How to Bathe a Cat

Actually: Training a cat to allow you to give it a bath is quite easy. It is all a question of trust. First, you have to trust yourself. The cat can smell fear and can feel your tension. (This also works with dogs and kids, literally any animal afraid of water or bathing.) This is easiest if you start at the earliest age possible. (No earlier than 8 weeks old on animals, for them, use a damp cloth.)

1. Let the cat get used to seeing you in the water, bathing. (Okay I know this sounds weird, but it works. Cats will learn to trust their environment once they realize their mentor/friend isn't afraid of it and feels comfortable.)

2. Then, in a different environment and time of day, dampen your hands frequently and pet the cat with wet hands. (Don't let them hear you run the water, or they will associate the sound and action.) This action can be preformed repeatedly until the cat is quite comfortable with getting more wet each time you touch it. Typically start with once or twice per day and each day pet the cat with wetter hands each day/week.

3. Then apart from the water, with dry hands, get the cat gradually used to more and more touching and petting. Your cat may or may not like being per all over, that is why you must get them used to it. Everyday pet the cat gently starting on the head and working your way down a little farther each day as the cat becomes accustomed to the touch in each part of their body. They need to be come comfortable with you feeling between their toes and private areas and tummy. Don't force petting in any area since there may be days where the cat is comfortable with one area and the next isn't. Let them work through this on their own, just suggest it and see how they react.

4. Once the cat is comfortable with being pet anywhere, very gently of course, and comfortable with extremely damp hands its time to incorporate these two actions. Remember not to let the cat hear the sound of water at anytime; otherwise sound/action association will happen, even if it's just once!

5. Next get the cat used to walking on water. A damp warm floor will do the trick. Just after mopping is perfect, though since cats lick their paws, make sure there is no soap residue on the floor, or they will get sick.

6. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! After the cat gets to this point continue petting them once or twice per day with wet hands. At a different time of day, get them used to the bathing area. Choose an area to bath them in, a bath tub, large sink, or basin. Make sure it's this same area every time. Take them in there at least once per day.

7. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! Be affectionate and reassuring, just as you would if you were giving them food or a treat. Make them feel that being in this spot is as pleasurable as eating. Continue with this action until you find them lounging there everyday at some point. If they do not do this, find a new location and start over.

8. After some time has passed and you have ascertained that the cat enjoys this area then make sure the cat is out of hearing range. Put a little bit of water in the tub or basin. (Make sure it is quite warm, cold water will freak the cat out. Water that is quite warm to you will be barely noticeable to your cat. Remember, the cats basil temperature is someplace near 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is far hotter than in humans. )

9. Next, bring in the cat and introduce them to the wet area, make them feel special and safe. Let them touch the water with their paws. (tip: use a different word for the water you give them to drink than the water you used to bath them. Even though it's just a sound to them it's still a sound/action association, so make sure they hear a different sound!)

10. Continue doing this process until you can incorporate the safe area with the cat being touched and pet with wet hands. After some time the cat should be quite relaxed and allow you to cradle them or they may wrap their paws around your arm or neck and lay close to you. As long as they are not fighting you, this means that they have associated the whole process with you and safety.

11. Eventually you will be able to set the cat in the water. Let them arrange their body in a way that is comfortable to them. (One of my cats (a calico) would only ever be in the shower with me with her paws around my neck...I had to bath her under a running shower. While my other cat (a Siamese) would allow me to place her in the bath tub up to her belly level and would stand patiently as I washed her fur and rinsed it and she would try to get in the shower with me while I was bathing. )

12. Be sure to have a special towel for the cat, a very thick towel, dry them gently and then find a place to allow them to go and spread out the towel to sit and dry them selves off on. They will sit there and lick themselves dry, so be sure all the soap, if any was used, is completely rinsed out of the fur. If your cat has longer fur, be sure to have them comfortable with being brushed before you start the process of teaching them to be bathed.

Lastly, after some time you may get the cat comfortable with being in the room with you may find that the cat doesn't mind the sound of you filling the tub for them. They may even learn to love getting bathed. My Siamese often would open the door while I showered and sit under the running water. It took me 3 years to teach her to enjoy a wet bath, so please be very patient.

And that is how you learn to teach a cat to bathe. I say this because, along the way you will find things that the cat likes and doesn't like and should adjust accordingly. They will, however, learn to feel safe when getting wet. Their main concern is safety, after all, so be sure to provide them with ample reason to feel safe in any endeavor.