• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Animal Behavior College

Animal Behavior College

Where Animal Lovers Pursue Animal Careers

Feefo logo
Live chat
Live chat
800-795-3294
  • Alumni Login
    • Dog Obedience Program Alumni
    • Cat Training Program Alumni
    • Grooming Instruction Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program Alumni
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program Alumni
    • Service Dog Trainer Alumni
  • Student Login
    • Cat Training Program
    • Dog Obedience Program
    • Grooming Instruction Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Service Dog Trainer
MENUMENU
  • Programs
    • Dog Obedience Instructor
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Certification
      • Success Stories
      • Students Saving Lives
      • Find A Dog Trainer
    • Veterinary Assistant
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Success Stories
    • Grooming Instruction Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Success Stories
      • Find A Pet Groomer
    • On Campus Dog Trainer Program
      • Traditional Classroom Environment in Los Angeles California
      • Enroll Using Your Military Benefits
    • Continuing Education
      • Short Term Programs
    • Cat Management and Training
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Find A Cat Trainer
    • Aquarium Maintenance (online)
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Salary Information
      • What Is an Aquarist?
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Service Dog Trainer Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Career
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Education & Experience Requirements
  • Military Benefits
  • GI Bill® Benefits
  • Locations
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Animal Career Resources
  • About ABC
        • About Animal Behavior College
        • Our Expert Faculty
        • Press, News & Info
        • Press Releases
        • BPPE Disclosures
        • Animal Behavior College FAQ
        • Contact Us
        • Why ABC?
        • Students Saving Lives
        • Licensure, Ratings & Approvals
        • Sponsors & Associates
        • Gift Certificates
  • Blog
  • Affiliates
  • Alumni Login
    • Dog Obedience Program Alumni
    • Cat Training Program Alumni
    • Grooming Instruction Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program Alumni
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program Alumni
    • Service Dog Trainer Alumni
  • Student Login
    • Cat Training Program
    • Dog Obedience Program
    • Grooming Instruction Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Service Dog Trainer Program
Home » Courses & Career » Grooming » Bathing a Cat—Safely

Bathing a Cat—Safely

Cat bathing safely

How to help your felines stay clean without causing harm to them—or you.

Sphynxes need to be bathed at least once a week.
©Elena/Adobe Stock

The reality of being an ailurophile is that sometimes you have to bathe your cat; and the hard truth is that most felines don’t like being in water. That fact alone should give you real respect for pet groomers!

For the most part, cats are pretty good at keeping themselves neat and tidy. Being super flexible, they can reach almost any spot, and don’t like to be covered in dirt or grease. However, they will occasionally get into something that even they can’t handle. Here are few reasons why you might need to help your cat out, along with how to do so without causing too much stress to either of you.

  • Some cats actually enjoy, or at least tolerate, getting wet.
    ©Michael Pettigrew/Adobe Stock

    Hairless cats require quite a lot of grooming because their skin continues to emit oils that invariably attracts dirt. This dirt sticks to the body and can attract other unwanted things, such as bacteria. The ears and “bum” area need to be frequently cleaned, as do the eyes. If you have a hairless cat, it’s important to get him accustomed to baths early on in her life.

  • Your 12-year old cat is finally slowing down. She’s not jumping as high, walking as much, hunting as often, or cleaning himself as well as she used to do. You will most likely need to help him through her golden years with frequent brushing, regular nail clipping and occasional bathing.
  • A bath can help resolve a flea infestation. A warm bath with regular cat shampoo can help suffocate and remove fleas from your cat’s body safely. If you opt to you use a flea shampoo, make sure it is cat-specific as some dog shampoos could cause serious harm.
  • Occasionally your cat might get into something she cannot or should not lick off. This is true of car grease/oil and other leaked vehicle fluids.

Decide on a Location

You might want to use either a sink or a bathtub, depending on the size of your cat and her tolerance for water. Sinks can be easier on your back; however, if you have larger cats (as I do), you’ll want to choose the tub. A large plastic tub (e.g., a foot bath or wash basin) placed inside abathtub or on a tile floor is another option.

Gather Supplies

Have all the bathing supplies within easy reach before you pick up your cat and put her in the tub or sink. You will need:

  • Work as quickly as possible when bathing your feline—and always use a cat-specific shampoo.
    ©135pixels/Adobe Stock

    Cat Shampoo: choose a shampoo that is specifically formulated for cats’ skin and coat. I love the Feline Shampoo bar from DERMagic because it enables me to use one hand for cleaning rather than two for handling the bottle, holding the cat, etc. No matter which shampoo you select, please be certain it’s formulated for cats.

