Cats spend a large part of their time grooming themselves: after eating, after sleeping, after going for a walk, after resting, ... well, after doing anything. Even if they are noticed strange they will also clean themselves. They are animals extremely clean by nature, since in the wild, an animal that smells too much can be easy prey for predators. We know. A furry man at home does not need to protect himself from anyone, but little can be done against instinct.
Still, sometimes we will have no choice but to take care of your personal hygiene ourselves, so I'm going to tell you From what age can a cat be bathed and how to do it so as not to cause stress or any other type of discomfort.
When to bathe a cat
Cats can start bathing at 2 months, although it is better to wait three months when they have the first vaccination at least. Doing it before can be very harmful for the animal, since we could even endanger its own life. Thus, when they are at least 8 weeks old, you can gradually accustom them to the bathroom. At no time should you force him to do anything, because doing so would end up associating the bathroom (and not only the toilet itself, but also the toilet), with something negative (Stress).
Puppies are very curious, so it will not be very difficult for you to feel like approaching the water. Of course, before putting it in the bathtub, I recommend that the first few times you bathe it in a baby bathtub or in a basin that you will have thrown into no more than 2cm of water warm. Speak softly, calmly, while making sure no foam gets on their face or ears. Then you will only have to remove it with water and dry it with a towel.
It is not difficult to bathe a kitten, but it is difficult to accustom an adult cat to the bath. So if you plan to bathe him from time to time, the sooner you start (remember, never before eight weeks of age), less it will cost you.
How to bathe a cat?
Although our beloved cat is a very clean animal by nature, sometimes we will have no choice but to give it a hand, especially if it is sick, very dirty or if, due to age, it no longer remembers so much about taking care of its hygiene. But, how to do it?
Before bathing your cat
Before bathing your cat (when you have never done it before), you must first have everything at hand so that you do not forget anything. When you have everything at hand, then:
- Do this in a large plastic tub or sink with a non-slip mat.
- Use special shampoo for cats without chemicals or perfumes.
- Use cat conditioner only if necessary, never use human.
- Use a towel or two to dry him off.
- Also have a brush handy to remove knots.
Bathing your cat
If you have to bathe your cat even if it does not like it, first, you must arm yourself with patience. For the bathroom, keep the following in mind:
- Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water that is not hot
- Put your cat slowly into the water and do not fill it too much so that your cat does not feel anxious
- Give your cat lots of praise and reassurance all the time. Treats can be very helpful.
- Do this with another trusted person to hold the cat's head and reassure it if necessary.
Steps to follow
It is best start getting used to being a kitten; That way when he is older it won't be so strange to him and he may even end up liking it. But I'm not going to fool you: the first few times are experiences that can be very stressful for both the feline and you, so the first thing I'm going to recommend is that you stay calm. Nerves will not help you at all.
Once you are calm, fill a bowl previously clean -those where we put the clothes when we take them out of the washing machine- with a little warm water, which is at about 37ºC. It is important not to fill it all in: just covering the legs is more than enough.
The next thing you have to do is call the cat with a very cheerful tone of voice so that he does not hesitate to come to you. As it is a very clever animal, it would surely turn around as soon as it saw the bowl of water, but for that you have to offer it a treat as soon as you see it enter the bathroom. Later, take a small towel and moisten it and then wipe it over the animal's body (I know. The ground is going to get lost of water. But you have to go step by step so you don't get scared).
Scratch the neck and the part of the back where the tail is born. Surely he will love it and it will make him feel much better, something that will help you to see that nothing really bad happens.
If you see that it feels comfortable, you can take it gently and put it in the bowl to finish cleaning the head -Make sure that no shampoo gets into the eyes, nose or ears-, legs and tail. Afterwards, towel dry it, brush it with a card brush or with the Furminator, which is a brush that removes almost 100% of dead hair. Don't forget to give her another cat treat as soon as she's calmed down. If it is very uncomfortable and tense, pat it dry and try again after a few days.
After bath
Once you have bathed your cat, you do not have to do it regularly and less if your cat does not like it. The best thing is that if it gets dirty, you clean it with special products without having to bathe it so as not to cause unnecessary stress or anxiety.
Do cats need a bath?
At this point, you may wonder if your cat really needs a bath or if you can go without bathing him. In reality, cats do not need to be bathed, unless they are excessively dirty. But if since childhood you have not accustomed them to the bathroom, then it is better not to do it. If it gets dirty there are special wipes for cats that will help you keep it clean.
In case your cat has so much dirt that it cannot wash itself or that it is not possible to clean it well with special wipes for washing cats, it will be only then that a bath can be a good idea.
How to bathe a cat that is not used to being bathed?
Most cats do not like baths and it can be really stressful for themespecially when they have never bathed before. As we just mentioned, if you can clean the isolated area of dirt, instead of wetting the whole body.
But if you have to bathe him, it will be important that you know how to do it so that it is a comfortable experience for both of you. Although if your cat has been in contact with toxic substances, then the first thing you will have to do is take him to the vet.
If you have to bathe your cat even if it does not like it, first, you must arm yourself with patience. For the bathroom keep the following in mind:
- Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water that is not hot
- Put your cat slowly into the water and do not fill it too much so that your cat does not feel anxious
- Give your cat lots of praise and reassurance all the time. Treats can be very helpful.
- Do this with another trusted person to hold the cat's head and reassure it if necessary.
If your cat is afraid it will try to scratch or bite you, if it happens stop bathing it and talk to the vet to opt for other methods to wash it. He may recommend a groomer experienced in nervous cats. that can bathe your cat for you.
It is important that you think about your cat's well-being first at all times before even cleaning the dirt. Don't let your cat have a bad bathroom experience Or then, you will never be able to reach out to clean him when he really needs it.
