How Often Should You Bathe A Cat? Keeping Your Kitty Clean

Did you know our feline friends have their own grooming rituals?

They indeed do, if you are wondering. Their owners brush their teeth and bathe them with special cat toothpaste and cat shampoo!

If you are a cat owner, bathing and brushing your cat might not sound bizarre to you. It is essential to bathe your cat so as to keep it free from dirt and skin irritation. Luckily, it is not a chore to be done daily or weekly. It depends upon the breed of the cat, the cat's coat length and type, its nature, or if it has skin conditions. Typically, baths are given to cats only once in six weeks. Read on to learn in detail about bathing a cat and discover many more amazing grooming tips!

If you enjoy this article, why not also read about how often to change cat litter and how often do you take a cat to the vet here on Kidadl?

Easiest Way To Bathe A Cat

Unlike dogs, cats do not run away from bath time and do not mind getting wet especially if they've been given baths regularly since they were a kitten. You must bathe your cat every four to six weeks. The steps for bathing a cat are simple and easy. They include playing with your kitty, brushing the fur, trimming claws, wetting and shampooing, rinsing thoroughly, and drying.

The most subtle trick to lure a cat into bathing is by tiring it out. Play with your cat until you have completely exhausted its energy. Reward your cat as it helps it in becoming more tolerable during bath time. The first step is brushing your cat's fur thoroughly as brushing removes loose hair and shortens bath time. It is imperative for short-haired as well as long-haired cats. A fine-toothed comb or a soft brush can be used to brush your kitty's fur. Next, trim its claws. This step is easier if trimming of claws was introduced to your cat when it was a kitten. Then, with a handheld sprayer, wet the fur of the cat as using a sprayer provides more control and prevents water from going into the nose, ears, and eyes of the cat. Use lukewarm water as, like you, your feline friend does not like burning hot or freezing cold water. Gently massage the shampoo in the fur of your cat and then wash thoroughly with water. Keep your cat safe by installing a rubber mat in the bathtub as it will prevent your cat from slipping in the tub during the bath. A rubber mat will also lessen feelings of nervousness in your cat about bath time. Wash your cat from its head to its tail and keep water out of its nose, ears, and eyes. Cleaning these areas with a damp towel is suggested by experts. It is important to remember that cleaning around these regions is required rather than directly on these regions. After the bath, dry your cat with a towel thoroughly, or blow-dry if your cat responds well. Bath time is easier for an adult cat if it was given baths when it was a kitten. A kitten must be given a bath during its younger months so that it does not develop a disliking for baths in its later years.

What to bathe a cat with?

A cat must be washed with a cat's shampoo as using a shampoo for humans on a cat can be harsh on the cat's fur and skin. The pH of a cat's skin is different from that of humans. Humans possess sweat glands on their skin whereas these are not present on the skin of cats. Human shampoo can also dry out the skin of a cat as it possesses natural oils that help in fighting off infections. It is imperative to use a cat's shampoo to eliminate the risk of having any skin problems.

If your cat has a skin problem, it is suggested to use a medicated shampoo recommended by a veterinarian. Medicated shampoos have specific ingredients present in them that a cat with a skin condition needs. If a cat has a flea infestation, it would need to eliminate them with the help of flea shampoos. However, for cats with no problems, a hypoallergenic shampoo can be used to balance the pH level.

How often can you bathe a cat with fleas?

A cat with a flea infestation must be given a bath once a month or every four weeks with a suitable flea shampoo that will eliminate fleas. Some people give their cats a flea bath once every two weeks. A flea cat shampoo will heal the skin of the cat if it has an allergy to fleas.

Regular brushing of cats must be done so as to remove all the loose hair stuck in the fur. An indoor cat can be bathed less frequently, perhaps one to two times a year, as it does not have much dirt or parasites present on its fur.

Do certain breeds need baths more often?

Yes, different types of cats need more baths. Outdoor cats, as well as long-haired cats, need brushing and bathing done more frequently so as to reduce knots and to detangle existing ones. Regular brushing and bathing also help to prevent hairballs, causing less hair to be swallowed by the cat. Purebred cats that perform in shows need a proper wash before a show so that their fur looks healthy, clean, and supple. Indoor cats do not need to be washed as regularly as outdoor cats need to be as they don't get their fur tangled or filled with dirt. However, their coats build up oils and dirt with time, causing matted fur. Matted fur is not dangerous. It is just a signal that your feline friend has become dirty and needs washing.

Only bathe your cat frequently if your vet has suggested you do so, as otherwise, bathing a cat can cause the skin of your cat to dry out and become flaky. For a healthy coat, a cat needs to be bathed once every six weeks. It needs to be bathed frequently only if it is suffering from health issues like dry skin and loose stool. A cat is healthy if its coat and skin are clear and supple. There are other factors such as the cat's coat length and type, its self-grooming behavior, the environment, and the cat's activity level that determine how much bathing it needs. Outdoor cats need to be washed more times than indoor cats. They catch germs and filthy smells from their surroundings and thus need to be washed once every four to six weeks. Indoor cats stay inside mostly and self-groom and thus do not get dirty and only need to be washed one to two times a year. Overweight cats cannot groom themselves and find it tough to reach many regions of their body, and thus need regular baths. Breeds with longer coats need more frequent bathing than breeds with short coats. Long-haired cats also need to be brushed every day. Cats that are active and go out to explore areas will also need frequent washing as their coat will get messy faster. Some cats cannot groom themselves efficiently and need a bath frequently. Kittens cannot groom themselves, and they need a bath every week.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how often should you bathe a cat then why not take a look at why do cats meow at night, or York chocolate cat facts.