How to Bathe a Six Week Old Kitten

At times you may find your young kitten in need of more bathing than it is capable of doing itself. After all, a 6-week-old kitten is still a baby, and therefore prone to get dirty. Cats are notorious for their dislike of water, but with a bit of preparation and loving care, bathing your kitten does not have to be a nightmare.

Things You'll Need

  • Kitten shampoo
  • Water
  • Towels
  • Rubber bath mat
  • Sprayer, plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup
  • Cotton balls (optional)
  • Hair dryer (optional)
  • Dawn dishwashing liquid (optional)
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Instructions

  1. How to Bathe a 6-Week-Old Kitten

    • 1

      Choose a time when your kitten is mellow. If you bathe it after you have played for a while, your kitten should be tired and therefore less likely to put up struggle.

    • 2

      Brush the kitten gently. This will remove loose hair. You might also want to gently insert a cotton ball loosely into each ear to prevent water from getting into them.

    • 3

      Place a rubber mat in the sink or tub and fill with water. The mat is for the kitten to stand on without slipping. Fill the tub or sink three to four inches of lukewarm water. Make sure it is not too hot.

    • 4

      Gently wash and rinse. Thoroughly wet the kitten with a hand-held sprayer, plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup. Be careful not to spray or pour water directly into the face or ears. Gently work a solution of one part kitten shampoo to five parts water through the fur from head to tail. Do not shampoo the face or ears. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

    • 5

      Carefully wash the face. Use a washcloth dampened in clean, lukewarm water. If the face is very dirty, you can use a solution of water and highly diluted shampoo on the washcloth. Be careful to avoid the eyes and ears if you use shampoo.

    • 6

      Dry thoroughly and gently. Wrap the kitten in a towel and dry it gently, carefully and thoroughly. Do this in a warm, draft-free area. If your kitten is not afraid of the hair dryer, you can use it on low and warm or medium temperaure to dry it.