Anyone with cats has had to give an emergency bath. But contrary to popular beliefs, many cats like to be bathed. All cats will benefit from regular grooming. If you can employ the right touch, the cat will learn that grooming is a pleasant experience.
Tools:
Grooming mitt
Cat Shampoo (read the label!)
Two-sided metal comb
Wire and bristle brushes
Cat nail clippers
Ear cleaning solution
Cotton Balls
Mat Splitter
Brush Out First
Before bathing, completely brush out your cat and remove any mats. Start at the head and neck with the wide-spaced side of the comb and comb down the cat’s body, following the lie of the hair.
Pay special attention to areas where mats often develop on the cat: behind the ears, under the legs and on the rump.
Comb the cat a second time, switching between the wide and narrow-toothed side of the comb as needed.
Continue combing until you feel no more mats and collect all the loose hair from your cat’s coat.
If you cat develops large mats, gently divide them with the mat splitter and pull them out, taking care not to hurt the cat.
Time For A Bath
Depending on your cat’s coat, you can bathe your cat about once a month. If you start bathing your cat as a kitten, he will enjoy it all his life. Ask your veterinarian how frequently the cat can be bathed.
To begin, slowly immerse your cat in water close to cat’s body temperature: 101.4 degrees. Lather gently with shampoo. Towel dry your cat, and keep your cat warm to avoid chills.
Cleaning Dirty Ears
On a weekly basis, you should check your cat’s ears and eyes. To clean ears, wet a cotton ball will an ear cleaning solution available from your veterinarian and gently wipe the insides. Wipe the eye area with a water-moistened cloth.
Clean Up Those Nails
Your cat may resist this at first. If you wrap him into a towel, you should be able to withdraw on one paw at a time for grooming. Carefully clip off the sharp tips. If the cat resists nail clipping, visit your groomer or veterinarian, both, of whom, are pros at this process.
