No one should have to bathe a kitten alone! Plus an extra set of hands can be helpful as you juggle shampoo bottles, towels, and of course, your kitten. Temperature is key! Before bath time, run a hot shower to heat up the room. The bath water itself should be comfortably warm, but not hot. Only use fragrance-free shampoos. Baby shampoos are designed to be gentle for human babies and also work well for kittens.
You can also use fragrance-free dish detergent. Provide gentle support with scruffing. Scruffing a cat is when you hold skin on the back of a cat's neck called the scruff.
Whether your cat enthusiastically rolled around in mud on a rainy day or got some peanut butter all over her back, good, old-fashioned baths are sometimes the only solution. The longer you wait to start your cat, the harder it may be for her to take to the whole concept.
Fleas aren't uncommon in kittens, especially if they started their lives outdoors. In most cases of fleas, careful extraction of them with combs can be highly useful and reliable. In extreme cases, however, warm-water bathing may provide better results. It is crucial to immediately and exhaustively dry your kitten once his bath is completed, as coldness is a major concern in these youngsters.
It is also important to never place wee kittens' bodies entirely in water. Flea medications and shampoos are often major no-nos to young kittens who are merely weeks old, so first always attain veterinary approval. Closely observe all product labeling. If your kitten is not old enough for a certain product, he must not use it under any circumstances, period. Bathing a cat is difficult enough, but when you've got a rambunctious kitten on your hands, you can find yourself with a real challenge.
Though cats and kittens are able to clean themselves, sometimes bathing your kitty becomes necessary because he has stepped in something smelly or if his coat feels oily and in need of care.
Kittens need to be given lots of love and affection to learn to trust you and the bathwater, especially if you are giving them their first bath.
To bathe your kitten, start by filling either a sink or basin with an inch of warm water and slowly lowering your cat into it. Next, squirt a small amount of shampoo into your hands and gently rub it onto your kitten, starting on its back.
Finally, take your kitten out of the bath and dry it off using a clean, fluffy towel. Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.
Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Recognize when your kitty needs a bath. The fact of the matter is, many cats don't need to be bathed at all, since they are masters at grooming and cleaning themselves.
However, if your cat has fleas, if he's an outdoor kitty who has stepped in something vile, or if he just looks and feels dirty, then it may be time to give that kitty a bath. If your kitty is very young, then you should wipe him off with a wet or damp washcloth instead of giving him a full-on bath. Talk to your vet about when is a good time to give your little kitty a full-on bath.
According to the Animal Compassion Network, you should wait until your kitty is at least 8 weeks old before giving him a full-on bath. Trim your kitten's nails. Even the most mild-mannered kittens will protest a bit when you bathe them, especially if it's for the first time. To protect yourself from getting scratched by your favorite furry creature, you should make sure to trim his nails a bit so he's less likely to hurt you when you're bathing him.
Though a kitten's scratches may not be as ferocious as those of a full-grown kitty, you could still get hurt. It's better to do this to keep yourself safe, even if your kitty protests a bit. Do it the day before or at least a few hours before.
A lot of cats get a bit feisty and riled up after their nails are trimmed, and you want your little critter to be in a calm frame of mind before you begin the bath. If you haven't trimmed your kitten's nails yet, you're better off leaving quite a bit of time between nail trimming and bathing — even a full day.
Nail trimming can be a new and scary experience for a young kitty, and you don't want to make it worse by adding a bath into the mix. Brush your kitten's fur. Before you soak your little kitten, you should brush his fur, getting his coat, his legs, his belly, and even the top of his head. This is important because you'll be making sure that his fur is free of tangles and knots. If you put a kitty with uncombed fur into the bath, then you will be making those knots and tangles worse and will be creating a problem that could be avoided.
Don't overlook this important step. However, others get a little panicked or agitated when their fur is brushed.
If this process does not relax your cat, then give him an hour or two at least to calm down before the bath begins. Playing some soft music in the background will also relax your kitty and help draw his attention away from the pending bath.
Giving your kitty a little treat after brushing him in time to the music can make the process feel more positive. Wear protective clothing. Don't bathe your kitty in a little tank top that exposes your arms and chest. Instead, put on a long-sleeved shirt with decent thickness, so your kitty is less likely to scratch you. Some extremists say you should even protect your hands, but this is only if you know that your cat loves to bite and scratch.
It's better to be safe than sorry, and wearing a long-sleeved shirt can keep you from having scratches up and down your arms. You should also try to pick a thick cotton material for your clothes so your kitty doesn't get his nails caught on your clothes. Pick something that is hard to claw through. Have your kitty shampoo ready.
Kittens need a special baby shampoo, and cats with fleas need one formulated to kill fleas, flea eggs, etc. Cats without fleas can use general cat shampoo. Go to a pet store, your veterinarian, or shop at an online retailer. If you are in doubt, ask a sales associate for information on the best shampoo. Don't just bathe your kitten with soap or with general shampoo, or you can really hurt your kitty or irritate his skin.
It needs to be tailor made to suit your kitty's needs. Get your kitty bathing materials ready. When you are ready to bathe the cat, get a cup for pouring water and a towel to dry the cat with. Get the shampoo ready. If you have an extra person to help you, that's great, too! Having all of your supplies ready in advance can help you bathe your kitten when the moment comes. You don't want to finally get your kitty in the bath to find that you've left the shampoo or towel in the other room.
It's also a good idea to close the door of your bathroom to keep your kitty from running off. Make the bath appealing for your kitten. If your kitten is new to baths and new to the world, you can try to make the bath a less scary place for your kitty. You can take some of his favorite toys and place them in the sink or basin you're using, or even associate the area where you're bathing him with fun and joy, so he doesn't think of it as a scary place.
You can even play with him in the sink or basin without bathing him there at first, so he gets comfortable in that environment. When the time comes to bathe your kitten, you can even throw in a few of his favorite toys, or a few bath toys, to make him comfortable. You can even get him used to playing with the bath toys in a dry environment first.
Bathe your kitty when he's feeling calm. This is a very important point. Don't bathe your kitty one minute after you've played for half an hour and gotten him all riled up, or after he's gotten agitated after spotting a bug in the room. Avoid bathing him just before his usual mealtime, or he's likely to be agitated and anxious, wanting food instead of a bath. Instead, pick a time when he's usually calm, resting, or just relaxed and not in need of anything. You can also schedule a play session that tires your kitty out and then wait half an hour for him to get tired and to rest before bath time.
Part 2. Prepare your kitty's bath. The most common places to bathe your kitty are either in the sink or in a basin. Smaller enclosures make it easier to bathe your kitty and to maintain control of him. An entire bathtub will make it much harder to bathe your kitty.
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