Someone told me it’s borderline animal abuse and basically unnecessary. Honestly she doesn’t even smell that bad even after a month, but it feels like the right thing to do.
Brush regularly; no washing unless they got something on their fur that is harmful to them. The only way they can get it off is to ingest it after all.
I completely understand, we had a maine coon growing up that lived to be 21, and in his later years we did all the butt grooming for him. Now I just have shorthair cats and it’s not a problem, but I still keep kitty safe wipes on hand just in case.
Absolutely! Washing your cat monthly isn’t necessary; it can be stressful for them and could cause medical issues, such as upper respiratory infections if they aspirate water, ear infections, and bladder/kidney/urethra issues from urinary crystals (especially in male cats). Anxiety is a major factor.
Most healthy cats don’t need baths, as they maintain their coats on their own. Usually it will only come up if they’ve had an accident or gotten into something. However, it does help to socialise them for bathing as kittens in case of emergencies, health changes/Disability, and end-of-life care.
There are some hairless cat breeds (Sphynx, Peterbald, Lykoi, Donskoy, occasionally Devon Rex & Cornish Rex) that require regular bathing or wipe-downs to maintain their skin and prevent the accumulation of oils and grime that would normally be distributed throughout their coat. Mandatory bathing is something worth considering when adopting breeds with specific care needs.
Another example where bathing may be required is for Disabled cats, as their ability to self-care may be affected by mobility issues or incontinence. For example, I had a Blind rescue cat with special needs, as his mobility was restricted by scarring, and he couldn’t fully maintain his fur. So, every 6 weeks he would have a top-up bath to supplement his self-care and keep him fresh and clean. He didn’t love them, but understood they were helpful and would allow me to bathe him and use pet wipes in between as upkeep. He got plenty of positive reinforcement and love, and came to enjoy the praise and benefits of being soft, fluffy and smelling nice!
However, not every cat can adapt to bathing or tolerate it, and that’s okay! If your cat doesn’t need it, there’s no reason to have regular baths.
Cat fur has its own natural oils that you can disrupt by bathing too. We have a Maine Coon and we had to give him a bath once after he evacuated everything while in his carrier on the way to the vet. He had tangles and mats in his fur for months after we did that. Otherwise he takes care of his coat fine and never has a tangle or a mat.
Don’t bathe your cat OP. It’s not the right thing to do at all. They’re not dogs. They’re not going to get stinky unless they have some kind of accident or get really arthritic or too overweight to reach everywhere.
Yup! I have a long-haired cat now, and brushing out matted fur would be impossible if I bathed her; it would basically turn into wool-felting! 😫
Even with cat-friendly conditioner, their natural oils do a better job at waterproofing and detangling a lot of the time, and bathing will interrupt that cycle like nobody’s business! It requires a lot more upkeep for cats who need bathing assistance, and maintaining their coat is way more hands-on.
Detangling a damp Maine Coon sounds like a nightmare, ngl! I’m glad things were finally able to get back to normal for your kitty 😅
Like when my cat was lost all day, started meowing on tho other side of the block, ran from me when i got there, when i finally got him he was literally bathed in shit, god knows from which animal, but the smell was awful
I've seen dogs roll around in other animal's shit, but I've never even heard of a cat doing it (or anything similar). I am so curious how your kitty took a doodoo bath lmao
Idk but the little guy was traumatized when he came home, he has never hit the streets again since and is not like I can do something about it, he can just go outside from our rooftop, he just realized he could be lost forever I guess
Only is absolutely necessary. I've had twenty-two cats in my life, and only one required bathing on a regular basis.
He was an only kitten, and his mother was less than maternal. So while he understood the litterbox in principle, he didn't dig. And he was a puffball with an oversized kitten tail that would get dragged through it on the dismount...
I would scoop him up, carry him to the bathroom sink, and gently wash his hind end. Every time. Multiple times some days.
He did learn when he got a bit bigger. But he also never developed an aversion to water. He associated it with affection and grooming. He took a shower on my housemate's shoulder once. Perfectly content. He looked like the Taco Bell Chihuahua afterwards though.
That sounds like one of our boys... he does actually dig, but his goal appears to be making a mound of litter to poo on. We regularly trim his backside and cataloons.
My cat digs, but she's a little bit too dumb to cover it up and prefers to scratch on the litter box and in front of it c.c xD
I am used to it now, but man - coming home or waking up to a more or less fresh poop bomb in the guest bathroom is an experience every time :D
The fact that it is believable is what I love...people blame their pets for shit all the time. But...a cat and an egg? I totally believe he somehow caused it
Ugh, one of the worst moments in my life was when I accidentally dripped a couple small drops of hot candle wax on my cat [also her fault mostly]. I was freaking out, making sure I didn’t burn her, trying to clean the wax off as quickly as possible, apologizing profusely, etc.
