How to properly wash a cat

How often can I wash a cat

Cats do not need to be washed daily or weekly, bathing 1 time in 2 months is considered normal. Watching the cat, it is easy to notice that in her free time from playing and eating, she likes to "preen up" – she licks her fur, paws and tail. The animal maintains the purity of the coat on its own, so it does not need regular bathing. Moreover, too frequent washing can cause harm to the cat, since the subcutaneous glands of the pet produce a protective lubricant. The substance is distributed over the wool, makes the hairs silky, and also serves as a barrier against bacteria.

Interesting fact: cats and cats take care of themselves in different ways. Cats spend more time licking their fur and do it more thoroughly than cats.

It is important to distinguish between a full-fledged washing of the cat with shampoo and wiping individual areas of the coat as it gets dirty. If the cat got dirty in the toilet or came home from the street, wipe off the dirt with a soft cloth previously soaked in warm water. This will not harm the pet.

It is necessary to teach a kitten to wash from the age of 4-5 months, so that bathing becomes a familiar ritual, and, as an adult, he would not feel fear of water. In any case, you will have to wash a domestic cat throughout her life, because her fur gets dirty and falls off, and so you want the "fur coat" to always be luxurious and well-groomed!

In which cases you need to bathe a cat

Bathing a cat or a cat is necessary only if there are good reasons for it. Indications for washing a pet:

• more than 2-3 months have passed since the last bathing, and the cat's fur has become dull, darkened, with tangles;
• kotofey got very dirty, for example, rolled in the mud or doused with paint;
• if parasites are found in the wool, you need to immediately bathe the cat, and then treat the "fur coat" with an antiparasitic agent. Especially carefully it is worth examining cats that are often on the street and can "catch" ticks and fleas;
• washing can be recommended by a veterinarian if a cat has allergies, lichen, dermatitis and other skin-related diseases;
• if you found a kitten on the street and decided to take it into the house, then you can't do without water procedures;
• in preparation for the exhibition, you will have to wash the cat with a special shampoo and make the pet "styling".

Contraindications for bathing

In some cases, it is impossible to wash the cat:

• during rehabilitation after surgery. Usually a full recovery takes about a month, but it all depends on the degree of intervention in the body and the state of health of the pet;
• late pregnancy. Washing can become a great stress for the cat and even provoke premature birth;
• within 2 weeks after vaccination. The cat's immunity is weakened, and it is better to postpone washing;
• if an animal is sick, bathing can stifle its condition. Cancel the water procedures and follow the recommendations of the veterinarian.

Preparing to wash the cat

Trim the claws of the cat so that he does not scratch you while bathing.

Comb the wool and remove the tangles.

Choose a place to bathe – a bathtub, sink or basin. The bath is perfect for large cats, only it is necessary to cover the bottom with a non-slip mat. Many owners wash their pets in sinks. The option with a pelvis is less convenient, since the cat may start grabbing its edges, give preference to a container with a volume of about 30 liters or buy a special bath.

Remove all foreign objects from the sides of the bathtub or sink, hide washcloths and other things that the cat can catch on to.

Make sure you have everything you need to bathe your pet at hand:

• shampoo specially selected for cats (household soap and detergents for humans are not suitable – cats have a different skin Ph);
• a cap covering the ears of a cat, or cotton swabs that can be put in the ears, or you can tie a small package on your head like a scarf;
• soft washcloth for shampooing;
• a large towel in which you can wrap the cat after washing so that it does not freeze and cannot scratch you;
• standard towel for collecting moisture residues and drying;
• caring assistant (preferably).

Check the temperature in the room where you are going to wash the cat. Pets can easily get overcooled and get sick, so the air should not be colder than +22 ° C.

