treats.If your kitten struggles during this step, don’t give her any treats, just talk to her and praise her.
Repeat this step until your kitten is able to receive a full wash without any struggling.
When she doesn’t struggle, give her treats as a reward.
When you’re done washing your kitten, take her out of the water, wrap her in a towel, and cuddle with her. , Take your kitten into the bathroom with all her bath supplies.
Fill the tub and place your kitten in the water.
This time use a cup or pitcher and gentle pour the bath water over her body so her fur gets a good soak.
Praise her the whole time in a calm and gentle voice.
Once you’ve thoroughly soaked her, wipe her down with a wet washcloth.If your kitten struggles during this step, don’t give her any treats, just talk to her and praise her.
Repeat this step until your kitten is able to receive a full wash without any struggling.
When she doesn’t struggle, give her treats as a reward.
When you’re done washing your kitten, take her out of the water, wrap her in a towel, and cuddle with her. , It’s now time to actually shampoo your kitten.
Bring your kitten into the bathroom with all her bath supplies, fill the tub, and place her in the water.
Pour water over your kitten so her fur gets soaked.
Pour some shampoo into your hands, or directly onto her fur, and gentle massage the shampoo into her fur.
Rinse your kitten off by pouring water over her again, and using the washcloth if necessary.If your kitten struggles during this step, don’t give her any treats, just talk to her and praise her.
Repeat this step until your kitten is able to receive a full wash without any struggling.
When she doesn’t struggle, give her treats as a reward.
When you’re done washing your kitten, take her out of the water, wrap her in a towel, and cuddle with her. -
Step 3: Put a non-slip mat on the bottom of the tub.
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Step 4: Start the bath training process.
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Step 5: Get your kitten’s feet wet.
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Step 6: Use a washcloth to wipe down your kitten.
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Step 7: Pour water on your kitten.
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Step 8: Shampoo your kitten.
Detailed Guide
The earlier in her life that she gets use to having a bath, the better.
If you give your cat a bath when she’s just a kitten, she’s more likely to tolerate it when she’s grown up.
It can be useful to give your kitten a bath so she gets use to it, even if she doesn’t need one.If training your cat as a kitten isn’t possible, you can try training her as an adult cat.
If you do this when she’s an adult, be patient.
Each training step may take longer for her to successfully complete.
If your cat or kitten hates getting her nails clipped, you might want to do this a day or two in advance, instead of the same day as the bath.
Clipping your cat’s nails beforehand will help limit the number of fabric items (e.g. towels, shower curtains, bath mats, etc.) her nails can get caught on if she struggles.
Clipping her nails will also help reduce the number of scratches you end up with., Your cat or kitten will most likely want to stand up while she’s in the bath and you don’t want her to slip.
Put some sort of non-slip bath mat on the bottom of the tub or sink where you’re giving her a bath.You could also put a towel in the tub or sink.
The towel will obviously be soaked, but it will provide a soft place for your cat to stand. , Start by gathering all the necessary bath supplies and taking your kitten into the bathroom with everything.
Run the water and let her explore the sounds and the tub.
Talk to her softly and gently throughout this whole process, and give her treats as a reward for good behaviour.
For this step, she doesn’t need to get wet.Allow your kitten (or cat) to play in the bathroom (or wherever you might bathe her) whenever she wants.
Ideally she should not have any fear of the room so she won’t associate it with something scary. , This time take your kitten into the bathroom with all her bath supplies and run the water.
Allow the tub to fill up an inch or two and then stop the water.
Gently place your kitten into the water so her feet get wet.
While she’s in the water, praise her and pet her gently.
If she’s able to stand in the water without struggling, give her some treats.If she struggles, don’t give her treats, instead try this step again the next day.
When you take her out of the water, regardless of whether she struggles, wrap her in a towel and cuddle her.
Repeat this step until your kitten doesn’t struggle while in the water. , Teach her how wonderful it is to get washed with a washcloth.
Bring her into the bathroom with all her bath supplies.
Fill the tub 1-3 inches and place your kitten in the water.
Wet a washcloth and gently wipe your kitten all over her body.
Keep eye contact with her while you’re washing her, and praise her in a calm and gentle voice.
If she doesn’t struggle, give her treats.If your kitten struggles during this step, don’t give her any treats, just talk to her and praise her.
Repeat this step until your kitten is able to receive a full wash without any struggling.
When she doesn’t struggle, give her treats as a reward.
When you’re done washing your kitten, take her out of the water, wrap her in a towel, and cuddle with her. , Take your kitten into the bathroom with all her bath supplies.
Fill the tub and place your kitten in the water.
This time use a cup or pitcher and gentle pour the bath water over her body so her fur gets a good soak.
Praise her the whole time in a calm and gentle voice.
Once you’ve thoroughly soaked her, wipe her down with a wet washcloth.If your kitten struggles during this step, don’t give her any treats, just talk to her and praise her.
Repeat this step until your kitten is able to receive a full wash without any struggling.
When she doesn’t struggle, give her treats as a reward.
When you’re done washing your kitten, take her out of the water, wrap her in a towel, and cuddle with her. , It’s now time to actually shampoo your kitten.
Bring your kitten into the bathroom with all her bath supplies, fill the tub, and place her in the water.
Pour water over your kitten so her fur gets soaked.
Pour some shampoo into your hands, or directly onto her fur, and gentle massage the shampoo into her fur.
Rinse your kitten off by pouring water over her again, and using the washcloth if necessary.If your kitten struggles during this step, don’t give her any treats, just talk to her and praise her.
Repeat this step until your kitten is able to receive a full wash without any struggling.
When she doesn’t struggle, give her treats as a reward.
When you’re done washing your kitten, take her out of the water, wrap her in a towel, and cuddle with her.
About the Author
Cynthia Sanchez
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in pet care and beyond.
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