5 Tips on How to Bathe Your Cats

Most of our feline friends aren't particularly fond of getting a bath. On top of that, cats are good at picking up signals from their owners, especially mood changes or higher anxiety levels. So, if you’re feeling nervous about washing your precious feline, chances are they’re feeling the same.

Here’s how you can make the experience better for yourself and your pet!

Stress-Free Guide on How to Wash Your Cats

Choose the best possible time

Some cats are more likely to feel a bit more relaxed after they have played or after they’ve eaten something nice, like their favourite treat. In this case, you can try bathing your kitty after their play or eating time. On the other hand, if your cat has a tendency to vomit when stressed, you should avoid feeding them before bath time.

Some cats are also more at ease after taking a nap, so that could be the best time to wash them, too. Essentially, try picking a time where you think your furball is most relaxed.

Use a towel

Cats have a unique ability to escape whenever they are forced to do something they have no desire of doing. They can jump, run, and hide and might also attempt to attack you if you’re trying to restrain them too strongly.

But when they’re kept in a towel or a small blanket as if they were children, they have a lot less room to wiggle in. Their chance of escaping is also lower, which then increases your opportunity to give them a bath successfully.

Trim your cat’s nails beforehand

Since not all cats love to get wet, and it is impossible to predict how they might react while being kept in place, you should trim your cat’s nails before bath time.

Most cats don’t have anything against you trimming their nails, especially if you try to make them as comfortable as possible. Just make sure to remove only the transparent part of the nail and don’t go too much into its length. Otherwise, you risk causing your cat a small nail hemorrhage.

Get help

It is far easier to bathe a cat if you have someone to help you with the entire procedure. Whether you ask that person to hold your cat while you’re doing the coat washing or it’s the other way around, getting help will definitely make the whole process easier.

Make sure you’re using the right product

If there’s no way of going around things other than by giving your cat an actual bath, just make sure that you are using a cat-safe shampoo. Cats have different skin pH levels compared to people and even dogs. The Rufus & Coco 2in1 Oatmeal & Aloe Wash is a good example of a cat-appropriate shampoo as it is gentle and even contains panthenol for moisturising your cat’s coat.

Also, cats don’t have to be bathed unless they are extremely dirty. They do a perfectly fine job of cleaning their own bodies thanks to their grooming habits. However, if you want them to stay clean and fresh minus the potential chaos that water involves, you can use our Water Free Wash. Simply add some of the grooming powder onto your cat’s coat and then use a comb or brush to spread it evenly throughout the fur.

The Water Free Wash is safe and pet-friendly, and it contains cornstarch, which can absorb the excess oils in your pet’s coat. In addition, its fragrance does not put off cats in any way.

If for one reason or the other, you aren’t a big fan of cleaning powders, you can try the Rufus & Coco 4in1 Detangler & Pamper Spray.

While it is not primarily made to clean your pet’s coat, it will remove the tangles and deodorise your cat’s fur and also get rid of some of the dust and debris present. After spraying some of the product, simply brush your cat’s coat thoroughly and see how her coat begins to shine. You can also spray it on the brush if your cat can't stand being sprayed on directly. 

What you should never bathe your cat with

In extreme emergencies and if you have nothing else available, you might be tempted to use a variety of cleaning products in your household to give your cat a bath.

Some of them are better or worse, but since none of them are made for cats, we urge you to instead go to a pet shop and get a pet-safe shampoo, whether wet or dry.

Dish detergent and baby shampoo are less detrimental, but if you wash your cat with regular bar soap, you will be stripping the skin of oils that are there to protect the epidermis. Your cat will therefore be prone to irritations, eczemas, and itchiness, and you might just end up at the vet.

Do not try to clean your cat’s body with any solutions containing vinegar. Not only will your cat hate the smell, but vinegar is also acidic and can cause harm if scratches or open wounds are present on your pet's body.

If you have any doubts about what you’re supposed to wash your cat with, you can always ask your vet for guidance. But just so you know, chances are that they will recommend a cat-specific shampoo.