|
When bathing a cat you must first and foremost be prepared. Prepare ALL the items needed in advance. The last thing you want is to have a wet cat and find that the cat shampoo, towel, crème rinse, etc. is in the basement or two rooms away. You will NEVER catch that cat again that day. So with that in mind we begin:
Step 1 Pick a good day. Pick a day where you are not rushed, trying to do 20 things at once and don’t have 4 kids to look after.
Step 2 Assemble what you’ll need.
a) A good cat or kitten shampoo (depending on the age of your cat)
b) Plenty of towels for drying
c) Comb or brush depending on whether you have a long haired cat or a short haired one.
d) A crème rinse or conditioner (great for long haired or extra stinky cats)
e) A soft wash cloth
f) A deep double sink or a couple of deep rubbermaid tubs filled with warm water (don’t try to use the bathtub, all that water looks like an ocean to a cat and you’ll have a harder time keeping them in there).
g) The Cat
Step 3 Clean the immediate area where you plan on completing the task. Remove all breakable objects within reach of the cat. Because they will try grabbing onto ANYTHING to get out of that water.
Step 4 Comb or brush out mats, foreign material and loose hair from the cat.
Step 5 Fill the water basins (2) with good warm water…not too hot…not too cold. Add a little shampoo to one basin of water while filling.
Step 6 Place the cat gently into the water. You’ll probably need to hold the scruff of its neck firmly to get it in there. Don’t dunk the cat completely. It will probably begin to howl plaintively and try to attach itself to your head to get out of the water, but keep one hand on the cat and use the other to wet the cat thoroughly. It helps to have a sink sprayer to complete this task.
Step 7 Place a small amount of shampoo in your hand and lather up the cat. Pay special attention to the really dirty areas (usually the tails). Remember…don’t let go of the cat.
Step 8 Take the soft wash cloth, wet it with the shampoo water and gently clean the cats head, around eyes (being careful not to get soap in them) and their ears.
Step 9 Drain this first water and transfer the cat to the other basin filled with clean rinse water. While you are rinsing in the second basin, fill the first again with warm clean rinse water. Transfer the cat back to the original side which now contains clean water. Rinse the cat again. This is the time to use conditioner or crème rinse. Apply it like you did the shampoo. Drain and refill the basin you just removed the cat from again with clean warm rinse water. Switch the cat to the clean water again for a final. You need to be concerned with getting ALL the soap, etc. off the cat.
Step 10 Drain the final rinse water and remove the cat (this shouldn’t be hard since he will have been trying to get out all along). Wrap the cat in a towel and blot dry. You will need to change the towel several times...Usually 3 or so depending on coat length of the cat.
Step 11 Allow the cat a warm, draft free place to completely dry off and sulk.
Step 12 Change your clothes (because you will be soaked as well), clean up the huge puddle of water and wash and dry all the thoroughly soaked towels then apply antiseptic and bandaids to all the scratches the cat inflicted upon you.
You will then, after a sufficient drying period, have a happy, clean, nice smelling cat…until he gets into something stinky again and you have to repeat the above process!
| 
