In general, cats should be given a bath once every 4-6 weeks, depending on how often they groom themselves, and the environment they're usually in. If your cat is more outdoorsy and soils itself while playing, it's a good idea to help with the grooming process as they alone won't be able to properly get cleaned.
"In general, a healthy adult cat doesn't require bathing unless he or she has gotten into something that has coated the fur and can't be easily removed with brushing," she says. "Cats groom themselves naturally, however their owners should help keep them clean by brushing or combing them regularly."
Veterinarians agree that it is actually unnecessary to bathe your cat as regular as you would a dog. While bathing them occasionally will help keep them healthy, unless instructed by your vet you should never bathe your cat weekly or a couple of times per week. You might do more harm than good with this mindset.
Do cats feel better after a bath? Most cats feel anxious and stressed by baths because they dislike water. If you do need to bathe your cat, it's essential to follow our advice regarding how to wash your cat safely and with minimal stress.
The cat bath temperature should be around body temperature, in other words pretty warm but not so hot that it's uncomfortable. Place a towel or rubber mat in the bottom of the tub or sink. Cats hate the insecure footing of slippery surfaces and this will make it less stressful.
While talking to your cat and offering lots of reassurance and praise, gently place her into the shower tray or bath. Using a showerhead from above is significantly less stressful for your pet as she is far more likely to be used to being rained on than she is being lowered into 4 inches of tepid water!
Cats are fastidious animals that spend a great deal of their day grooming themselves. Wet fur is extremely uncomfortable for a cat and often takes a long time to dry. Wet fur is also heavier than dry and thus makes a cat less nimble and easier for predators to catch. There is also the shock factor.
A grooming professional will try to calm your cat before placing her into a few inches of lukewarm water and applying the shampoo. Often shampooing starts from the head down to the tail, while avoiding the nose, ears, and mouth of the cat.
Cat Bathing 101
The National Cat Groomers Institute of America recommends a bath once every 4-6 weeks.
The most important part of bathing your cat is drying them off afterward. Dry them off as quickly as possibly with a large towel, and keep them in a warm room until they've completely dried. If your cat lets you, you can also use a hairdryer on its lowest warmth setting to speed up the process.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
If you're wondering whether it is necessary to trim a cat's claws, trimming a cat's claws every few weeks is an important part of maintaining your pet's health. Not only does a quick trim protect you, your pet and your family, it can also save your sofa, curtains and other furniture.
Cats are purrfectionists
Cats can smell the chemicals in water and prefer not to be soaked through to avoid smelling that way all day. Cats also secrete pheromones into their fur to mark their territory and communicate with others, so any submersion in water will remove this.
Wet towel. Most cats hate getting wet, so they're unlikely to want to take a dip in any water to cool off. But wet a small towel in cold water and dab over your cat's fur, or just stroke cat with wet hands, to bring some relief from hot weather.
It is not uncommon for cats, including kittens, to shiver or shake after a bath. This behavior is usually a natural response to the wet and cold sensations of being in water and being dried off.
Daily brushing is most beneficial and will help to establish a routine. Brushing a minimum of 3 times a week is helpful if your schedule cannot accommodate daily brushing. "It is best to teach your cat to accept brushing while she is still a kitten."
For the most part, cats require nail cutting about every 2-3 weeks. Mature cats usually need more frequent nail clippings than kittens. Make sure you provide a scratching post to support your cat's instinctive urge to claw and to keep those nails trimmed between clipping sessions.
Dental disease can cause pain, tooth loss, infection, and can even shorten your cat's lifespan if bacteria from an oral infection enters the bloodstream. The absolute best way to protect your pet's oral health is by brushing their teeth daily or at least three times per week.
The answer is simply: NO. Human wet wipes and baby wipes are not suitable for use on pets. In fact, Human wipes can be up to 200 times too acidic for your pet's skin. This is because the pH balance of your pet's skin is very different to that of a human's.
If you're wondering “Do cats need baths?” the answer is, not really. The right cat brush helps to soothe and massage your feline buddy whilst removing dead hair and preventing matts, particularly important for long-haired kitties.