Get Your Cat to Tolerate a Bath

Cats don't naturally like to get wet, and giving a cat a bath can result in hurt feelings and scratched forearms. Here are some tips to make the whole ordeal a bit easier.

Steps

 * 1) Learn that you may not even have to bathe the cat. Cats are clean animals by nature, and usually do a good job of keeping themselves neat and tidy.
 * 2) Try cat wipes. They are available at most pet stores and these will usually do the trick on minor dirt.
 * 3) Don't expect him to like it. Unrealistic expectations will only make things worse.
 * 4) Get some gloves. Cats only have two defenses: scratching, and biting. Gloves can help protect your hands and forearms.
 * 5) Put about an inch of water in a basin or tub. Make sure the water is warm, but not hot. Your cat will never forget if you scald him.
 * 6) Wet the cat's fur well. Apply the shampoo and follow the directions on the bottle.
 * 7) Carefully rinse out the shampoo. Make sure you get it all, as it can irritate kitty's skin if you don't.

Tips

 * Always use pet shampoo! Human shampoo can dry out their skin, and it's not good for them to ingest when they lick themselves after the bath.
 * Getting your cat to ENJOY a bath is a bit unrealistic. Getting him to tolerate one though, is possible.  The key is consistency, don't only bathe them once a year, but maybe once every few weeks.  Don't bathe the cat too often though, as it could dry out their skin.
 * If you can't manage to get your cat to co-operate, a groomer will only charge about $20 to do the job.
 * Have lots of towels ready, the whole experience can get messy and wet. It's best to be prepared.

Warnings

 * Even though your cat loves you, he may scratch you. It is only because he is scared, don't blame the cat for lashing out.

Things You'll Need

 * A cat
 * A basin or bath tub