by Ashe Hope

Created on: January 25, 2009

The best way to train a cat to enjoy a bath is to begin when it is a kitten. Cats are very clean animals by nature, but giving that extra cleaning by bathing them, keeps them much healthier.

The most important thing in a cat's bath is the choice of the shampoo.Cat shampoos are not cheap. But which cat owner/ lover would gripe about spending a few extra dollars on their pet cat ? These shampoos are formulated for cats, with their needs in mind. They are effective on the skin, soften the fur and are supposed to be less stinging on the eyes! While the claim of the last fact is questionable, the fact remains that the fur looks much nicer when a good shampoo is used.

Many people use the kitchen sink to bathe theirs cats. Cats have a keen sense of smell, and the kitchen sink may not be the ideal place. It is better to use the the bathroom. Either in the bath tub or shower stall. One idea is to use a special home made cage. It is a simple box made with light weight ply wood and soft wires, big enough for a cat to take a few steps and turn around. If a back porch is available, use it to place this cage. Otherwise the bathroom will suffice. The cat can be tricked into this cage . This eliminates the need of holding the cat down while bathing it. Using a garden hose, pour water on the cat. Pay attention to the temperature of the water. Apply the shampoo between rinses. Rub briskly, let it lather , and wash clean. After a couple of times, the cat will not resist being put in the cage. A plastic laundry basket with fairly large openings can be substituted for such a cage.

Wipe well with a bath towel. This sense of touch makes the cat feel cuddly and loved , and will not run away. It doesn't hurt to use a blow dryer on a low setting.In the beginning the cat may not like the sound of the hair dryer, but in time will get used to it. Now is the time to give its coat a nice brushing. Make sure that a clean brush is used.

Last ,but not the least, always follow up this routine with the cat's favorite soft food. Throw in some treats.This "Pavlov" effect will sink in fast, and make the cat look forward to its baths.

After all the cat bath accessories are put away, reward yourself by snuggling close to your cat. The cat may think you are rewarding it, but there is nothing so comforting to a cat owner as snuggling next to a clean smelling cat. Both cat and owner are happy!

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