We bathe the cat with pleasure

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Cats are clean animals that do what they do every day is lick their fur, making their coat clean and beautiful. But sometimes situations arise when a pet may get dirty or an unpleasant odor begins to emanate from it. Many owners wonder how to bathe a cat if it is afraid of water and scratches?

Most cats cannot tolerate water and are terrified of it. As a result, the bathing procedure ends with scratched hands, a flooded bathtub, and a spoiled mood for both the pet and the owner. And while bathing, your furry friend will scream heart-rendingly, struggle and even bite.

At first glance, bathing a cat if it is afraid of water is an impossible task.

But if you approach the matter in a cunning way, using a few tips and subtleties, then it is quite possible to do without horrifying consequences. And the animal will not experience much stress.

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At what temperature should you bathe adult cats?

You need to wash your cat in warm water. It is unacceptable for it to be cool or hot.

This is explained by the fact that this pet is sensitive to hypothermia or overheating.

Determining that the liquid temperature in the bath is comfortable is quite simple.

You need to put your elbow in it. If the water is lukewarm and not scalding, you can safely wash your cat in it.

Rules for washing pets

Handle your pet carefully during the procedure. Do not throw your pet into the bathtub. Try not to hold forcibly. Avoid getting water in your ears, as... this can trigger the development of diseases.

When swimming you need to do the following:

1. Prepare in advance. During the washing process, you will not have the opportunity to go to the next room for shampoo or a towel, so immediately take everything you need with you. It is advisable to ask an assistant to hold the cat so that you can do the actual bathing. Before hygiene procedures, it is better to trim the animal’s claws. This minimizes the risk of injury.
2. Start swimming. Adjust the temperature. Place a net or towel on the bottom to prevent your pet from slipping. Place the animal on its paws and wait. If you are using a restraint, just let your cat stand there for a few seconds. During this time, he will understand that nothing threatens him. If you have not restrained the animal, caress and stroke it. Once your pet has calmed down, you can begin to wet its fur.
3. Use detergents. If the wool is clean, you can skip this step. It is better to distribute the shampoo with a massage brush. Special products do not foam; they are kept on the wool for some time, then washed off. It is best to minimize contact with shampoos if possible, because... For cats, washing is an unnatural process. This causes them stress.
4. Rinse off the shampoo. Residues must be removed carefully, otherwise they will irritate the skin and cause itching. If you use not only shampoos, but also conditioners, rinse them thoroughly each time. Multiple products may cause an unwanted chemical reaction when combined.
5. Dry the wool. It's better to do this without a hairdryer. You can wrap your cat in a towel and hold him in your arms for a few minutes. During this time, most of the moisture will be absorbed by the fabric. After this, you can lower the cat to the floor, take another dry towel and begin to remove any remaining water.
6. Comb the fur. It is better to start the last stage after the pet has calmed down. This step can be skipped if the animal does not shed, but for breeds such as Britons and Scottish Folds, it is required. They have a dense, stuffed coat that constantly sheds.

Water requirements when bathing kittens

A small kitten's first bath is when he is eight weeks old. At an earlier age, water procedures are not recommended, because the animal has not yet had time to get stronger, has weak immunity, and is overly sensitive to external influences.

Hypothermia and overheating can negatively affect his condition. Even death is possible.

The water should be comfortable . The normal temperature for washing small pets is between +35…+37 degrees.

Preparing for a swim

Preparation must be carried out in stages - you cannot just take the cat and throw it into the water. Before swimming, make sure you always have the following items on hand:

• towels – and as many as possible. Prepare a couple of dry towels to dry the animal, and throw a couple on the floor so as not to wet it;
• you need to buy a special shampoo for cats - you can’t use regular shampoo, as it can harm your pet;
• prepare two basins. Why not the bathroom? The fact is that cats will be much less afraid of a small basin. The first is necessary to wash the animal in it - the water should be warm. A second basin, also with warm water, is necessary for rinsing the pet;
• an ordinary mug with which to pour clean water over the animal;
• remove all unnecessary objects around the basins, because the cat is able to turn it all over;
• if desired, invite an assistant;
• Prepare a band-aid and peroxide in case the cat's claws still overtake you.

