Cat Baths

[onimity]

Hi Mimi,

I wash them every couple of weeks, once a week when they are shedding, less frequently in the winter. It is definitely a routine for them which makes it interesting to find ways to trick them into a closed bathroom.

I use 'Buddy Wash' by Cloud Star. It doesn't contain a lot of chemicals like other pet wash which I think is a good thing since they lick themselves. It smells great too. They also make a conditioner which I like since it is really dry here and it is easy to give a cat enough static-electric charge to make its hair stand on end for a week.

The hallway that our bathroom is in has a door at the end, so we close all of the doors when the cats aren't paying attention (one at a time) then my sister & I each grab an unsuspecting cat and carry it into the hallway. When you shut the door and take off their collars they know what is up. My female cat runs under the little table at the end of the hall. She can't quite fit under it... My male cat attempts to sink into the hardwood floor.

Being calm is key. Cats know when they have you nervous and they will take advantage of that. A glass of wine may help with this, but two will ensure that the cat has the upper hand!

My cats like very warm water, much warmer than suits me, but I've found that if I rub in the shampoo like I'm giving them a massage, pretty deep rubbing in the way I would pet them, and give them frequent rinses with really warm water they *almost* like it. It helps to have a second person rinse but isn't necessary. This past time my male cat (all black) purred for a split second. He then regained his pride, but as long as you are quick and act like you think they should like it I've found even really mean cats will put up with it. The one think I'd avoid is washing anything forward of the ears. This will generally result in a panicked cat. My cats hate standing in water. I've read articles that suggest filling the tub and then getting in with the cat, but that doesn't work for mine. They are much calmer when not standing in water.

I like to dry them, they aren't too fond of this but they seem happier after the fact. The key is not to let them run out sopping wet because they hold a bit of a grudge and also get a lot of other things wet. One of my co-workers gets a huge beach towel and wraps the cat in it, then holds him for a few minutes.

Hope that helps...

Anne