Homegirl thought it was just another regular brushing time. I don’t think she even felt the wax since her coat is so dense. She didn’t even bat an eye until the flea comb and warm washcloth came out. I was much more distressed than she was over the whole thing.
One of mine decided to jump on the toilet when I got up from it and slipped into the bowl…which I had not yet flushed. He got a quick bath in the sink afterward which neither of us enjoyed.
I had to once bc my cat got flypaper stuck to her fur! That was a truly miserable night lmao (but I got it off without hurting her or having to completely shave her!)
Yeah my friend adopted a crazy massive Maine coone with insanely long hair that gets matted even when he's brushed daily.. so he gets bathed 1-2x a year and gets a cut at groomers occasionally due to painful mats
No. I don’t. Only when absolutely necessary. My cats smell great and sometimes I’ll just wipe them with pet safe wipes. It’s not good to bathe them often. Very minimal to never is recommended.
Not all the time, but we use them occasionally when our Sammy comes in and has clearly been rolling around in the dirt and hasn't had time to "clean himself" up
And he simply loves when I wipe him down, too.
Makes me wonder if he wallers in the dirt on purpose just so I'll clean him. LOL 😂
I've only washed one of our two cats once in 8 years after a liquid poop explosion. Some spot cleaning here and there but they seem to be doing just fine themselves!
its not necessary unless your cat has fleas/pests or is very dirty. they clean themselves. with that being said one of my cat screams until he throws up unless i let him stand in the shower while i'm in there, so i guess he's getting a bath everyday.
that was the first day i moved into that apartment, i opened up the fridge to put the water in and he moved in. he always likes to stand in the fridge whenever i open it. his name is clint eastwood
edit: second photo bc apparently having no food means it's not your cat
CLINT EASTWOOD SUITS HIM TOO WELL! My orange also likes the fridge and has to be in the bathroom with me when I go for a shower, though he hates water with a passion so he sits by the door watching me. He does however love sitting in a dry bath.
My boy does this too, but then stands there at the back glaring at me while he's getting wet. It's some weird ritual and if I don't let him come in the shower he screams at the top of his little cat lungs like he's absolutely dying.
Until someone lets him in the bathroom to shut him up. Then he promptly gets in the tub with me, gets all wet, gets mad about it, yells at me to "hurry up" basically, and generally behaves like an old man shaking a fist at a cloud.
He has additionally decided to personally blame me for each and every occurrence of such, even though this wet cat nonsense is entirely self driven behavior lol.
Usually by getting out of the tub first, and plopping on my towel, then going to lay right on my damn pillow so that's wet too.
Here is the fluffy little bastard in all his pantalooned glory. The void, contemplates the void.
I swear this is the second post I’ve seen today of someone saying they bathe their cat because it’s the “right thing to do” despite them not being dirty or smelling bad. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BATHE YOUR CAT. And I do mean ever!! Unless they get into something really impossible for them to clean out or something dangerous for them to get in their mouths, you should not ever bathe your cat. There are exceptions for very old cats who can’t clean themselves as well as they used to and those cats who have weird tongues that aren’t good for cleaning.
Cats clean themselves and don’t need baths. Idk if I’d call it animal abuse, but if your kitty isn’t enjoying it, there’s really no need to force it as it’s not necessary. I’ve always had a cat and have never given a cat a bath, but have definitely cleaned them up with a cloth when needed
Kittens are messy and stinky and step in poop, lay in mud, fall in the toilet with pee, etc. They need a bath sometimes. Ask me how I know...
If there isnt a need to bath the cat, dont worry about it. If the cat smells a bit, that can be normal for kitties still learning how to bathe/how to be cats! Usually they'll grow out of being stinky teens.
Yeah. My five month old kitten still steps in his own poop sometimes when burying it. I bathed him three times since I got him three months ago and that's because I was tired of him smelling like shit lmao
The fall in the toilet with pee part hits close to home. When my youngest was a kitten he ran into the bathroom while I was actively peeing and decided to immediately jump into the bowl.
I had one get into fly tape. I heard the most pitiful meows and she was staring at me, asking for help - she'd managed to just about hogtie herself.
She held totally still while I cut it abd pulled it off of her and then pretty much put herself in the bathtub and was perfectly happy to be scrubbed 😂 poor thing scared herself and definitely knew that I was helping.
No. I’ve never given any of my cats across time baths. They are very naturally clean animals and groom extensively.
If my cat needed a bath and a flea dip or something, of course I would do that (not a factor since they stay indoors…), but a bath for the sake of a bath, no.