Breed influence

Cats with fur feel good when bathing if the water is heated to a comfortable temperature equal to body temperature.

Sphinxes are a completely different matter. This breed is characterized by the absence of hair, so the animals quickly freeze and become hypothermic.

They have different requirements for water: it is heated to +39…+40°C.

It is necessary to monitor the air temperature: if it is cold, bath procedures will cause hypothermia. The risk of developing colds increases.

When does a cat need a bath?

Many people believe that cats are good at maintaining their personal hygiene on their own because they spend a lot of time licking their fur. It’s really not worth washing your cat every week just to keep its fur smooth and silky. Cat fur is covered with a special lubricant produced by the sebaceous glands. Bathing with shampoo washes away this lubricant, and the natural protection disappears.

Pollution

If the animal is dirty and the contaminated area is large enough, you will have to carry out a bath procedure. Cats love to explore everything around them and can find adventures in their fur - without even leaving the apartment.

Minor dirt can be wiped off with a napkin or a damp cloth - and without washing. Also, do not expose your pet to stress after walks - just wipe his paws if he steps in a puddle.

Before the exhibition

In order for the jury to appreciate your pet, it should be brought into appropriate shape. Usually the cat is taken to a grooming salon, where a specialist does a complete “maraffe”, but some owners cope with this task themselves.

An exhibition animal must be accustomed to complex hygienic procedures from childhood. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to bring it into a decent appearance.

Washing before a show should include cleansing the coat, applying balms, conditioners, oils and powders. Afterwards - thorough combing.

Scheduled cleanliness

The dirt that you bring into the house on your shoes remains in your pet’s undercoat, and by licking it, the cat can harm its body. Therefore, preventive bathing is still necessary.

If your pet is not noticeably dirty, you can wash it no more than several times a year.

Therapeutic bathing (against parasites)

After the cat has been treated for ticks and fleas, it needs to be washed - unless there are contraindications in the instructions included with the drug. Another option is to use insecticidal shampoos. They are a good protection against fleas in cases where the cat accepts bath procedures normally.

The importance of compliance with these standards

One of the main reasons why cats refuse to bathe is an anxious situation. Everything scares animals:

• noise;
• lack of support;
• moisture;
• getting drops on the head, eyes, ears;
• unfamiliar sensations.

Often, a kitten jumps out of a basin or bathtub in fright because it is very cold or hot. Because of the first unsuccessful bathing experience, it is often impossible to persuade the animal to repeat water procedures.

Possible consequences of non-compliance with temperature conditions

The danger of hypothermia is that it increases the risk of developing colds. Against this background, hypothermia often occurs. Most often, owners of small kittens face this problem.

An animal at an early age is not able to regulate its own body temperature, quickly freezes, and because of this, the functioning of the digestive system is disrupted. Accordingly, the body does not absorb nutrients. The pet cannot keep warm.

The risk of death in such a situation is high .
You need to seek help from a veterinary clinic. The skin of pets is very sensitive, so there is a high probability of getting a burn. The owner thinks the water is warm, but for the animal it turns out to be hot. Overheating develops and burns appear.

Another problem that arises when these standards are not followed is dry skin. Such changes are observed when bathing in cold or hot liquid, or when washing the cat frequently.

Washing the cat

Cats are fairly clean animals. Therefore, for a long time there was an opinion that they should not be washed at all, but this is not entirely true - bathing cats and kittens is sometimes necessary.

You need to wash your cat if the animal participates in exhibitions, if it regularly goes outside, and also after any persistent pollution that the cat is not able to deal with on its own. Is there a minimum number of water procedures per year? There is no clear answer to this question.

The opinion of leading dermatologists on this matter: “The less often you bathe your cat, the better.”

An animal that lives at home all the time and maintains its hygiene normally may not need to be washed at all, or only because of persistent contamination. Another thing is street cats: they need to be bathed when they get dirty, but try to do this no more than once a month. If you wash your pet too often, the natural lipid protective layer may be disrupted, causing itching and flaking of the skin. The lipid layer - a mixture of sebum, sweat and exfoliating particles of the stratum corneum - is necessary for cats to protect the skin from the harmful effects of environmental factors.

In addition to their habitat, the hygiene of cats is greatly influenced by the type of their coat.

