Bathing Kittens Made Easy!

Bathing kittens is sometimes a necessary step in order to keep their coats shiny and health. The best time to start bathing cats is when they are young kittens. This makes bath time so much easier in the future. Yet, kittens can sometimes find bath time traumatic, especially when they are not use to getting baths.

Photo by Blondyimp @ flickr.com

Be sure the kitten is at least 12 weeks of age before bathing. Kittens prior to this age generally are not able to regulate their body temperatures to endure baths. However, there are some circumstances that warrant lathering up.

• Dirty Coats

  Kittens with dirty coats are the bane of any cat owner. Filthy soiled coats can occur from outdoor play, contact with

• Oily Skin

  Certain breeds are more prone to developing excessively oily skin and coats. Hairless (or nearly hairless) breeds like the Sphynx tend to secrete extra oil (sebum) to protect their skin. Some long-haired cat breeds also produce extra oil to protect their coats from water and the outside elements.

• Flea and Tick Problems

  Fleas and ticks are a real menace. They can be safely removed using dips and baths.
  
  

• Skin Disorders

  There are many skin disorders that may be treated with baths and warm soaks.

• Cat Shows

  Of course, you want your cute kitten to look its best at a cat show. So, bathing is a crucial step in creating a spiffy kitty.

Supplies

• Shampoo-preferable cat or kitten shampoo or diluted baby shampoo
• Conditioner-may be needed depending upon the cat
• Hair Dryer-if you prefer to blow dry the fur
• Towels-2 or 3 large towels
• Washcloth-Used to scrub the coat
• Brush/Comb-To detangle the coat
• Sink, Tub, or Basin
• Friendly Helper-(Optional)
• Time and Patience!!!

Ten Steps to Make Bathing Kittens a Breeze

1. Chose the Right Setting

   Selecting the proper setting to bathe your kitten is crucial in making the process much smoother. It may be easier to simply bathe your kitten in the bathroom sink or tub. It is much easier to control a frightened slippery kitten when there is an enclosed space with a door. You could also choose to wash outdoors in a basin (in warm weather, of course). The choice is yours.

2. Detangle the Coat

   It is often best to detangle and de-mat the coat before bathing cats. Bathing can often encourage the fur to tangle more. This is especially true with longer-haired cats.

3. Use Warm Water Please

   Fill the tub/basin/sink with about 4 inches of warm water. Use just enough to get the kittens coats thoroughly wet. And of course not enough to totally submerge the kitten underwater.

   Place the kitten the water as gently as possible. I know this can be difficult. The kitten may be kicking and flailing. And this is where that friendly helper or aid comes in handy while bathing kittens. So if possible, hold the kitten by the back of the neck (just as a mom cat does) in order to prevent cat scratches and clawing.

4. Wet the Fur

   Apply generous amounts of water to the fur to enable the dirt and grime to wash off the coat.

5. Apply Shampoo

   For a kitten, about one to two tablespoons of shampoos should be needed to lather the coat. Just be sure to protect your kitten’s eyes and ears during the process. Some cat owners plug their cat’s ears using cotton balls to prevent excessive amounts of water entering the ear canal when bathing kittens. Others use artificial tears in the ears to prevent irritation from shampoo that may enter the eye accidently.

6. Massage Coat

   Gently massage the shampoo into the coat to remove excess dirt and debris.

7. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse

8. Conditioner (If needed)

   Conditioner may be needed the kitten has an extra dry tangled coat. This is especially true of some long-haired breeds. Most short-haired cats, however, can usually go without a conditioner.

9. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse

   It is important to get all of the shampoo out the coat. This can be especially difficult with thick coated, long-haired cats. Without the removal of all the shampoo and/or conditioner, the coat can look greasy or the cat’s skin may be irritated. It may take several minutes of rinsing to remove all of the shampoo or conditioner.

10. Dry the Coat

    Towel drying, blow drying, or air drying are all acceptable ways to dry a kitten. If using a hair dryer, use the cool setting, not the warm or hot setting. You don’t want to end up with a burned kitten. Air dry only in a warm setting and wrap the kitten in a thick towel to keep them warm.

Remember…Bathing kittens does not have to be a traumatic experience for you or your kittens. Take your time and have your supplies in order before putting your furry friend in bath water.

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