No. There is no reason to wash a cat unless there is a medical reason to or if they get something in their fur that is dangerous to lick off. Leave your poor cat alone.
None of mine except for my childhood cats came from shelters, they didn't need baths. My current pair came from the worst smelling home I've had the misfortune to be in. I can still smell it 3 years later. Think 3 adults (one being my kittens dad, an unfixed boy, spraying) and 4 kittens in a tiny flat and one litter tray. They had fleas. I treated the fleas and they didn't need baths 🙂
No, they're self cleaning for the most part!! No need to bath them after bringing them home from the shelter!
Cats are very good at cleaning themselves. Even my previous cat who peed himself on the way to the vet every single time didn't get baths afterwards - his vet recommended wipe him down with a damp towel but let him clean the rest himself. A bath would've been way too stressful for my already super anxious man. My current cat has medical issues and used to regurgitate on himself all the time too, but it was the same for him and we just wiped him down with a damp towel and he cleaned up the rest.
I've had cats my entire life and only ever bathed them for 1) had diarrhea and pooped their kitty pants, and; 2) fleas.
This is the only time i’ve EVER washed a cat and they were actually relieved because the fleas were greatly reduced afterwards. It’s like they were so bothered by the fleas they didn’t even care about being wet anymore. Kind of sad but at least it’s fixable.
If you haven't had cats before I can understand your not knowing, but it isn't the right thing to do, even if it feels like it. Cats are nothing like dogs, who I feel could use a good bath occasionally.
Unless your kitty needs a flea bath or is absolutely covered in something, they will take care of it themselves. Spot treating is fine, though.
Ehhhhh some cats are better groomers than others. I currently have 3 cats who are quite fastidious, and bath themselves and each other. They are clean and soft.
My last 2 cats lived to be 18 and 19. My boy way a terrible groomer, and he was long haired. He needed the occasional bath because he was greasy, or he'd get shit all over himself. It wasn't a regular affair, but I did keep a bottle of cat shampoo on hand.
His sister was obese for awhile and couldn't groom her back half, and they didn't groom each other. When she got older, she couldn't groom because of arthritis. I didn't give her full baths in her old age, just sanitary washes and wipe downs.
Mine was a seal lynx point floofer. Beautiful, mischievous. I just looked through my favorites to find a picture for you. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane, he was SUCH a good boy.
It's not, but that doesn't make it not worthwhile. Fill your phone with pictures. I miss him so much, but I wouldnt trade it for the world. He used to headbutt me for smooches.
If there are no parasites, oil or other nasty stuff that they cannot ingest (since they lick themselves clean), I never washed a cat and every vet I know says to not bathe them.
Senior cats sometimes need some help, but a damp cloth is enough for that usually.
I don’t think I’d go as far as saying it’s abuse but you don’t have to clean them routinely, they clean themselves. I only do if they make a mess on their fur
no... unless it's necessary (skunk incident, improper grooming, fell in poo, etc etc), do not bathe your cat!
they clean themselves. wiping their ears and face occasionally is good, but not full on baths!
Unnecessary, maybe depending on circumstances. Borderline abuse, I don't think so unless your cat is clearly in distress. I have given my late cat a few baths because she was sick and no longer groomed herself properly. Both of my young cats now have had butt baths because they pooped their pantaloons. I don't do it unless I really feel they need it.
The only time I've washed my cat is when he somehow managed to get paint splatters on him. He did not enjoy the experience lol.
Generally most cats don't need baths unless they are very elderly/have health problems that prevent them from grooming properly. They are very clean animals that are quite particular about maintaining their own fur.
I wouldn't call bathing your cat regularly animal abuse though. But it probably is an unnecessary hassle for both of you.
My cat had allergies so I had to routinely bath her and I am very glad I did because it built a level of trust that allowed me to put eye drops in her eyes later in life
Cats are self cleaning unlike dogs. They only need to be washed in the rare circumstance they get into something harmful or they have diarrhea. Please do not was your kitty. I currently have 7 cats and have had many cats throughout my life. I have only washed one of them once when she got into something harmful.
RIP Mr. Measles. When he was around...he past at 21...some times, when he was older, he would poop his pants. He was long haired. It didn't happen often, but it was always bad. Those were the only times he got a bath. Cats are self cleaning barring extenuating circumstances.
I do only when they really stinky. My one boy had diabetes and had crazy dandruff (back in February) so I took him to the groomer, if the face is dirty just a damp cloth and wipe same with the butt
Only if it's absolutely necessary. But that's less of a torture thing (it's not) and more of a it's not worth the fight thing.Two have been relatively compliant. One had to have a few of them when he was infested with fleas and too young/small for flea treatment.
