How to clean a cat?

Alfasudcrazy

Our neighbours tom cat has attacked our cat and she is all muck. Not as bad as the last time though, I am wondering is there any method of cleaning a cat. I know she will eventually clean herself but it can take her a week to get all that kind of muck off. :rolleyes:

peasant

You don't have her long, yes?

So it would be safe to say that a relationship of trust may not yet have been established?

In that case, bathing is out (unless you enjoy the sensation of blood running freely down your hands, arms and face)

Wrap her up in a warm, wet towel and give her a rub-down while keeping her firmly under wraps (especially those claws). Best done with a helper.

Stop when the distress gets too much. Hopefully you might have gotten rid of the worst muck ...try brushing out the rest later when she's dry again.

Hagar

How to Bath the Cat

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.
2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water and have both lids lifted.
3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
4. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape). CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for anything they can find. The cat will self-agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from your toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "power wash and rinse" which I found to be quite effective.
6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can and quickly lift both lids.
8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet and run outside where he will dry himself.

Sincerely,
The Dog
Cat Bathing As A Martial Art

1. Know that although the kitty cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, we recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)
2. Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. We recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face-mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.
3. Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule.)
4. Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have now begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life.
5. Cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)
6. Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared with what you have just been through. That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg.
7. You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.
   You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath. But at least now he smells a lot better.

macshadow

Maybe a spray bottle on a fine mist setting and spray her at close range while she's eating something really tasty to keep her busy, then comb it through her coat and towel dry.
oh and a pair of heavy duty gloves:D

comongethappy

I've been bathing mine since they were kittens, and they never enjoy it, but they've come to accept it a bit more. They've never tried to bite or scratch me. They do take any opprotunity to escape though, so you need to be prepared.

I bathe mine in the sink. I have a plastic basin so they don't slip around and get frightened. On the draining surface next to the sink, I put a non-slip sink bottom down so they don't slip as I shampoo them. I use the little cup that you use to fill the iron with water to pour over them, as half the cat is out of the water when you use the sink method. Make sure the shampoo you buy is safe for cats - some human shampoos could cotain something that could upset them when they lick themselves dry. Most pet shops, and I think even Tesco, will stock a cat/kitten shampoo. Oh, and also remember to bring a towel down to put near you and change in clothes you don't mind getting soaked

So, you take the cat, gently put it down into the basin, remembering it will try to resist. When the cat is in the water, always keep one hand on in to prevent it jumping out. Try to reassure the pet it's okay. Wet the pet's coat down, then take out and put on the non-slip mat to shampoo. Shampoo as you would a dog, taking care to avoid the eyes/ears. Put back in bath to rinse off, take out, and towel dry.

Or, if you think this will be a fairly regular occurance and don't like the sound of getting soaking wet all the time, you could invest in a cat bath bag for about €15. See http://www.ccpdogs.ie/index.php?cPath=34&osCsid=a3281bb7197057989752d751cda19d91 . It also has a feature where you can take out your cat's paws one at a time to trim claws.

Ruu_Old

I have had to bath a couple of ones that we foster, there is no easy way to do it and you will get plenty wet. I just used to bathe them in the sink as well and of course they will make plenty of noise so hold onto them and reassure them.

AckwelFoley

Get her Neutered.

No more tom cats.

echosound

LMAO @ Hagar
An idea if you need to wash your cat is to use a towel while it's in the sink.
Dunk the towel completely in the water first, get it soaked through, then put the cat in the water on top of the towel (wearing gloves BTW to avoid having your hand shredded) try to reassure the cat and soothe it, and use the wet towel like a giant facecloth, as a way to lather the cat up with a bit of water and shampoo - the towel will be under the cat so wrap the edges up around it's body - has a few benefits - stops the cat slipping and going frantic, and also stops the cat from contorting out of your hands and reefing the arms off you as the towel kinda contains kitty, and stops him/her being able to sneak a stealthy paw out to slash you. The towel round the cat may also have the effect of soothing it slightly as it's kinda like a cocoon for a grouchy cat.

This towel thing might sound a bit mental but our poor fella has had to have a few washes over the course of his more idiotic antics (like the time he chose to sleep in the ashes of the fireplace as the embers were nice and toasty, turning our nice white cat into a sort of haggard cat-minstrel creature unable to lick himself clean without giving himself the black lung) and the towel trick seems to help keep him calm. Do not get his face wet whatever you do, or you'll be in for a night of stitching your arms back up:p

bushy...

They definitely don't seem to like it :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLSj83gf2K4

Alfasudcrazy

Thanks for the advice. I decided I would just let nature take it course and she is now like a new pin again. I noticed she just needs to drink more water during the cleaning process.

She is neutered btw but that does not seem to deter our neighbours tom cat from attacking all our cats.

One of our cats only returned home today after his Christmas break - he was away for two weeks - where we don't know? :eek:

Alun

bushy... wrote: »

They definitely don't seem to like it :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLSj83gf2K4

That was just cruel!!! Poor kitty

LuckyStar

In my experience with horses, putting water anywhere near muck just makes it worse, it just spreads it. Let the muck dry out and then you can just brush it off really easily.

The same principle applies to when you get wet sand on your feet at the beach!!!

luckat

If I have to clean a cat I do it in the bath, with *tepid* water, and back the cat slowly in, then *stroke* the water and a little shampoo on, all the time praising and talking gently.

Then rinse by stroking the water off; you may be able to use a shower spray if it isn't big and alarming and is also tepid.

Then take the puss out into a big bath towel and cuddle dry, and put her in front of a warm fire to dry herself off and wash, with lots more praise.

And don't put any water near her face at any stage, or any soap, of course.

zipy

Our cat sometimes sneaks into our very mucky garden, for a long time now I have been cleaning her with unscented baby wipes. They work a treat.