Has anyone ever successfully given a cat a bath?

[torpid]

Definitely try a sponge first.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: bobdole369

He still hasn't had a bath.

They don't normally need them.

This.

I haven't ever bathed my cat. They keep themselves clean.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: sixone
A cat who is not used to bathing will be more scared of the sound the water makes coming out of the tap, than of the water itself.

We use a container to pour water over the cat to minimize that. We put enough water in the tub that it is just below their chest which seems to help as well.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: bobdole369

He still hasn't had a bath.

They don't normally need them.

This.

I haven't ever bathed my cat. They keep themselves clean.

I believe OP is concerned about the cat ingesting ash and soot and not concerned about its daily hygiene habits.

 

[acid45]

i do remember seeing a video of these guys who gave a cat a gasoline bath... worked pretty well...

 

[magnux]

I have a corner shower with glass doors. I toss him in, and crank on the water. It takes him about 10 minutes to calm down and stop trying to climb the glass. Once he does, that's when I go in and bathe him.

I haven't had to do it often, but sometimes he just finds his way into things and gets covered in stuff I'd rather not have him leave all over the carpet and sofa.

Thinking about it, I really should video tape it one day.. it's a sight to see.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: acid45
i do remember seeing a video of these guys who gave a cat a gasoline bath... worked pretty well...

Cat threads never fail to draw posts from the forum asses.

 

[ruu]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Wear thick leather gloves that go up to your elbow...

...You'll thank me later.

Oh my, yes. And if you don't have long thick gloves, just wear an old sweatshirt and don't roll the sleeves up.

Bathing cats is definitely not a one person job.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: ruu

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Wear thick leather gloves that go up to your elbow...

...You'll thank me later.

Oh my, yes. And if you don't have long thick gloves, just wear an old sweatshirt and don't roll the sleeves up.

Bathing cats is definitely not a one person job.

It can be if you duct tape their legs together

 

[BurnItDwn]

Gently put the cat in a pillowcase.
Wear clothes so claws wont cut you as bad.
Get in shower with cat. Best if water is hot, but not scalding hot.
Use pet shampoo or baby shampoo, since some of the crap that's in regular shampoo may not be good for kitty's health.
Wash the cat with the shampoo when he or she is still in the pillowcase.
Rinse the cat thoroughly (while still in the pillowcase, my cat HATES the water, but I usually let her poke her head out and I try to avoid splashing her face too much.)
Turn off the shower, transfer the cat from the pillowcase into a warm, dry towel.

The cat will now still be wet, and mad, but he or she hopefully won't be too cold at least.
After sufficient drying, let them go free and they will likely retreat to their favorite spot.

If you are lucky, you won't be cut up.

 

[ruu]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: ruu

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Wear thick leather gloves that go up to your elbow...

...You'll thank me later.

Oh my, yes. And if you don't have long thick gloves, just wear an old sweatshirt and don't roll the sleeves up.

Bathing cats is definitely not a one person job.

It can be if you duct tape their legs together

But that's so meeeeeeaan! T.T

 

[amdhunter]

PLEASE VIDEOTAPE THE BATH PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE

 

[MrPickins]

I did, last summer for both of my cats after a small flea infestation.

It involved much blood loss and scarification on my part.

 

[Q]

Just throw the damn thing in there. I hate cats they are dumb.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Yes. I have a bath with sliding glass doors so put the cat in, shut the doors, it can't get out. They don't like it and they cry but they don't flip out and try and attack me.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: tasmanian
Use this.

aren't you asking for an ear infection with that thing? at least, for dogs?

 

[Rubycon]

How does a cat hiss? I mean the mechanism like the purring is unique. People can open their mouths making similar gestures but the hiss just does not sound the same. If I could hiss like a cat I would because it would be very intimidating! :laugh:

 

[lokiju]

Some (most) cats freak out.

But I used to have one cat that didn't mind really.

He'd just stand there and stare at me as I washed him without ever even trying to get away.

I had another cat though that got so freaked out by it that she'd shit and piss in the tub each time, that was never fun.

I usually just have my current two cats bathed when I bring them to the vet so they can deal with the claws

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: sportage
A front loader would maybe do the job.
Easy on the spin cycle...

Pictures scene from My Bloody Valentine 3D

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
How does a cat hiss? I mean the mechanism like the purring is unique. People can open their mouths making similar gestures but the hiss just does not sound the same. If I could hiss like a cat I would because it would be very intimidating! :laugh:

Use the back of your tongue, you can get pretty close to a cats hiss. It definitely gets the attention of our cats when I "hiss" at them.

 

[Xavier434]

Don't put them directly under a faucet or shower head. Use a cup and continuously pour water on them. Some cats freak out regardless. Others don't care. Also, I recommend wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt or something to protect yourself from scratches. Don't worry about it getting wet.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I'm not sure if success is the word I'm looking for

:laugh:

 

[RadiclDreamer]

My cat loves to get a bath, if you dont watch he sometimes will try to get in the tub with you.

 

[SketchMaster]

Call your vet and tell them you need to give the cat a bath and ask if they can prescribe one dose of valium, give the cat the pill(s) and wait for its eyes to go crazy (cats on val will have their eyes look like they are lazy, it will go away after a few hours but you need to keep the cat inside for the rest of the day) and give the cat the bath while its drugged up.

It will still be mad as hell but you will walk away with little to no cuts. ?Maybe.

 

[BoomerD]

Bah...we give our cats baths all the time.

One thing that helps is to give them something to hold on to with their claws besides your arm.

I lay a bath towel in the bottom of the tub.

One of our cats HATES his bath...but he tolerates it for a few minutes.

The other one was a water baby when she was little. She'd pull the door to the shower stall open if she could and climb in with me.
Nowadays, she's not so fond of the water, but tolerates her bath with no fuss.