I need to bath my cat!

[Glitterbiscuits]

She has been in a ditch and smells so bad!

Other than warm water is there anything I can put in the water?

Thanks

Wish me luck!

say what?😄

But how do you get the cat into the bag? And what's it made of that a cat can't rip out of?

I have 2 cats and 1 hates the shower and the other complains when I turn the water off. These pictures are from a time I had to do it single handed. Because the water ends up everywhere, I strip off to get in the shower with them. In 2.5 years, I have acquired one scratch and that was from the one who doesn't like it.

First bath was a week after I got them at 8 weeks old. So it's early and often. I do it 3/4 times a year so that I don't dry skin out. Usually a couple of days after their spot on treatments.

I had to bathe my elderly cat twice a week as she got too old to clean herself and had arthritis.
I didn't immerse her in water because she didn't like it so I ran the bath ankle deep and used a cup and cat shampoo to wash her.

@Toddlerteaplease I can always rely on you!

Op - I'd consider putting cat in a pillowcase if you're expecting them to fight.

It won't stop them getting properly wet and you can lather through the cotton. You should be able to rinse while still keeping a good level of control.

We have a mesh bag that I bought for nail clippings and other unwanted grooming. He's not that keen once he's in the bag, but getting him inside isn't really a problem so long as you catch him relatively unawares.

I think the bag could indeed be used in the bath / shower but I haven't tried it as ours will tolerate a shower and he can be shut inside (albeit with me in there at the same time, which can be dangerous) with no risk of escape.

Once he is towelled I pop him into his travel carrier and use the hairdryer to make him nice and fluffy. Needless to say, he hates this.

I would either (1) send her to a professional cat groomer or (2) just not bath her. Good luck

Just came on to see if op survived. As no update I shall assume not!

If you put something like an old window screen or laundry basket in the water, the cat will try to climb up that instead of going up your arm and you'll have not so many claw marks.

Bernard has just come out of the shower and has been mostly dried off. I didn’t use the bag, as it was just one more thing to go wrong. He didn’t enjoy it that much, and almost managed to jump up to the little niche where shampoo is kept, which is impressively high. He’s now glaring at me looking pissed off, but that’s his annual shower done for 2023…

We have a cat that we started from kitten in baths... she was absolutely fine with it back then, and it not scared of them now. The trick is to start them young and make sure the water is actually quite warm. Not tepid, an actual warm water. Cats hate being cold, don't quote me but I thought their body temp is a few degrees hotter than ours...

She prefers baths, but is OK with showers as long as she is kept warm at all times and the movements are slow and she is held gently.