Kittens are notoriously messy eaters, especially as they switch from milk to wet food. Cats will walk in their food or dip their heads into their bowls. Some of the kittens also play in their litter boxes, what fun for them! And without a mother cat to help clean those hard-to-reach places, it's up to you to water the kittens! In this guide, we provide you with the most important instructions and tips to know how to do it from A to Z. We also provided you at Petaholic with all the supplies that help you in this task.
What is the appropriate age for taming young cats without endangering them?
From 1 to 8 weeks
Since this is the lactation period, avoid giving your kitten a bath, even if she has started teething or weaned off milk. However, there are some exceptions, where a bath is necessary for medical reasons. Also, if you rescue an orphaned stray cat soaked in toxic oil or similar contaminants, she should be bathed because she is likely to ingest these toxins. In this case, contact your vet immediately for advice on how to do this safely.
From 8 weeks to 6 months
Kittens at this stage rarely soil themselves, so they don't require frequent bathing, but you can only bathe them when:
- Comes back dirty after playing outdoors.
- You need a medicated bath to get rid of fleas or other parasites.
- If it's dirty from food scraps or litter box sand, consider cleaning it gently with a damp washcloth or hypoallergenic cat wipes.
Watering small cats from 6 months and older
Most cats reach their teens by 6 months of age and begin to shed childhood habits. At this stage they are also developing self-grooming habits to stay clean, but you can offer scheduled baths according to their fur type, which are:
- Short-haired and medium-length cats can be bathed once every 4 to 8 weeks.
- Long-haired cats can be bathed once every two to four weeks.
Some of the featured products that we offer at Petaholic to help you pet your kitten are:
What is the way to properly bathe kittens without getting scratched?
Start slowly
The first few months of a kitten's life are critical socialization periods. We don't want bath time to be so painful that it threatens their future ability to bond with humans. Before you even consider submerging the cat in a tub of water, you want to make sure the cat is completely comfortable being handled while it's dry.
After determining this comfort level, you can bring a wet washcloth into the equation. Start by sweeping the paws, then slowly work your way up the legs and torso. Once the kitten gets used to the sensation of being wet and rubbed, it is possible to move on to the full kitten stimulation experience. Again, the key is to move slowly. Let the cat hear the water running and splashing. Play with her and show her that she is in a safe place. Shower the cat with praise and hugs to get the cat used to the process and feel safe. The more gradual and relaxing the experience, the more relaxed you are the better for the cat. Because cats are well aware of our feelings. If we are in a high state of anxiety, they will feel it.
Be prepared with the necessary tools
Patience is the most important piece of equipment you need. In addition, you will need a place to bathe the cat, suitable shampoo for cats, a cup for pouring water, and plenty of warm, fluffy towels. A small plastic bathtub roughly the size and shape of a litter box will come in handy. Add a few centimeters of lukewarm water at a warm temperature. You also want to make sure the room is warm. If it's cold outside, you don't want the cat to catch a draft and get sick.
Start by placing only the cat's feet in the water. After you feel comfortable with this, place a folded towel on the bottom of the tub. When the cat is ready to stand on her own in the water, this will give her something to dig her claws into, and of course not your hand! Giving the cat something to hold will make it feel more secure, making bath time easier for everyone. During this process, you need to make sure to keep the cat's face dry and above the water to prevent it from drowning or sucking up the water. This is where the small cup comes in that will help you rinse areas that cannot be submerged under water.
Sometimes you may need to trim the cat's excess hair if it is too much, especially the hair on the paws, so that it will be easier to bathe without tangling the hair. Therefore, we recommend these products to you from Petaholic:
Use cat shampoo
Make sure you use a cat shampoo that explicitly says it's safe for cats, just like the ones we stock at Petaholic. Do not use human or dog shampoos, as these can dry out the cat's skin. Also, choose an unscented brand. This is because cats have a keen sense of smell. For them, scented shampoo can feel like they're showering in a perfume bottle, and they hate the whole process. Avoid applying soap directly to the cat, as we recommend mixing some shampoo and water in a small dish and using the foam to wash the cat, and we do not recommend wearing gloves during this.
Rinse and dry the cat
As mentioned earlier, avoid using soap and water around the face and eyes. All you need here is a damp cloth. You should also avoid rubbing the rectal area as it can cause irritation. At Petaholic, we recommend rinsing the cat three times so the soap doesn't stick to the skin and cause irritation.
When bath time is over, pat the cat dry with those refreshing towels from our store. While it is important to dry and warm cats as quickly as possible, don't be tempted to use a hair dryer; Because the blast of hot air could burn her tender skin.
Among our special products that we recommend you use after bathing your kitten:
In the end, bathing your kitten will not be so stressful and painful if you know what to do, and by following the instructions in this guide, it will be as easy as possible. Also, you can buy all the necessary supplies for the shower from Petaholic at the best prices.
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