  • Large pitcher or bowl for rinsing: Have a container of clean water for rinsing. I dip a giant plastic cup into a bucket of clean water for easy rinses. A hand-held shower or spray nozzle works well, too.
  • Towels: The faster you can get your feline secured and into the safety of a warm towel, the happier you both will be. I like to spritz the cat towel with a little Feliway, which helps calm them. You will also need a towel for the bottom of the sink or towel.
  • Soft washcloth for the face and ears

Prepare the Bath

Before you begin, you should have a clean warm towel at hand to dry off your cat.
©otosmile777/Adobe Stock

The key to a successful bath is to have the water as close to your cat’s natural body temperature as possible. That way, she should be more “accepting” of being wet. Place one of the towels in the water along the bottom of the tub or sink. This gives your cat something to grab onto and will help her feel more secure. The water level should only be about 3 or 4 inches, coming up to your pet’s belly and no higher.

Close off the Area

Make sure you are working in an area that is confined. The bathroom is an ideal place. If your cat begins to freak out, you need to let her go. Take your time before you approach her; she will need to calm down before you try again.

Prepare Your Cat

A thorough brushing just before bath time helps prevent tangles from forming.
©Konstantin Aksenov/Adobe Stock

Brush your cat before bathing her, particularly if she has long hair and/or tangles. Mats are much more difficult to remove when they’re wet. This is also a great time to clip your cat’s nails, which can help you avoid a deep claw marks if/when your cat flips out. Talk to your cat, give her treats or bring her favorite toy in to help her relax. Catnip can also help some cats relax beforehand.

Make sure you play with your cat and do your best to tire her out before a bath. This helps make the bath a calmer experience for all.

Work Quickly

Gently wet your cat’s fur and begin to massage in the shampoo. This is when the shampoo bars come in handy because you can use one hand to control your pet while you use the other to shampoo them. If you don’t use shampoo bars, you may want to enlist the help of a friend. Bathing a cat is a two-person job if they aren’t accustomed to it.

Make sure all of the shampoo is rinsed off before you take your cat out of the tub or sink.
©ollegn/Adobe Stock

Use a washcloth to gently clean her face and ears. Don’t forget to pay close attention to her rear and underbelly. Rinse your cat completely; this is an important part of the process as left-in shampoo can dry the skin and cause irritation or cause her to throw up if she licks it off.

Make drying a fun experience. Lift your cat into a thick, warm towel and tell her what a good girl she is. Towel dry her as much as possible and then let her roam the enclosed area a bit while your brush out her fur.

Baths can be a great experience for cats if they are introduced to the process early on. However, even senior cats who have never been bathed can learn to appreciate them. The key to a cat bath is to remain calm, keep your cat as relaxed as possible and treat the experience as a new game. Most cats can become at least accustomed to baths.

Primary Sidebar

Tags

educationhumane societystay dog training commandteach dog staytrain a dog to stayteach your dog to roll overtraining a dog to roll overtraveling with petsbenefits of rawhiderawhide bonesaspcadog jumpingtrain your dog to cometrain dog to jumphow to teach your dog to speaktraining dog to speakeasy dog trickshow to train a dog to play deadteach a dog to play deadtraining dog to play deadlick faceshake pawdog flash mobhow to teach a dog to stayteach dog to come when calledrequirementsanimal hospital jobsbest dog trainerchoose a dog trainerdog trainer ratesfind a dog trainerhow to find a dog trainerkeeperkennel attendantsvet assistant programvet assistant schoolveterinary care jobshow to get a job at a veterinary hospitalhow to teach a dog to comework in veterinary hospitalhow much do vet assistants makedog training toyskong dog toyhow to train your dog to sitteach your dog to sittrain dog to sittrain your dog to sitcome when calledhow do you train a dog to come when called every timedoggy dance
  • Main
    • Locations
    • Affiliates
    • Find A Dog Trainer
    • Find A Pet Groomer
    • Find a Cat Trainer
    • Post a Job
    • Evolution of ABC
  • Dog Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Dog Groomer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Cat Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Service Dog Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Education & Experience Requirements

Footer

Apex Career School - A subsidiary of Animal Behavior College


Interested in a career outside of the animal industry?
Visit our subsidiary school!

bbb logo

Rating A+ The BBB only accredits the business management of a school, not the quality of the curriculum, or training programs.

STATE LICENSURE AND APPROVAL
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (www.bppe.ca.gov) under the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 and Title 5. California Code of Regulations Division 7.5. Private Postsecondary Education. The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education approval means that this institution and its operation comply with the standards established under the law for occupational instruction by private postsecondary educational institutions. Institutional approval is subject to continual review and the institution must reapply for approval every five years.
DISCLAIMER
Please be advised that Animal Behavior College ("ABC") is the exclusive entity authorized to provide certifications and/or degrees from Animal Behavior College. Moreover, such certifications and/or degrees are only conferred by ABC following a student's completion of an ABC-administered program. No other entity or individual has authority to confer certifications and/or degrees on ABC's behalf. Any other entity or individual who attempts to do so is acting without express or implied authority from ABC.
GI BILL® TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTION
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Click here to view Animal Behavior College’s Annual Reports
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Animal Behavior College, 27509 Avenue Hopkins, First Floor, Valencia CA 91355-3910 Contact Us
© 2000 - 2023 Animal Behavior College. Questions? email@animalbehaviorcollege.com
loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location