Do cats need to be bathed?

To answer this question, just look out the window. What do we see? Roads, cars, exhaust fumes, dust… Microbes are everywhere, and if a pet walks by itself outside the walls of the apartment, then be sure that its fur cannot be clean.

But with domestic cats, which have an idea of ​​the street only by the view from the window, the situation is approximately the same. Bacteria and microbes enter the house on our outerwear and shoes, are carried through the air – and inevitably settle on the fur of pets. When a cat washes, these substances enter the stomach and often cause chronic diseases. To prevent this from happening, experts recommend bathing your pets, because this is not only a way to maintain their well-groomed appearance, but also health care.

How often should a cat be bathed?

Now we know that bathing cats is not only possible, but also necessary. But with what frequency?

Renewal of dermal cells is 21 days, so experts recommend washing your pet every 3-4 weeks.

Hairless pets, even if they never leave the apartment, as a rule, bathe more often. If your pet is often on the street, then you need to wash it as it gets dirty, but at least once a month. 

Means for washing cats

It is recommended to bathe pets with the use of special products that can effectively remove all dirt from the fur. Plain water is powerless here: getting rid of excess sebum and unpleasant odors without shampoo will not work. Use only special high-quality products for cats, as they effectively cleanse the skin and coat, do not wash off the natural protective layer, and also nourish with useful elements.

Soaps and human shampoos are categorically unsuitable for animals in terms of pH and negatively affect the condition of the skin and coat. Unsuitable products often cause dandruff and dermatitis, and the coat after their use becomes dull and lifeless.

Unsuitable shampoos are especially dangerous for small kittens and weakened cats. No matter how thoroughly you rinse the cat after washing, the chemistry will still remain on it. Once in the stomach when washing, it is highly likely to provoke a serious eating disorder.

Do I need to wash a cat during a molt?

During molting, it will be useful to bathe the pet. Washing speeds up the process, removes a significant amount of excess hair and avoids possible digestive problems.

Who shouldn’t bathe?

• Do not wash cats after vaccination and throughout the quarantine period. It is recommended to bathe kittens after changing teeth.

• Extreme care must be taken with pregnant animals. The washing procedure itself does not cause any harm to them, however, the stress that often accompanies bathing can be a threat to the cat and offspring. In addition, swimming increases the risk of injury. In an attempt to jump out of the bath, the pet may hurt himself. Therefore, it is better not to subject expectant mothers to bath procedures. 

If the cat is slightly dirty, it is enough to use an ordinary damp cloth and a comb. But if you need to clean the entire coat, then dry shampoo comes to the rescue, it can be used without water. It is simply applied to the coat and combed out, removing excess oil, dirt and unpleasant odors.

Drying the cat after washing

It is not necessary to dry the cat with a hairdryer after washing or create greenhouse conditions for it. A healthy pet will dry out calmly at an average room temperature. But there should not be any drafts in the room, otherwise the cat may catch a cold.

Do not forget that for many animals, the bathing procedure is a huge stress. Be affectionate with your pet, talk to him and in no case punish him, because he is not naughty, but really afraid. Teach your pets to bathe from an early age so that in the future they take this procedure calmly.