Thank you very much 😀 I have a cat and I did not know at what age to bathe it, it is 3 months old, it is all my life I love it <3
What happens if I bathe it earlier than directed?
Hi Piero.
If the temperature is comfortable in the bathroom and you dry the cat well, nothing has to happen.
A greeting.
I found a cat in the street, very young, about 3 weeks old, and I bathed it 2 days ago and it is half sick, and I am giving it medicine, I do not want it to die? Anything else I can do for the kitten, some advice
Hello Alexa.
Do you give him medication recommended by the vet? I ask you because it is not a good idea to self-medicate a cat, as it could be worse.
Keep it warm, with blankets. If you have an insulated bottle, fill it with boiling water, wrap it with a cloth, and put it on the cat's bed.
Feed him soft kitten food; if he doesn't eat, give him the following mixture:
- 1 / 4l of whole milk (preferably lactose free)
- 1 teaspoon of heavy cream
- 1 egg yolk
Much encouragement.
Hi how are things? I have two kittens, both brothers, who just turned three months just today, and they already had their first vaccine a month ago I think. I want to take them to bathe because they have a lot of fleas, can it be done? Or do I have to wait for him to get his second shot? Thanks!
Hello William.
Yes, you can bathe them to take them off. You can also treat them with antiparasitic for kittens, such as Frontline spray, being careful not to get in contact with the eyes, ears or nose.
A greeting.
Hello rescue from the street a kitten with three puppies of approximately 1 month, they have many fleas, any recommendations to remove them?
Hi Diego.
You can bathe them with lukewarm water, keeping the bathroom door closed and with the heating on. Use a cat shampoo (human can harm them). Then, pat them dry with a towel and keep them warm with a blanket. If you have a thermal bottle, perfect: fill it with boiling water and wrap it with a towel, so that the kittens do not burn. Plastic bottles would also work.
Anyway, you can also get rid of them with the Frontline antiparasitic spray, which you will find for sale in veterinary clinics and pet stores. Of course, it does not have to come into contact with the eyes, nose, mouth or ears (the inner face).
A greeting.
Hi Patricia.
Yes, you can bathe him with a cat shampoo, but keep the room closed, with heating and then dry him well.
A greeting.
Hello I have a kitten of 2 months approximately, it will be that I can bathe him already or I have to wait for 3 months .. Thank you very much
Hi Yolanda.
Yes, you can bathe it now, but do it in a heated room and then dry it well.
A greeting.
Hello, a little over a year ago I adopted a stray cat, he is affectionate but he does not allow himself to be caught and he likes to be outside more ... Now I have just adopted a two-month-old puppy and the oldest is very jealous. They got into a fight, I have I have to have them separated in different rooms, I know that it is not good to avoid them meeting but I am afraid that it will hurt him ... previously he was fighting with another adult cat that was coming through the garden ... I need advice ... it is very difficult for me!
Hi Susi.
We must have patience.
En this article how to present two cats is explained 🙂
A greeting.
Hello, good night, I have two kittens that were one month old today and we gave them their first kitten food. My question is how much should I give them. And also in the morning we give him lecje after three hours his meals and in the morning to sleep also milk. Are we doing well like this ?? Thank you very much for your reply. Greetings
Hi Dante.
With a month they eat a little at a time, about 15-20g per serving more or less. You have to make sure they are well satisfied.
Yes, you are taking good care of them 🙂, but start introducing the water little by little. For example, instead of giving them milk at night, give them water, or soak their food - once a day - with water.
A greeting.
Hello, I have 2 kittens of 27 days or so, the mother cat abandoned them at birth and I adopted them with my husband, the problem is that one has a cold and does not want to drink milk, my husband made the mistake of bathing them and so I read it should not be done until 8 weeks, what can I do? He has also vomited a few times, for your answer, thanks
Hi Gladys.
At that age you can start giving him wet food for kittens, well chopped. You put a little bit inside his mouth, close it gently but firmly (without hurting him, I insist), and instinctively he will swallow.
As it is so fragile, I recommend taking it to the vet (I am not) as soon as possible for those who vomit.
A greeting.
Hello, good night, I have a question, I have a kitten of approximately 2 months, will it be possible to bathe him? Although I have not given him the vaccine yet, the other thing is that I already started giving him about a week ago I take care of puppies and water, from time to time he vomits, but he is still normal restless. will this be bad? thank you very much ...
Hi Angela.
Regarding the first question, you can bathe him as long as you are careful not to get cold; that is, putting the heat on, keeping the bathroom door closed while you bathe it and then drying it well.
And as for the second, I recommend taking him to the vet just in case. It may be normal, but only the professional will be able to tell you (I am not).
A greeting.
At what times of the day can I bathe him?
Hi Stephany.
Whenever you want, while it is calm and then it dries well. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you do not have to bathe it right after bathing it; let at least 2h pass.
A greeting.
Stories grains of food can be given to a cat of don years and how many times a day?
Hi Zulma.
The ideal is to leave the feeder full 🙂
Cats eat 4-6 times a day, and (anxiety) problems can arise when humans set a meal schedule for them.
The amount to be given according to the weight is indicated on the bag, but it is usually about 200g if it weighs 4-5kg.
A greeting.
Hello! I adopted a 5 week old kitten, but the fleas are driving him crazy 🙁 can I bathe him or should I wait yes or yes for his first vaccination? And another question perhaps a little silly, but is that I never had a cat, can I cut its nails a little or file them a little? Thanks in advance and greetings from Argentina?
Hi loneliness.
At that age you can ask your vet about antiparasitics for kittens. For example, Frontline spray for cats can be used when they are only a few days old.
Regarding the nails, yes, you can cut them a bit, but if you have doubts about how to do it, consult a veterinarian. In any case, you should bear in mind that only the whitish part can be cut.
A greeting.