How to Train a Cat to Take a Bath

When you talk about giving a cat a bath, most people laugh and say that it is impossible to do. This is not true. Granted, it takes time and patience to do so, but it can be done. As with dogs, a cat's shedding problems can be controlled with baths and brushing. Treatment to prevent fleas and ticks is also another plus with bathing cats. And over time, they take it as part of their routine and are alright with the idea of getting wet. It is easier to train a kitten, but it is possible to train older cats too.

Things You'll Need

  • Washcloth Large towel Cat shampoo Plastic cup
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Instructions

  1. Kittens

    • 1

      Hold the kitten by the scruff (the area of the neck right behind the head--the area by which the mother cat often carries her young) and place the kitten under a dripping faucet. You don't want to have the water turned too high but enough to get the kitten wet and accustomed to the idea of having water run over it. Make sure the water is just warm to the touch but not hot. You don't want the water too cold either. If the water is too cold, the kitten can get chilled, and you don't want it to catch the sniffles.

    • 2

      Take the cat out from under the faucet if it cries or struggles too much. If the kitten becomes frightened or anxious, simply rub it gently with a towel to dry the fur. Talk to the kitten as you are doing so to help keep it calm and at ease. Speaking to the kitten in a soft, calm voice will work wonders. Wait a day or two and come back and try again.

    • 3

      Graduate to using a dampened, warm washcloth. But before you begin, allow the kitten to sniff the washcloth and shampoo to familiarize it. Letting the kitten get to know what each is used for will create a good association, so the next time it sees those items, it will know what is happening.

    • 4

      Transition it to the tub next. After you have dampened all the kitten's fur, apply the shampoo. Some shampoos require that you leave it on for a little while and then rinse. Keep the kitten occupied by talking to it while you are waiting.

    • 5

      Use a plastic cup to scoop up water and pour over the kitten to rinse out the shampoo. Avoid pouring the water directly over the kitten's head. Dumping water over it's head may spook the kitten. After you have rinsed out all the shampoo, gently pick the kitten up and place it in a towel. Towel dry its fur as much as possible.

    Cats

    • 6

      Allow the cat to spend some time in the bathroom exploring. Introduce the cat to the bathtub and allow it to walk around and sniff. Introduce the cat to the washcloth and shampoo, allowing it to sniff each to familiarize it and make an association.

    • 7

      Dampen a washcloth using water from the tub's faucet and gently rub the cat's back down so that it gets wet. Talk to the cat as you do this. Talking to the cat in a reassuring voice will keep the cat calm and more at ease than if you don't say anything at all. If the cat protests, put away the washcloth and towel dry its fur and let it roam around for a while. Try again later. Persistence is the key. After a few days have passed, take the cat back in the bathroom and try again.

    • 8

      When the cat has become accustomed to the idea of bathing, fill the tub with warm water about 1/4-inch deep. Soak the cat down and getting its fur saturated. Apply the shampoo and allow it to stay on the fur momentarily.

    • 9

      Use a plastic cup to scoop up water and rinse the shampoo from the cat's fur. Make sure that you get all the shampoo rinsed from the fur. If you don't get all of the shampoo out, don't panic. It will not hurt the cat if there are some traces of the shampoo left in its fur. If there are some traces left, the cat may scratch or have some dry skin for a couple of days. This will pass when the oils in the skin return.

    • 10

      Rub the cat dry with a towel. You won't get its fur completely dry but try to remove most of the dampness.