Pour water into the bathtub, basin or sink beforehand. The cat is more afraid not of bathing itself, but of the sound of water pouring from the tap. Before starting water procedures, collect warm water at a level of about 10 cm, so that the water reaches the cat to the stomach. The animal must stand confidently on its paws, but so that its head does not get wet. By the way, you can also pre-fill a watering can with water, with which you can then wash off the foam from the pet if he is afraid of a shower. The water temperature should be 38-40 ° C. If you don't have a thermometer, dip your arm into the water up to the elbow. If you can't feel the water, then it's suitable for a cat.

How to properly wash a cat

Before the water cools down and the cat suspects something is wrong, grab her and take her to the bathroom. Talk to the purr gently, do not make sudden movements that could scare the pet. Do not forget to close the door – in case of escape, the cat will be difficult to catch, and wet footprints will remain throughout the apartment (possibly along with foam, if you have time to soap the cat).

Gently put the cat in the tub, basin or sink. During the dive, you can hold it by the scruff of the neck so that the pet does not break out and scratch you. Put a bathing cap on him or put cotton swabs in his ears. Water the wool with warm water, avoiding getting into the eyes, nose and ears.

It is likely that the cat will be unhappy and will begin to resist. I'll have to persevere–for her own good. Squeeze the shoulders of the cat right under the chest in the left hand, if you are right-handed. Thus, the predominant hand will remain free, and with its help it will be possible to lather the animal. If the cat is waving its hind legs, then you just need to put it down and hold it so that it cannot jump and kick.

At this stage, the assistant will greatly facilitate your task – he can water the cat from a watering can or shower, serve shampoo, towel and other necessary items, and you will do all the manipulations with your free hand.

Note: pet stores offer to use a short leash with suction cups for bathing cats. This accessory makes sense to use only as a last resort, since a pet may be afraid of a leash more than washing, and in the future it will be difficult to lure a cat to water procedures.

Now apply shampoo to wet cat hair with light massaging movements. Consistently lather your back, chest, stomach and tail, do not forget about the paws and chin. Do not use too much shampoo, so that you do not have to wash off the foam for a long time.

Using a special washcloth, gently wash the cat's muzzle. If you want to wash the cat's head, ask the assistant to clamp his ears or put cotton swabs in them. Also make sure that the water does not get into the cat's nose.

It's time to thoroughly rinse the cat's fur. Wash off the foam strictly from top to bottom. It is convenient to wash off the shampoo with a hand shower, just do not lift it very high. The remnants of detergent should not remain on the cat's skin, subsequently this can lead to irritation.

If you rinse your pet's fur with a pelvis, consider its length. For a short–haired cat, one basin will be enough, whereas for a long-haired cat, several.

Important: you can not wash the cat after feeding and dip it in water with your head.

When the shampoo is washed off, pull the purr out of the water, wrap it with a large towel and hug your "cocoon" for a few minutes. The cat should come to her senses and calm down.

Drying wool after bathing

Take the freshly washed cat into the room and wipe dry with a towel. For short-haired cats, one towel will be enough, and for long-haired cats, do not spare 2-3 pieces. You can put your pet on a newspaper or a hoe so that the flowing moisture is absorbed faster.

Note: the cat has a so-called air cushion between the skin and the top layer of wool. This layer of air is heated by the heat of the animal's body and protects the cat from freezing. During bathing, the wool gets wet and temporarily loses its thermoregulatory feature, which is why it is so important to warm the cat with towels after washing and protect it from drafts.

If the cat is not afraid of a hair dryer, then after about 10 minutes after bathing, you can slightly dry his fur. The air flow should be warm, but not hot. If the cat is afraid of an electrical appliance, it is better to wait until the "fur coat" dries naturally.

Use a special comb to comb the wool.

After washing, a domestic cat needs to be kept warm for at least an hour.

How to wash a cat that is afraid of water

What should I do if a cat is afraid of water? Is it really necessary to completely abandon bathing? This problem is solvable – show patience and ingenuity.

First of all, do not neglect to trim your claws before washing, because during bathing especially impressionable cats become very belligerent.

Then play well with the cat so that he relaxes and gets tired. You can't feed your pet.

