Bathing Cats?

[FergieTCat]

Let me start by saying that I think cat spit works perfectly well, and I never thought of bathing my cats (or, more specifically, sending them to a groomer to be washed).

My brother told me that when he had the girls (Fergie and Diana were his before he deposited them in New York), he used to get them groomed.

Am I supposed to be getting them groomed? I thought you only have to bathe them if they get something icky on themselves? Neither one seems particularly icky, and both constantly groom themselves.

 

[vivilasvegas]

I tried once and still have the scars to prove it. If spit is fine for kitty, then spit is fine for me!!

 

[SC Minnie]

We have always had short haired cats and they tended to go a good job cleaning themselves. My brother had a long haired cat and they would have it groomed because they didn't keep it brushed like they should have.

 

[elismom]

I have outdoor cats(2) and no matter what I do we still get fleas every once in awhile.
I bath them in the tub.
I put in enought water so it comes up to their bellies.
This seems to work better then trying to use the sink.

 

[FergieTCat]

My cats have never been outdoors, except for that one time that Fergie tried to escape. She made it down two flights of stairs and was hauled back up in the elevator (because if you think I am carrying a 12 pound cat back up two flights of stairs, you hallucinate!!)

As far as I know, they are shiny clean each and every day. I think my brother is neurotic (said with the love only a sister can have).

 

[kilee]

I've only had 2 cats. My first one-- well he liked to bath himself in the tub. Whenever my son (who was much younger at the time) was in the tub-- the cat would always try to work his way into the bathroom so he could take a bath too. He LOVED water-- he was an oddball anyways. So, he got baths because he wanted them.
I also had another cat that had gotten fleas. He needed a flea bath. We took a few days and introduced him to the water. Alittle bit at a time. We started w/ just getting water over his paws. Then we worked up getting him used to about an extra 1/2 inch. Until by the end of the week he trusted us enough to put him in water about belly height and bath him. He was really calm about it (he didn't like it--but he let us do it). We only did this twice to help kill the flea's on him.

 

[puffkin]

My cat has a strange coat. She isn't a long hair by any means, but definitely not a short hair either. Plus her coat is slightly thick and coarse. She is an indoor only cat and does a good job of cleaning herself, but even with brushing, it still kind of gets clumpy and matted on her back. My DH says she looks like an old lady's cat then. Plus, sometimes she likes to roll around on the basement floor, and then she kind of smells. So we have "attempted" a few baths with her. That basically involves chucking her in the tub, getting clawed/scratched as she leaps out, and then soaping her up on the bathroom floor before chucking her back in again. Next time, I might take her to a groomer, because it really is quite an ordeal to wash her.

 

[jbdreamer]

I have 2 cats. Lelu keeps herself very clean, and I have never had to bath her. Maxwell on the other hand thends to get a greasy coat. I give him a bath him every couple of months. It usually takes two people. One to hold him, and one to wash him.

As long as they are clean, there is no need to bath a cat.

I brush them both once a week though. I use a metal rake looking thing. It looks painful, but they love it. I can usually get two big hanfuls of hair off them, and they are shorthaired! It really makes a difference and keeps them from shedding.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I have vaccumed a cat before. I have never given a cat a bath though. And I don't think I ever will. Not one of my cats will go near water. My one cat's fur gets funky sometimes. I use these pre-soaped clothes to try and clean him. I get about 2 wipes before he decides he's had enough.