Skin and coat
How to bathe my cat?
Rule number 1: don’t force it! If your cat hates water, it could well hurt you in a moment of panic. There are alternatives. If it does like water, then your bathroom sink should be enough. You can place in its ear a plug made of a compress or a paper towel; this will prevent water from going in. Your cat may not keep it for the entire bath and may shake its head strongly or to scratch its ears. In that case it is best to avoid water near the face.
- If your cat has a long coat, it is preferable to brush it before bathing it.
- Soak your cat’s coat and undercoat with warm water.
- Apply the shampoo afterwards, spread it uniformly on your cat’s entire body and massage. Be careful with certain zones, such as eyes or ears! It is necessary to use a shampoo for cats and dogs. Indeed, shampoos made for humans, even those for babies, are not adapted to your cat’s skin’s pH(?) and could provoke an irritation. There are various types of shampoos for cats or dogs, adapted to your companion's skin type! It is important to respect the recommended duration of the wash, especially when using a special shampoo prescribed by your veterinarian. If necessary, go through these steps again.
- Abundantly rinse the coat and undercoat with clear water. There must be no foam left!
- Take your cat out of the tub and dry it, ideally with a microfiber towel. These absorbing towels allow you to dispense with the hairdryer, which often causes burns. If you do use a hairdryer, make sure you set the temperature so that the air blown out is not too hot and maintain the dryer at a good distance from your cat’s skin. Be careful with its ears and eyes!
- Finally, remember to withdraw the plugs from its ears.
Questions
That you ask yourself about your companion
Why is it important to look after my cat’s skin and coat?
When and how regularly should I wash and brush my cat?
I'm not able to brush my cat, what should I do?
How do I make my cat’s coat shinier?
The contours of my white cat's eyes are brown
My cat licks its belly and is missing a lot of fur
My cat has stopped grooming itself
When should I see my veterinarian?
The structure of the skin and coat
MP LABO recommends
The following products