We all know that cats absolutely hate water, so why on earth would someone want to give their cat a bath?

cat bath Cats generally do not need to be bathed. Cats are very clean animals that do a marvelous job grooming themselves. However, there are times when it becomes necessary to get kitty in the tub.

For example, a couple summers ago, one of my cats developed ringworm. I had to use a special shampoo treatment on him to get rid of his condition. Cats can also get dirty or infested with fleas, just like dogs. There are times when there is on other option besides giving kitty a bath.

Keep in mind, unless you cat is used to it, bathing your cat is not easy. Be prepared for a bit of a struggle. It helps to have a partner hold down the cat while you bath him.

Before you begin bathing your cat, you will need to gather a few supplies. At the minimum, you will a pair of brand new kitchen gloves to protect your hands, two absorbent terry cloth towels, a pet safe shampoo, a pet safe conditioner, a sponge, and a sprayer attachment for your bath tub. If you don't have a sprayer attachment, you should have a pitcher or large cup that you can use to scoop clean water over your cat's body. Ideally, you should also have a non-skid mat to help your cat feel more secure.

If you decide to bathe your cat in the tub, you may have a harder time holding on to him if he becomes frightened. However, it is usually easier to keep him contained if he escapes in a bathroom than in the kitchen.

Place your non-skid mat in the bottom of bath tub. Making sure the water is not too hot or too cold, add two to three inches of warm water and gently place your cat in the tub. This will be the hardest part of the bath since the water will be a shock.

Talk to him quietly and reassure him. He will most likely settle down within a few seconds. Once he is calm, begin to wet him down. If the sprayer attachment scares him too badly, you may have to pour water over him using your pitcher or cup, instead. Do not pour water on his head. You will clean his face later.

Once your cat is wet, squeeze out a palm sized dollop of shampoo and thoroughly massage the shampoo into his coat. If you use slow, calming motions, he may even actually relax and enjoy this part of the bath.

After the shampoo is sufficiently lathered, it is time to rinse your cat off. Be sure you get all of the shampoo residue out, as the residue can really irritate his skin if it isn't removed.

Now, work a palm sized dollop of conditioner into your cat's coat and then rinse it out. This step is actually optional if the cat has short hair. However, conditioner will not hurt a short haired cat, so, if he is not too upset, you may still want to use it.

Once your cat's body is clean, dampen your sponge and use it to carefully wipe down his face. Pay close attention to the area under his eyes.

If you bath your cat regularly, he might get used to being bathed. Just don't be disappointed if things don't go smoothly.