Do Cats Bathe? Do cats need a bath? Everyone knows that cats hate water. We've all heard that our furry friends (at least most of them) don't want anything to do with water, not even to touch it. Therefore, when it comes to the thought of hygiene for a cat, many people scratch their heads. How to clean cats? Or what to do to wash cats that hate water?
But do cats really need a bath? The answer is quite simple: No, cats don't need bathing (with some exceptions). Because cats can clean themselves and be perfectly clean. So there is no need to bathe your cat. However, in some cases it may be necessary. So, how to bathe cats in such cases?
Do you bathe cats?
1. When should cats be bathed?
Cats can sometimes get too dirty to clean themselves. If your cat is covered in mud or has gotten into a smelly place like a garbage dump, you may need to give it a bath. In these cases, you can follow the steps below: Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 liter of white vinegar.
Vinegar is the best base and is stronger than water. However, it is not as harmful as the hair lightener peroxide. Rub this mixture gently into your cat's coat, being careful not to get it in the eyes or ears, and then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Other situations where cats need to be bathed:
If your cat is too sick, old or fat to clean itself, you may need to clean it yourself. Some cats may suffer from obesity and cannot bend and twist to clean themselves, so they cannot move much. If your cat is infected with parasites such as fleas, mites, ticks and lice, you should not only bathe them but also take them to the vet immediately.
You can usually tell if a cat needs a bath. An unpleasant odor is a clear sign that they are infected with something. Besides that, it will need a regular bathing routine to stay healthy. cat breeds There are also Some cats that need to be washed and some special circumstances.
- If your cat has particularly long hair (for example, in the case of breeds such as Persian/Iranian cats), self-cleaning may be difficult and not sufficient. In such cases, you will need to bathe and clean it yourself.
- In the case of less hairy or hairless cats (e.g. cats that are completely hairless Sphynx ) may need to be washed periodically to remove grease and dirt from their skin.
- As I mentioned above, your cat may also need a bath for medical reasons: Cats that are elderly, obese, arthritic or have mobility problems can find it very difficult to do basic grooming on their own. The back half of the coat of some of these cats can often become matted, causing their sensitive skin to itch and flake.
If your cat has a special condition, has a health problem or needs to be bathed and cleaned specially because of its coat and skin type, you will need to follow the steps below. Bathing cats is not an easy thing to do. So it's quite possible that you'll struggle... But don't give up! Preparing with all the essentials will help you keep up and make the process easier.
2. What do I need to bathe my cat?
Here are the ingredients needed to bathe cats:
Ear stick
To clean the ear, take some cotton wool or ear swabs. With an ear swab, you will not only be able to remove any debris that is naturally present inside the ear, but also any traces of water or cleaning solution that may have gotten in. Cleaning the ears will keep various debris out of the ear canal and prevent the risk of infection of the inner ear.
Pay attention to your cat's behavior during this process. Forcing cats to do something they clearly don't want to do can be stressful for you or your cat. Moreover, your cat may avoid you. If your cat has been exposed to an irritating or irritating pest or contaminated with a dirty substance, you should wear long-sleeved clothing, preferably gloves to protect your own skin.
Cat shampoo:
You should use a specially formulated cat shampoo for cats. You can find cat shampoo in pet stores and online. You may want to opt for a fragrant shampoo, but you should buy an unscented shampoo. This is because cats are sensitive to odors and may hate the smell.
Non-slip surface:
To prevent your cat from slipping while in the water, anything with a non-slip surface will do the trick. If you don't have such a thing, you should get help from someone. Because you may find it difficult to control your cat on your own.
A small jug:
You will need it to pour the water over your cat.
Catnip etc:
You can use a sedative such as catnip to calm and relax your cat. But make sure it is a health-approved substance!
Towel
You might think that one towel would be enough, but things can get a little rough and fast because your cat will be stressed. For this reason, it's worth taking a few towels with you.
Conclusion
Are cats bathed? Cats do not have to be bathed. But don't think that bathing or putting cats in water is cruel. Because in some cases it can be very beneficial for cats and sometimes it is absolutely necessary. When it comes to their general health, cat owners will do almost anything for their pets.
Your cat may hate water, may be hesitant at first, and may even give you some trouble during the procedure. This is all very normal. Your job is to be patient and approach your cat in a very calm and slow manner.
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