I wanna give my cat a bath

Not all of them dislike water. Our big male will get into the bathtub once it's down to 2-4 inches deep, to play with the water as it SWIRLS down the drain. He also routinely drinks water from the dogs dish by STEPPING into the dish with his two front feet....then drinking.
 
We had a sick cat back when I was 17 and living at home---so the Vet gave us medicine for the cat----had to be administered with a syringe.

Me and my mom tried repeatedly to give the cat a shot-----no matter how we held or how tight etc---we could not get it done.

We stabbed ourselves and each other numerous times---blood everywhere.

We finally gave up and took it back to the vet and let him do it.
 
When Natayo came into our lives, he was scrawny and boney. The vet told us that he was 8 months old and undernourished.

He wanted to explore everthing and eat anything edible.
One morning we were cooking pancakes and left the empty glass measuring cup on the kitchen island. He jumped on up and started licking out the residue. He stuck his head all the way down to the bottom and got himself covered with batter.
My wife cleaned him in the kitchen sink and he didn't seem to mind. He seems to be somewhat fascinated with water.
 
When we got married my wife had a three legged cat named Tuffy. One morning she told me were giving the cat a bath that night and I should take whatever precautions I deemed necessary. I was in the Army at the time so I brought home a set of gauntlets used for handling concertina wire and a leather welders apron. For those who have never handled concertina wire the gauntlets are heavy leather with small steel plates embedded and go up to your elbow.

I got home, my wife drew the bath in the kitchen sink and I grabbed the cat after donning the protective gear. At first the cat struggled when I placed her in the water. I pushed her head under and held it there for about 4 seconds, pulled her head up, looked her in the eye and said "I can do that longer than you can." We came to an understanding of some sort because I never needed to wear gloves again the few times my wife decided Tuffy needed a flea dip.
 
Conditioning

If you are determined to bathe your cat you should do a few conditioning exercises first to get yourself ready. Some examples would be: ski-ing through a revolving door; dusting the ceiling fan while it's running; changing sparkplugs on a running engine; making barbed wire macramé. Your wife should prepare by updating your medical insurance; taking a first aid course; setting up the video camera.


Good luck
 
When I was about 15, my mom asked me to help her bathe our 15lb cat, Ahab. When his soapy leg slipped out of my hand, he opened my palm like an Xacto knife. Tetanus shot and my first experience with Neosporin, which was prescription in those days.

That cat passed away in 1980, and 1962 was the last bath he had.
 
bgrone said:
If you are determined to bathe your cat you should do a few conditioning exercises first to get yourself ready. Some examples would be: ski-ing through a revolving door; dusting the ceiling fan while it's running; changing sparkplugs on a running engine; making barbed wire macramé. Your wife should prepare by updating your medical insurance; taking a first aid course; setting up the video camera.
Click to expand...

Your cat, on the other hand, is already prepared though it might not even know this consciously. It has a plan, and the iron will to use it, and gives not a tinker's damn who gets hurt in the process. In a way, I kinda respect that.
 
walnutred said:
When we got married my wife had a three legged cat named Tuffy. One morning she told me were giving the cat a bath that night and I should take whatever precautions I deemed necessary. I was in the Army at the time so I brought home a set of gauntlets used for handling concertina wire and a leather welders apron. For those who have never handled concertina wire the gauntlets are heavy leather with small steel plates embedded and go up to your elbow.

I got home, my wife drew the bath in the kitchen sink and I grabbed the cat after donning the protective gear. At first the cat struggled when I placed her in the water. I pushed her head under and held it there for about 4 seconds, pulled her head up, looked her in the eye and said "I can do that longer than you can." We came to an understanding of some sort because I never needed to wear gloves again the few times my wife decided Tuffy needed a flea dip.
Click to expand...

You were fortunate. All the cats I have ever known would have had only one thought if I had done this: "You have to take that stuff off sometime, and I will be there when you do."
 
Seriously, though: I had a cat that loved water. He had been rescued at about the age of two weeks; he weighted 4oz and had an open cut on his back leg that was maggot-infested. The rescuer did what the vet suggested, frequent rinsing of the would with peroxide and then water.

He spent so much time in the bathroom sink that he regarded bathroom sinks as a safe place. I adopted him at the four-month point; he would sleep in the bathroom sink until he got too large to fit. I couldn't give him meds, brushng his fur or clipping his nails was a form of minor combat, but he loved bathing so much that I couldn't draw one for myself without it being pre-loaded with cat hair.

So if you can get them used to it early enough, bathing will be normal to them.

But if not, I'd take the cat to a groomer. At least worker's comp will cover their injuries. ;)
 
Draw sink full of warm water and add soap.
Place cat in sink.
Get cat out from under sofa and place back in sink.
Bind wounds.
Get cat down from top of closet and place back in sink.
Rinse wounds with hydrogen peroxide and check carotid artery for punctures.
Get cat down from ceiling and place back in sink.
After release from hospital place cat in carrying container and take to the vet for bath and dip.
 
Prepare to get wet, keep your voice down and take your time with water that feels nice and warm to yourself, keep the soap down to a minimum because the cat will clean itself afterwards regardless of how clean you think you got it...remember it wasn't the cat's idea to get a bath. I've only known one cat that would readily get into water and she was a Lynx cat.
 
Frank237 said:
Not all of them dislike water. Our big male will get into the bathtub once it's down to 2-4 inches deep, to play with the water as it SWIRLS down the drain. He also routinely drinks water from the dogs dish by STEPPING into the dish with his two front feet....then drinking.
Click to expand...

Shasta likes to dip her front feet into the water when im soaking mine. She sniffs to see ow hot the water is and if still too hot? waits awhile then tries the feet feeling method.
 
Usually a cat does not need to be bathed. It is not something that I would routinely do.

However, sometimes a cat will get into something really nasty that it can't readily clean off itself and also can't come back into the house until it is clean.

I have shared a home with cats for over 30 years. (You live with them, you don't own them! :D ) and I have participated in three cat baths.
 
There are some cats that will not object to a bath. A few of them are still alive.:eek:

Seriously, as Charles said, if the cat REALLY needs a bath, consider a professional groomer. The violence with which most cats will respond to something they do not like, such as a bath, is something to be avoided if at all possible. It is a good way to have a bad experience.
 
I was once going to give our a cat a bath but my wife nixed the idea.... she didn't think my life insurance would cover it.
 
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