Should I wash my cat that hates water? Our answer is sometimes.
However, we should remember that it is still worth looking for creatures that do not have such a long-standing natural hatred and fear of water.
The fact is that most domestic cats clearly do not like to bathe. Some of them are even wary of walking on wet floors.
Let’s figure out if a cat needs to be bathed and how to bathe cats.
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To begin with, it’s a bit hard to formulate specific bathing recommendations because it depends on the breed, coat type, and lifestyle of the individual cat.
Keep in mind that many cats, especially domestic cats, may never need a bath at all.
Also, remember that excessive bathing can destroy your cat’s natural fat, which is essential for its coat.
Although most cats stay relatively clean throughout their lives, there are times when they can get very dirty or get dirty in something messy.
In fact, when the coat is very dirty, has a strong odor, or appears oily and greasy despite thorough brushing, the only solution is to take a bath.
Murmeo Comment. We have had exceptional cases of contamination where our cat has had quite a bit of diarrhea on several occasions. We apologize in advance for the details, but she had so much ooze coming out of one spot that the cat couldn’t physically handle licking and keeping that spot clean.
What may be the reasons to bathe a cat?
Let’s try to list items, depending on which you can understand how often you need to bathe the cat.
If your cats hate water, we’re sure you’re wondering why that is.
Are there any cats that like water at all? Can you teach your kitten or cat to enjoy bathing?
Here are some opinions from renowned experts.
Ingrid Johnson, CCBC (Certified Cat Behavioral Consultant), says, “In 19 years of working with cats, I’ve never seen one float.“
Ingrid King, cat expert and publisher of The Conscious Cat, when asked if it was possible to make cats like water, replied, “Anything is possible, but if you don’t live on a boat, why would you want it?”
Cats are thought to have been domesticated about 9,500 years ago in the Middle East. This evolutionary scenario helps explain why your domestic cat (lat. “Felis catus”) is simply not suited to bathing in a bathtub.
Some cats may be interested in water, but only as a curiosity.
After all, historically cats evolved in a dry, arid environment.
Cats’ lack of experience with swimming and immersion in water may have something to do with their ancestors.
Our present-day domestic cats are descended from desert cats that had little experience with water.
And unlike many dog breeds, cats are not physically adapted to water.
We can compare this to dogs. Well, the fur of many dogs, unlike cats, repels water. But cats’ fur retains it, which also lowers their body temperature.
Some of our cats’ most distant relatives, such as tigers, do like water.
Tigers seem to like water to cool off and sometimes swim from island to island in the forested area of the Bay of Bengal.
There are also observations of lions swimming-though it is unlikely that they enjoy it.
These big cats have evolved to swim because of necessity (such as finding a mate) and the presence of water as such (water is part of the landscape of lion habitats).
While it is true that most cats avoid water, there are some breeds that may enjoy this fun activity.
“My cats love water, they’re bengals and savannahs,” says Marilyn Krieger, SIS and author of “Naughty No More!”
“They have a water faucet that they can turn on and off themselves. Sometimes I find them sitting or lying in the sink with the water running on them,” she adds.
This short list of cats that love water mentions the Turkish Van and the Turkish Angora.
Did you know! The Turkish Van is one of the top 10 largest cat breeds.
Both breeds originated in Turkey. It is believed that this is how they learned to cool themselves by playing in the shallow waters of a lake.
Another cat behaviorist, Lana Fraley Rich, shares, “Turkish breeds have a reputation for loving water, and their coats are somewhat waterproof.”
She also adds that her Maine Coon cat also loves water, “I have to remind friends to keep the toilet lids closed so he doesn’t make a big mess.“
And we also personally know at least one Canadian sphinx who is definitely not afraid of water. Video courtesy of our good friends. Watch and wonder…
Most cats do not like water procedures 🙀 of course.
Cats can be accustomed to water, but you should start when they are still kittens.
Gradually accustom them to the feeling of water on their fur, on their paws, and finally on their whole body.
It is important that the process is done slowly and consistently, without causing stress to the kitten.
You can completely desensitize the cat to water.
Desensitization involves gradually exposing the cat to water, always staying below the cat’s fear threshold.
It is recommended to train the cat with clicker training – start with a click and encouragement when the cat steps into a shallow tray of water. As the cat becomes more comfortable, increase the depth of the water while maintaining its comfort zone.
But remember: cats like to be in control, so don’t force them to do something they don’t want to do.
Even though your cat will never learn to swim, he can still learn to play with water.
A variation on this game is to fill the sink with ping pong balls that will float on the surface.
However, you should know that for most cats water will be something secondary in their daily life.
Of course, some cats like to play with water more than their other relatives. But all cats should be able to make that decision for themselves. You should not force them to do it often!
Let’s keep in mind that water and cats don’t really fit together on a genetic level.
The best answer to the question of how to bathe a cat is to do it quickly and efficiently!
Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary items on hand:
It is best if you do buy a special shampoo for cats. Namely, shampoo for cats, as shampoos for dogs may contain ingredients that will be toxic to cats.
However, if it turns out that you don’t have one on hand, you can use a mild baby shampoo.
You should not use any of the usual human products. After all, they can damage the cat’s eyes or severely irritate its skin.
Well, this can be quite a challenge, especially if your cat hasn’t been bathed as a kitten. Most cats don’t like water, so expect their resistance.
If possible, ask someone to hold the cat and soothe it while you give it a bath.
Here are steps on how to bathe your cat.
For show purposes, special rinses are sometimes recommended to bring out all the charm of your cat’s coat.
🚫 Do not use vinegar, lemon juice, or bleach to rinse. They are either too acidic or too alkaline and can damage your cat’s coat and skin.
Also, do not use hair dye and other substances, as they can damage the health of the pet.
It takes an hour or two for the cat’s fur to dry. At the same time, the animal should be kept in a warm room until it is completely dry. It is necessary to avoid overcooling the cat while it is drying.
If your cat doesn’t “mind”, you can dry it with a hair dryer. But be careful – only slightly warm air is recommended. Hot airflow can damage your cat’s coat.
Optionally, you can use dry shampoos as a backup for bathing cats without water.
Cats with oily coats are especially prone to dirt accumulation. In such cases, you can try “dry-cleaning” her coat between baths.
A number of products have been used successfully as dry shampoos. Make sure they are labeled “safe for cats.”
Calcium carbonate, talcum or baby powder, and cornstarch are all effective. They can be used frequently without worrying about hair or skin damage.
Apply the powder to the coat and leave it to soak in for 20 minutes. Then gently brush or blow out the powder.
But it is not recommended to lick the cat with dry shampoo yourself. It is better if you are the one who removes all traces of the powder.
Here are some more recommendations on how to properly shower a cat – this time from another organization.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends the following steps. These will help reduce the stress of bathing your kitten, and cat (and your stress, too):
Now you know more about how to bathe cats correctly and what the sequence of this “technological process” is.
We wish you less stress and to be healthy and clean!
And don’t forget to share the article in our community – maybe not everyone knows how to properly bathe a cat.
If you have any interesting bathing stories, be sure to post them in the comments.
The article partly uses materials from
1. The book “Cat Owners Home Veterinary Handbook” (Third Edition)
2. ASPCA site