How to Bathe a Cat
Everyone knows that cats hate getting wet. Cats generally keep themselves clean, and therefore should not be bathed any more often than is absolutely necessary. But they sometimes get especially dirty, get bombarded by fleas or ticks, or get into substances that are toxic or otherwise harmful. On such occasions it is a good idea to bathe your cat. Here's how to keep your feline fresh and lovely as painlessly as possible.

Steps

1 Evaluate if your cat really needs a bath. There may be other ways, such as brushing the cat, combing or even just rubbing down with a cloth.

2 Trim all nails before even attempting to wash a cat. It will reduce scratching.

3 Put a rubber mat in the tub or use a towel. Fill the tub no more than 4-5 inches high (depends on the size of the cat or kitten you are washing) with warm water.

4 Have shampoo and a small wash cloth ready. You also might want to have a helper - one to hold the cat, one to wash. Have two towels that you will dry your cat with ready as well.

5 Comb the fur thoroughly before you put the cat in the water, especially if the cat's a long-haired breed. If any knots are present, it will be next to impossible to remove them once the fur is wet.

6 Talk quietly to your cat and keep a good grip on the neck or shoulders. Sometimes cats will try to get out of the tub. If they prefer to only have two of their feet in the water, face them towards the back of the tub and let them stand on two feet.

7 Choose an appropriate shampoo for the job. Check with your veterinarian to select the shampoo best suited to your cat's condition. Human shampoos are not pH adjusted to cat's skin and medicated shampoos may be too harsh or toxic. If your cat has fleas, use flea shampoo (made specifically for cats).


8 Soak kitty from the neck down, using the wash cloth. You want to get the water down to the skin. Use a little bit of shampoo and with the water, wash your cat from the neck, body, legs, belly and tail. Be sure to not get shampoo in their eyes, nose, mouth, or ears.

9 Rinse thoroughly after shampooing, and then rinse two more times; you want all the soap out of the coat.

10 Have two towels for drying ready. Drain the water from ar