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So you have decided to under take the daunting task of grooming and bathing your feline friend? All of your friends have recommended you take out a life insurence policy and update your will. Well it doesn't have to be as bad as all that. It can be fairly easy to groom and bathe your cat provided that you take it slow and have lots and lots of patience.
The supplies that you will need depends on several things. First the coat length of your cat. If your cat is a short haired variety, a soft bristle brush will do fine. If your cat has a medium to long hair coat, then you will want to purchase a wire bristle brush specially made for cats. You do not want to buy anything that will feel rough to your cat's skin. Test it on your skin first. If it feels painful to you, more then likely it will be painful to your cat. You will want to purchase a wide toothed comb to help you remove mats from your cat's coat and dead hair from the brush.
The type of shampoo you buy depends on if your cat has fleas or ticks. If he does, then buy a brand specially made for cats. Do not bathe kittens younger then six weeks or nursing mothers unless instructed by your vet. It can be toxic to them. You can purchase specially made shampoos just for cats. There is nothing wrong with this, but I find that your average run of the mill baby shampoo will work just as well and it’s a lot cheaper.
It is possible to clip your cat's nails. Buy a cat nail clipper and be very careful NOT to clip into the quick. That will cause the nail to bleed and will make your cat very unhappy. Gently squeeze the tip of the paw. This will cause the nail to become unsheathed. If the nail is clear, you should be able to see where the quick begins. Be sure to clip below that point. If the nail is dark in color, then just clip the very tip of the nail.
The next step is brushing your cat. This is something that you should do several times a week in short or medium haired breeds, everyday in long haired breeds. If you start when they are kittens they will come to enjoy the quality time spent with you. Place your cat in your lap and gently brush in the direction of the hair. Don't forget the belly. If you find a mat, carefully and gently try to untangle it. If it is too close to the skin or is an especially large or thick mat you may be forced to cut it out. Just be careful not to cut your cat's skin. If you are unsure or you hurt your cat, then take him to the vet or a grooming salon where they will have the equipment and the expertise to handle it. Never, never, never bathe a cat with mats. It will make the mats harder to remove later. If your cat is skittish, then try brushing him when he is sleeping. Just be very gentle and speak to him in a gentle, soothing voice. It may take some time, but eventually he will come to realize that brushing feels good and that you mean him no harm. While you are brushing your friend run your hand all over his body, checking for lumps or sores. You will also want to look at his ears. They should look pink and clean. If not he may have a wax problem that can be removed with a little Vaseline on a Q-tip. Just be sure not to put the Q-tip to far into the ear. If the ear looks black or you see the cat shaking his head or scratching at his ears he may have ear mites and will need to be seen by your vet.
Okay: you have brushed your cat, clipped his nails and checked his ears. Now comes the fun part. Bath time!!!!! It most instances a cat will bathe himself with his tongue and will not need to be bathed with water. But if your cat has been ill, injured or has gotten into something he shouldn't have, then a water bath may be necessary.
The first thing you will need to do is brush and groom your cat to remove any dead hair. Now place your shampoo and lots and lots of towels in the bathroom. Put a rubber mat on the bottom of the tub and fill it roughly two feet deep with warm water. Now go find your cat. No doubt by now he has guessed what your intentions are. All of us who own cats know that they can read minds. Search high and low and when you find him in the most inaccessible spot in the entire house, you will have to use all methods available to you to convince him that you are not really going to give him a bath. Once you get him out from under what ever it is he is under, take him into the bathroom and close the door firmly behind you. That way he cannot escape at an inopportune moment and run wild through the house, spraying water everywhere.
Place him gently in the tub, being sure not to let go of him or you will find yourself trying to remove him from the top of the medicine cabinet or from behind the toilet. Slowly pour water over him until he is completely wet. Be careful not to get water into his ears. Keep talking to him in a low voice to keep him as calm as the situation allows. Pour the shampoo over his body and work into a good lather, taking care not to get soap in his ears or eyes. Thoroughly rinse with clean, warm water. Repeat if you are using a flea or tick shampoo. Squeeze as much excess water out of his coat as you can. Wrap him firmly in a large towel and rub him dry. You may want to use two or three towels if he is a longhaired breed.
Take him into a warm room, close the door behind you and let him go. He will stand in the middle of the room shaking his paws, looking for all the world like a drowned rat. He should shake himself and proceed to lick himself dry. You can try a hair dryer on him, but I wouldn't recommend it unless he is use to having it done to him.
The noise will scare him and he may not like the warm air blowing on him. And don't be surprised if he decides that you are persona non-grata for a while. Praise him and offer him some special treat and you will soon be back in his good graces. Treat yourself to a Valium and pat yourself on the back!!!! Congratulations you have just successfully bathed your cat and survived!!
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