According to the type of coat, cats can be divided into 4 main categories:

• cats without hair (sphynxes);
• shorthair (Siamese, Bengal);
• semi-longhair (bobtail, munchkin);
• long-haired (Maine Coon, Angora).

Hairless cats are not actually completely hairless, and short, very sparse hair is present in small quantities on certain parts of the body (head, paws). Such fur, of course, does not require care, which cannot be said about the skin of a hairless cat. The fact is that the skin of such cats often secretes an excessive amount of brownish sebum, which gives the animal an unpleasant “grimy” appearance. The problem can be solved by regularly wiping the cats' skin with special wet wipes or by washing.

Short-haired cats are the least capricious when it comes to grooming and maintain almost all the hygiene of their skin and coat themselves. You should not bathe them often. Long-haired cats can be washed more often than others, but also no more than once a month. Usually 5-6 times a year is more than enough.

Many cats do not like to wash themselves, but there are animals that have a positive attitude towards water procedures (for example, Bengal cats). However, this is rather an exception to the rule. In order for your cat to have at least a neutral attitude towards bathing, you need to start introducing the animal to water and the bathing place from an early age, even as a kitten, and the sooner you start, the better.

Try to accustom the kitten to play with water, sit in the bathtub, and the sight of the bathroom. After this, you can wash the animal, just try to wash the first times not completely, but in parts, and choose a time when the animal is calm and peaceful. Only after this preparatory stage can you begin to bathe the cat. If washing a cat is a certain stress, it is advisable to carry out the procedure together. Try to hold the animal securely without injuring it.

Remember that many products are not suitable for washing a cat. In particular, do not use soap, harsh detergents or shampoos. You may not notice any negative consequences after just one use, but regularly using aggressive detergents like antibacterial soap can disrupt the natural microflora and acid-base balance of your pet’s skin. It is best to buy a special shampoo for animals at a pet store; you can also use children's hypoallergenic shampoos and soaps.

When we wash a cat, the best option is a bath slightly filled with water, not too hot, but not too cold; If we use a shower, then the pressure should not be very strong. You should stock up on a towel in advance to dry your pet’s fur immediately after water treatments, remove excess water and prevent the cat from getting hypothermic.

In addition, it is necessary to comb the cat's fur especially carefully for several days after bathing to prevent the formation of tangles.

Why are cats generally afraid of water?

Scientists have found the reason for the fear of water in cats. The fact is that all types of domestic cats are descendants of the dun cat, which in ancient times lived in Africa. There was too little water around, and land became its natural environment. She never learned to swim, which was passed on to most of her descendants. Fear of water is a natural defense.

However, not everyone has a fear of swimming. Many species of wild cats have overcome their fear as water has become their means of survival in the wild. The same situation exists with domestic cats. If a certain species lives near water for a long time, then you will have to learn to swim, and then the fear disappears. Some cat breeds are not only not afraid of water, but also happily get into it themselves. Even domestic cats can catch fish in the water.

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How to bathe

Bathing is an important procedure, and it should be done often if the pet is active and often gets wet. Therefore, you should remember the following rules:

• before bathing, the animal should be calmed: pet the pet, talk to it, which can distract attention from approaching the water;
• You need to grab your pet firmly, but not to such an extent that it hurts, and then just start slowly immersing it in the water;
• try to bathe in such a way that water does not get into your ears under any circumstances, because it can cause infection - it would be quite reasonable to plug your ears with cotton wool;
• There is no need to completely immerse in water - only part of the body, and wet the head and the rest using a mug, scooping up warm water;
• then you should wash your pet with a special shampoo - it should not get on the eyes and face, because it can cause irritation and frighten the cat even more;
• then you should carefully rinse off the shampoo with warm water. If you use a shower, then bring it as close to the fur as possible - splashes can also scare the animal, but the pressure should not be strong;
• Dry your pet with a dry towel and take it to a dry place. Within an hour he will calm down, and kindness will return to him.

An alternative option is to call a veterinarian - he is a professional and can cope with a timid cat. If you have friends who are more competent in this matter, call them. In addition, pet stores sell a special dry detergent for washing pets. You can also find a lot of useful videos on the Internet where professionals show how to wash cats.