- Sometimes you can even brush your cat as a way to get him distracted enough to allow his nails to be trimmed. This is a great way of killing two birds with one stone.
Prepare the bathroom. Before you can begin to bathe kitty, you'll need to shut the bathroom door to prevent him from escaping. You should also lay down a rubber mat or towel in the tub so your kitty doesn't slip and has more comfortable footing. Additionally, you'll need to place some towels on the floor because it'll get wet, as the kitty will put up a fight.[4]
- Additionally, have at least two towels on hand for drying kitty when the time comes.
- You won't have time to run out for anything while your cat's in the bath, so you'll need to have everything ready in the bath in advance.
Prepare the bath. Fill the tub with 4-5 inches of warm water. Try to fill the tub before bringing your cat into the bathroom, since some cats can be unnerved by running water. Fill two buckets or, ideally, two plant watering pots, which allow you to direct the flow of water as you rinse the cat. This is so you don't need to run more water during the bath, which might frighten your cat. If you have a removable shower nozzle, then even better — in that case, you won't need to fill buckets with water and can use the nozzle throughout the bath.
- Do not use the shower head or faucet to bathe your kitty. This will make the water pour down too hard and fast and will scare your kitty in no time at all. The bath should be as gentle and soothing as possible and shouldn't feel like a water attack.
Make your cat want to bathe. The first thing you should do is tire your kitty out, so he is at his most mellow before he enters the water. This will make him less likely to bite or scratch you or to try to get away. Pick a time when your kitty is at his most calm — often after he is fed and feels satisfied. If he still acts hyper, play with him as much as you can until he's worn out, not hyped up. Here are some other ways to get your kitty adjusted to the bath before you start bathing him:[6]- Play with your cat inside his or her bath with a string, or with some other toy that your cat likes. If you play with your cat in the bath, then your cat will enjoy bathing and want to get in there again to play with you.
- Make the bath a place where you play with your cat with a certain item (like a mouse on a string or some kind of "cat bathing" toy). This will inspire your cat to look forward to bathing, instead of fearing it.
Maintain control of your cat. Talk to your cat in a calm, quiet voice while washing. And make sure to keep a good grip on the neck or shoulders. Sometimes cats, obviously, will try to get out of the tub. If they prefer to have only two of their feet in the water, face them toward the back of the tub and let them stand on two feet. If you're really having difficulty doing this, you can consider getting a cat harness, as long as it doesn't hurt the kitty.- If you're nervous or excited about the process, your kitty will know.
- It's easier to bathe your cat if there are two people involved, especially if your cat is rather strong and can kick and wriggle its way out of your hands. One person should hold all four legs and hold the cat's jaw so it can't bite you.
- Hold your cat firmly so it cannot wriggle out from your grip, but be sure you don't hold it so tight that it can't breathe.
Massage the shampoo onto your cat's face. Soak your kitty from the neck down. Use a washcloth to wet your kitty's fur. Use a little bit of shampoo and use the water to wash your cat's neck, body, legs, belly and tail. Start from his head and work toward his tail, in the direction of the growth of his fur. Wash the cat in a massaging motion, so he feels soothed, not scared. Act like you're just petting and grooming your cat and that this trip to the bathtub is nothing special.- Be sure to not get shampoo in his eyes, nose, mouth, or ears.
- You may need to hold him gently by his scruff to maintain control over him.
Rinse the shampoo from your kitty. Rinse your kitty thoroughly using the washcloth and the water in the tub. Then, drain the tub and rinse two more times with water from the bucket or warm water from the tap. It is essential that you remove all the soap from the coat. You may have to keep going for even more cycles until you remove all of the shampoo from your kitty's fur.- If your cat has a long, thick coat, this process will take even longer.
Wash your kitty's face with water. Washing your cat's face with water should do the trick. There's no need to take the risk of upsetting and hurting your cat by getting shampoo or soap in his eyes. Take a wet washcloth and gently run it along your kitty's face, brushing the fur away from his eyes and nose, until his face, head, and ears are nice and clean.- Don't ever force your cat's face under water. This is guaranteed to make him panic.
- When you blot the water from your kitty, do it in a gentle motion, as if you're massaging him. He'll feel more comforted this way.
Finish drying your cat. Short-haired cats can finish drying themselves in the bathroom as long as they're away from drafts. They will appreciate a heat source (space heater or warm air vent) and a dry towel to sit on. With long-haired cats, you will have to use a comb and more towels. Long hairs mat more easily when wet, so you may wish to comb the coat until it is completely dry. - If your cat is not scared of a hair dryer, you can use a dryer set on warm, not hot to finish drying your cat from a distance. The hot setting on a hair dryer is way too hot for kitty so don't ever use it.
- You can also gently brush your kitty's fur to get rid of any knots or tangles. This can be especially helpful for a long-haired cat.
- Make sure your kitty is dry before he runs into trouble. If your cat runs off before he's fully dried and trots outside, he can get even more dirty when all of the elements stick easily to his damp fur.
Reward your cat. This is a must. If you want your cat to ever want to take a bath again, you must give him a positive association with the process. Give him his favorite wet food, catnip, or other treats. You can even give him an even more indulgent treat that you save for exceptionally rare occasions. If you associate bathing with receiving delicious treats, your cat will be clamoring for another go in the bathtub in no time at all. - You should also praise your kitty by petting him, telling him what a good kitty he is, and giving him lots of attention when the bath is over. He's likely to feel vulnerable and scared and your affection will make a difference.
- If your cat has a long, thick coat, this process will take even longer.
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