Having lulled the vigilance of the mustachioed striped, proceed to washing. It is necessary to lower the cat into the water gradually, distracting it with toys. The water should be poured in advance so that the cat does not wait for extra time and is not afraid of an unusual sound.

No matter how the cat behaves during washing, it does not need to be shouted at or physically punished – this will only bring additional stress to the animal. To restrict movement, you can use a special bathing net, where the cat fits like in a bag, and does not go anywhere. Maybe she will remind him of his favorite box?

After washing, treat the cat with a treat – so she will know that a reward awaits her for bathing!

If the pet still could not overcome the panic fear of water, you can wash it with dry shampoo. This is a great alternative to traditional washing, because a good dry shampoo cleanses almost as well as liquid. Apply the powder to the cat's fur, wait a minute and comb the powder together with the dirt.

How to wash the eyes and clean the ears of a cat

So, even the most capricious cat is washed, but during bathing we avoided the eyes and ears, and they should also be clean.

The cat's eyes are wiped with a cotton swab soaked in clean boiled water or a weak solution of tea or chamomile. The movements should be light, no need to press on the eyes and rub them.

It's time for ears. There is no need to clean them unnecessarily – only if they are dirty. However, after washing the cat, water could get into the ears. You need to wipe the outer part of the ear with a cotton swab, on which it is better to twist an additional layer of cotton wool. Use a clean stick or dip it in a drop of vaseline oil. Water and other liquids cannot be used. As a rule, cats like to clean their ears and gladly substitute them for the owner. Healthy cat ears should be pink, clean, and odorless.

Features of washing cats of different breeds

Some purebred cats have wool features, which is reflected in the care of them. In general, we can say that long-haired cats have to be washed more often than short-haired ones.

A common myth touched sphinxes - allegedly because of oily skin, they need to be washed once a week. In fact, it is better to wipe sphinx with wet wipes or a soft cloth, and bathe only when heavily soiled.

Burmese cat has a very spectacular, shiny, short coat, the beauty of which needs to be maintained. Instead of washing the fine wool, after which the cat can become like a hedgehog, wipe it daily with a piece of suede or a damp cloth. This will help to give the "fur coat" a glossy shine. Once a week, the cat needs to be combed with a glove or brush. You can use a special cat antistatic. This massage is sure to please your chocolate bar!

Brits and maine coons have sensitive skin, so it is extremely important for them to select specialized shampoos according to the type of wool. From poor-quality cosmetics, cats can start to itch constantly and get dandruff.

Bathing the cat before the exhibition

Before participating in the exhibition, any domestic cat will have to be washed. Such bathing will have some features:

• it is necessary to wash the cat 2 times before the exhibition, with the second soaping, a shade shampoo (or balm) is used, selected depending on the color;
• the foam is also washed off 2 times, first with water, then with a rinse aid or a weak vinegar solution;
• during blow-drying, the wool is smoothed with a massage comb with an antistatic coating of the teeth, starting from the back and ending with the collar;
• now a powder can be applied to a still slightly damp "fur coat", which will absorb the remaining moisture and make the wool smooth;
• after a couple of hours, finish the treatment of the cat's fur by applying a protein conditioner.

Life Hack: how to choose a shade shampoo for cats of different colors

White pets are washed 2 or even 3 times with shampoo designed for white cats. When re-applying, leave the shampoo on for 2 minutes for a deeper effect, and then do not forget to rinse it well. White shampoo is also suitable for chinchilla and silver marble kittens, but you do not need to leave detergent on the wool. If a cream, blue or purple cat seems a little dark to you, use the same shampoo to give a lighter, brighter shade.

Cats with rare red, tortoiseshell and marble-red colors should be washed with red or bronze shampoo. If the cat has a chocolate coat color, add a few drops of black to the bronze shampoo. Fluffy beauties of black colors are suitable for black shampoo.

Follow the instructions, and your cat will outshine all her relatives at the exhibition!