I ran across a great little article-gem on washing a cat – anyone who has tried this ‘fun’ feat, it can really be a challenge. But, it can be done. I hope you find this helpful.
Washing a Cat – Some How to Tips
By Liz Canham Liz Canham
Why on earth would anyone want to wash a cat? you may ask. It sounds like a situation fraught with danger! Well, surprisingly, cats can get just as dirty or flea infested as dogs and sometimes you have no choice but to bathe them. A word of warning though, cats’ fur contains special oils to protect and “waterproof” it so never wash your can more than once a month.
Preparation is the key to washing your cat. Collect everything you will need so that you don’t have to abandon the operation part way through and risk the cat escaping up the nearest tree. Essential supplies are two large, absorbent towels, shampoo and conditioner especially formulated for animals, a sponge and a shower attachment, if you don’t have one built in. Failing the shower, use a mug or jug for rinsing with clean water. A non-slip mat is also a good idea.
The bathroom basin is probably the best place to wash your cat as keeping the cat contained in a bath will be more difficult and will mean you either kneeling or bending over in a very uncomfortable position.
Close the bathroom door to prevent escape and put the non-slip mat in the bottom of the basin. Run a few inches of warm water and gently put your cat in it. Stroke the cat and talk quietly and reassuringly, waiting for him to be calm before you begin the actual washing part. When you think it’s appropriate, start to wet the cat either with the shower attachment or if that seems to be frightening the cat, use the jug or mug instead. Do not pour water on the cat’s head, ears or face – we’ll deal with that later.
When the cat’s fur is damp, apply the shampoo according to the instructions on the bottle. Gently massage the shampoo into the fur and if the cat can forget that he’s soaking wet, he may actually enjoy it.
When the shampoo has lathered up, rinse it off very thoroughly, taking great care that it is all removed. Any residue may cause severe skin irritation.
When you’re absolutely sure that the shampoo is rinsed out of your cat’s fur, apply the conditioner in the quantity stated on the container and rinse it out thoroughly. The use of conditioner isn’t strictly necessary with a short-haired cat but if he submits to being bathed with good grace, you may as well use it.
If you still have skin on your arms when you’ve finished cleaning your cat’s body, gently wipe his face, particularly around the eyes but do be careful not to get water or soap in them.
To finish, wrap the cat in one of the towels and very gently rub his fur to remove most of the water. Using the second, dry, towel, continue to dry his fur until the towel is quite damp. By this time, the cat should be able to complete the job himself. If the cat is long-haired, you can try using a hair dryer on the lowest setting, if he will tolerate it. You must keep the dryer moving or you risk burning the cat’s skin.
If you approach the exercise of washing a cat with organisation and sensitivity, it should be a not too unpleasant experience for both yourself and the cat.
Liz Canham is the owner (or perhaps servant) of four cats currently and has had cats in the family all her life. To take advantage of her wide experience in the care and training of cats and kittens, click here to visit her website, The Cat Lover.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liz_Canham
In the article, the author talked about closing the bathroom door – this has saved me from countless frustration in the past when dealing with my own felines. There’s absolutely nothing worse than trying to run down a wet kitty through the house – at least with the door closed, there is only so far he/she can go!
