Giving the cat a bath has been the subject of many a joke and funny story, but the bottom line is this: Cats don't need baths.
However, that said, it does come up now and then, because some cats do get into situations that require bathing. But it's not needed as often as some would have us believe.
Nature has provided the cat with a means to keep itself as clean as necessary... its "sandpaper" tongue. Cats are masters of self-grooming, as well as shared grooming. In fact, grooming is a major part of every cat's life, not only for self-cleaning, but as a social mechanism for bonding with friends and family.
Mother cats keep their kittens immaculately clean, simply by their daily schedule of almost constant licking. The reason is primarily a survival tactic: Elimination of odors and residues in the nest is essential for preventing discovery by predators.
This is also why mother cats often move their nests every week or so. There is only just so much disinfecting a mother can do with her tongue. It becomes necessary to move to fresh quarters frequently to stay safely away from enemies. And enemies often include other cats... in particular, male cats who did not father the kittens. Stray tom cats will kill all kittens in their territories in order to force the females back into heat so they can father their own kittens. But that's another topic for another day...
The simple truth is that cats are driven to maintain their cleanliness, and they do it by licking themselves and other cats and kittens they are close to. They do not need human help to do this.
However, since they domesticated themselves to us and willingly subject themselves to our lifestyles, certain situations can arise where we may need to administer the dreaded... ugh... bath.
Indoor cats may escape to the great, but unknown, outdoors from time to time, and find themselves mired in something awful, perhaps grease, oily mud, spoiled substances found near trash areas, or even an encounter with odor-causing varmints, such as skunks.
Show cats may not get out much, and they may not become smelly, but their professional careers may depend on looking their fluffy best.
The lucky cats are those who actually like water. Most cats regard all bathing events as either mildly annoying, or anywhere along the scale to abjectly terrifying.
It is our duty, then, to minimize the discomfort and to maximize the more enjoyable aspects of this humiliating or frightening experience.
If you have the luxury of time and are raising one from kittenhood, it's a good idea to begin teaching kitty that water can be safe and pleasant... as long as you make sure that it is. Playtime might include a little water splashing, if they go for it, or letting them retrieve a toy from a pan or sink full of water. Allowing kitty to sit on the bath tub rim while the humans bathe might also help give them the idea that it's not so bad. Cats learn by observation, so seeing you or the kids in the water might help them to see that being there is OK.
The main things to remember are to be gentle when handling kitty, but firm (a struggling wet cat can be pretty slippery!), keep the water warm, not hot, and keep the session as short as possible. Keep an upbeat attitude. If you act happy and pleased, at least you will not be transmitting negative feelings to the cat. Use gentle products that will not burn their skin or eyes, and be positively certain that nothing bad happens while they are in the water.
Also remember that bathing a cat is not a regular necessity. Some humans have a cleaning obsession and will overbathe their cats. It just is not needed, and could even dry out their skin as the bathing removes the natural oils, and you could find your kitty suffering from an uncomfortable skin condition.
Dry kitty in a big fluffy towel right away, and if they don't mind it, a warm blow-dry with a hair dryer can help shorten the drying process. Be sure to speak softly and reassure your little sweetie that you still love her!
Dr. R.J. Peters has an extensive background in health care, animal care, journalism, computer repair and systems administration. She has co-authored a book on PC security, writes articles over a wide spectrum of topics and has numerous ebooks available on the Internet. Visit http://www.theproblemcat.com/catbath.html for some very funny bath photos.
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