Cats LOVE Water! Oh, Yeah?

That depends on which cat you're talking about! Some cats HATE water; others tolerate it and may even enjoy it. I imagine part of that depends on how soon you introduce them to being around or in the water. I was trying to decided what to talk about in my blog this week, but couldn't come up with anything. Thought about the weather and the fact that it has been raining all day long. A nice warm bath would feel good right about now. Aha! How about giving the cat a bath? That could be VERY interesting! This would probably be Sammy's reaction if I told him he was going to have a bath.

Found a site about how to bathe a kitten so will share some of that information with you. To prepare your kitten for a bath, make sure it is accustomed to your handling it all over the body. They even suggest running your fingers over the teeth and massaging the inside of the mouth. Not sure what mine would do if I tried that! However, I do rub my fingers in their ears, between their toes and legs and rub their tummies.The supplies you need are two bath towels, a washcloth, cat shampoo, and treats. Keep the bathroom door closed and the heater on while you fill the sink or bathtub with an inch or two of warm water.

5 Steps to Successful Kitty Baths

1. Get the feet wet. Just let the kitten stand in the water with all four paws submerged. Do not move on to the next step until it is comfortable with this one.
2. Rain on their parade. Before the washcloth rubdown, pour water from a cup all over the kitten. Gently lift its chin with your finger to keep water from running in the eyes.
2. Time for the rubdown. The next time you repeat step one, wet the washcloth and give kitty a rubdown without using soap. Maintain eye contact while doing this and gently correct it if it tries to get away. Dry thoroughly with one of the bath towels. Wrap in the other towel. If kitty struggles, don’t give treats and try again tomorrow. Do not move on to the next step until this one is successfully completed.
4. Time for soap. Use a small amount of soap (about the size of a dime) to spread around on the fur. Be careful not to get it in the eyes. Use the washcloth to wipe soap off the head. Pour water from the cup to rinse off the rest of the body. Dry thoroughly with one towel and wrap kitty in the other. If it struggles, don’t give treats and try again tomorrow. This is the last step in the process.
5. Final tips for success. Make sure the water is warm. Have all your supplies ready and in place prior to starting the bath. Keep the experience positive. And most of all, bathe your kitten on a regular basis, using soap every other time to avoid drying out the skin.

This poor cat thinks that his twin lives IN the shower! 

 As I said in the beginning, some cats HATE water.

 But let's end on a positive note. Enjoy this video of cats who love the water. https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/afternoon-video-cats-who-love-the-water/

Have you given your cat a bath? What were the results? We would love to hear your stories.

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667