How to Bath Your Kitten

Anyone who owns a cat knows they are excellent groomers. The marjority of cats will spend a large chunk of the day grooming themselves. Sometimes though, they might need some extra help from you.

By getting your kitten used to brushing and grooming from a young age, you can help to keep their coat free of dirt, dust and excess hair. Read our tips for brushing your kitten here.

What about bathing?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t bathe your cat, as this can disrupt the natural balance of oils in their skin and fur. However, an occasional bath is fine, and even necessary in some cases.

If your kitten or cat is injured and struggling to clean themselves, rolled in something smelly or gotten particularly dirty, a gentle bath may be the only way to help them get properly clean.

You might also find that wiping them with a soft, damp cloth is enough to get them cleaned off. However, if your cat really needs a bath and is very reluctant to have one, you might want to ask your vet or a vet-approved professional groomer for assistance.

Tips for bathing your kitten or cat

Here are some tips to help make bath-time less stressful for you and your pet.

• Make sure you use a gentle, pet-friendly shampoo recommended by your vet.
• Cats may feel overwhelmed by a large bath-tub, so use a smaller container, like a shallow basin or bowl.
• Fill the bowl with clean lukewarm water – just deep enough to cover your cat’s paws.
• Make sure the room is warm and quiet, and all doors and windows are securely closed.
• Before bathing, you might want to brush your cat to remove excess loose hairs. You can also clean your cat’s face gently with a moist cotton pad before you place them in the bath.
• Place your cat in the container of warm water. Talk gently to them while you do this, and have a few treats on hand to help distract them if needed.
• Wet your cat’s back, belly and legs. You can use a small cup or jug to pour the water over them. Don’t use a shower or spray attachment – these are noisy and intimidating, and can cause them to panic.
• Apply a small amount of pet shampoo to the wet areas. Massage gently into the fur, avoiding the eyes and ears.
• Use the cup or jug to thoroughly rinse off the shampoo.
• Have a warm, soft towel handy to wrap your cat up in after rinsing. Gently rub them dry with the towel, and then let them sit in a warm place (like next to a heater or in a patch of sunlight) to finish drying off.

Your kitten will most likely groom themselves straight after a bath. This is why it’s essential to use a safe pet-friendly shampoo.