Cats are considered spotless animals that spend around three to four hours a day looking after their fur. Perfectly equipped with a rough tongue covered with papillae, they literally sand over their fur, rid it of dirt, and spread their smell and the smell of their group or family on the body. Do you need to bathe your cat? And if so, which breeds of cats need help with grooming?
Grooming – Which Breeds Need Support?
Bathing short-haired cats
A healthy shorthair cat takes care of its own personal hygiene. We can help her during the coat change by combing out the loose hair and, at the same time, treating her to a wellness program. Your tongue does the rest itself.
However, if the mini tiger comes into contact with a poisonous substance, it should be freed from these substances in the fur as quickly as possible.
In most cases, it makes sense to immediately clean the cat from the grossest dirt and present it to a veterinarian.
On the one hand, very few cats can be – untrained – reliable, and stress-free to bathe. On the other hand, small amounts of the toxins could already have been licked by the cat, making medical treatment urgently necessary.
The doctor can provide the animal with adequate medical care and is also trained in safe handling, and can easily sedate the unwilling wisp if necessary and clean and treat it in peace.
Bathing long-haired cats
In contrast to short-haired cats, other types of fur require our support in caring for them. The fur of long-haired cats overwhelms the cat’s tongue, depending on its structure and length.
On the other hand, dirt quickly gets stuck in the often wonderful fur, which additionally knots the hair, which is already prone to matting, together. The genital area, in turn, can stick with excrement, and the cat can only roughly brush it. We should give these cats regular grooming assistance with suitable combs or brushes. The genital area can also be cut a little shorter and cleaned with a baby care wipe. However, a full bath is usually not necessary or useful.
Bathing naked cats
Naked cats like the Sphynx face a different challenge. Their skin is only protected to a limited extent from environmental influences by the lack of fur.
Dirt can be removed particularly easily by the cat. But the protective function of the fur is missing. The sebum produced by all cats only provides limited protection against cold, heat, etc. Thus, this sebum film fulfills an important function for the cat but does not look beautiful over time and can be cleaned a little by the owner from time to time.
Careful “stroking” with a damp, lukewarm washcloth is a mild form of cleaning that the mini tiger often gets used to quickly. A full bath is usually unnecessary, although the Sphynx is said to have a certain affinity for water – and bathing. The recommendations for skincare for hairless cats sometimes differ widely and should be critically questioned in individual cases.
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What should I watch out for when bathing cats?
Try to bathe your cat as infrequently as possible and only use products from specialist retailers suitable for the animals’ pH value. The natural protective function of the skin should not be destroyed by bathing. Prepare everything for washing and drying and create a relaxed atmosphere. The cat should be able to stand relaxed in the container. Therefore, when using a sink, make sure that the tap is not installed so that the Minitiger could hit it. On the other hand, a bathtub could be more difficult for you to handle, as you have to reach down and hold the cat from above.
A larger plastic tub or shower could be more useful in these cases. Ensure you have a non-slip mat so that the cat has support under its paws and thus a little more security.
Preparing for the bath
If you can prepare the cat for bathing, first practice with a small, pleasantly warm amount of water that only covers the paws and carefully accustoms the animal to the initially unpleasant water.
Fill the container before you bring the cat into the room so that it is not frightened by the sound of letting it in or the occasional splash at the beginning of the bath. Speak to her in a quiet, calming voice and reward they are generous for their cooperation. Little by little, you pour more water into the container and carefully clean it with a washcloth. Instead of using the showerhead, wring a sponge over your back or use a small container that allows you to control water flow and squirts as little as possible. The entire process should be carried out as calmly and “splash-free” as possible to take away the mini tigers’ fear of the unpleasant element.
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After bathing Cats
After the bath, use a fluffy towel to dry the fur. We should not use a hairdryer. It is very likely to give the cat a huge fright and is not necessary. After the bath, which is probably exciting for the cat, end the experience with gentle pats with the towel – or vigorous rubbing, if your adventurer likes it.
If the cat likes being brushed, this can replace the treat otherwise offered as a reward. If possible, keep your cat warm until the fur is completely dry.
And otherwise?!
By the way, in summer, you can use a damp washcloth, with which you slide over the cat as if you were petting it, for a little extra cooling.
The sooner you get your cat used to handling water, a damp washcloth, or even bathing, the better it can get involved in the unusual handling and combine it pleasantly with many positive experiences.
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