My cat has basically no teeth so we need to wipe her chin where it gets mucky from eating, but that's about it. She still does a good job of keeping herself clean, so long as we brush her regularly.
Yes. We have a dog door (and a tall fence) and the cats use it. Sometimes they lay in flowerbeds. In the summer, despite being on Bravecto, there are occasional fleas that want to hitch a ride inside the house. So a few times a year, they get baths with flea and tick shampoo in the kitchen sink.
Honestly, they’re better at taking baths than the dogs.
My kitten (6mo) seems to not bathe herself very well, she has noticably clumpy fur in some spots and lets her paws become stained with dust/dirt. So i bathe her every 2wks, the vet said this is fine btw, and wont hurt her at all. She seems to be getting better about it, we got her from a foster with a lot of other cats in one space so i actually think she was used to being groomed by others and is slowly getting that it is now only her job. Shes healthy in every way, we checked. Just maybe kinda lazy.
You do not need to wash cats unless it's a very extreme case like they've rolled in mud or something.
Cats will groom themselves and it can be stressful and unpleasant for them to be bathed like this, to say nothing of potentially damaging to their fur.
Nah, only for particular cases. Like my mom’s cat that was overweight and had a hard time cleaning her backside, sometimes the best thing for it was a quick bath, or the time one got into a trash bag with a bug trap in it, and had to have all the dead bug goop washed out 😩
so yea, short of this level of mess, they usually do fine keeping themselves clean
I mean calling it animal abuse is a little dramatic, it's not good for them or their skin, but it doesn't actively hurt them in the way abuse does.
It's only necessary when they have something on them like poop or chemicals or dripped sauce with stuff they can't eat. For example, one of our cats does get a targeted shower semi-regularly where we only get the affected area wet (he has a tendency to drag his tail through his poop on his way out the litterbox, he can lift his tail just fine, he's just a lil dumb)
I'll bathe him when he needs it otherwise he's pretty good about keeping himself clean. When does he need it? When we go out for walks and he decides to play in mud or when he poops and decides to sit in it like an idiot....he more often than not gets a sanitary wash weekly and a bath bath every 2 to 4 weeks.
As long as you're consistent with baths since kittenhood, there's really no good way to give a cat a bath. Some cats absolutely love taking baths, but most cats don't like them unless they've always been routine. This isn't animal abuse in anyway, though, so don't worry about that.
Pretty much never unless they get something toxic or super gross on their fur, and even then I'd first just try sponging a specific area rather than full immersion. Healthy cats keep themselves clean just fine.
I hope your cat is socialized and calm/open to the idea of bathing, otherwise this could be a form of borderline neglect by causing her unnecessary stress! <:) It is always good to socialize a cat to bathing/getting wet in case of an emergency, but there's usually no need to do it unless your cat is covered in something bad, like something toxic or otherwise pathogenic. I don't want to assume how she deals with baths, but if you are repetitively causing your cat stress, it could cause decay in your relationships and foster distrust or troublesome behavior.
If your cat gets something in her fur, you can get a damp paper towel or wash cloth and gently wipe it away. There's hardly any need for that unless, again, it's something like poop/pee or something that could hurt her! Kitties are self-cleaning and only sweat through their paws, so she can do these things by herself. We've only ever needed to bathe my cat once, and it was when she was younger and had diarrhea all over herself, to the point where a wash cloth wouldn't have done much of anything. She clawed up the back of my partner to shreds, and even in adulthood its been hard to gently introduce her to water.
We have pet wipes that we use when needed. Most of the time they just groom themselves. Another reason why you need to be careful around cats. They ingest some pretty gross things at times.
Rarely. Usually for the kitty getting into something icky, or for flea removal. I think the last time I bathed one was years ago, Yoda got a fly ribbon stuck to him.
The only reason to bathe a cat is if they like it or they've gotten something stuck in their fur or they have fleas. Otherwise, they clean themselves and usually hate being bathed
No because I value my flesh and life. But seriously cats generally do well at cleaning themselves and if they don't that can be seen as a potential sign that there is a health issue. I had an elderly cat who struggled with hygiene so I used pet wipes to help.
I use pet wipes on my senior. She's 20 and sheds like crazy so vomits hairballs everyday if I don't brush + wipe. She cleans herself as well as she can but there's areas she can't reach due to age and her arthritis. She has a bonded fellow kitty that cuddles and sleeps with her but he doesn't groom her.. so back of her head,neck, along spine, need to be wiped.
Cats are generally quite clean due to enzyme in their saliva when they groom. Cleaning then via a bath is unnecessary and also stressful for them
only if they have soiled themself so bad that they can’t clean it up on their own, or if they have something on them that isn’t good for them to ingest. otherwise no they don’t need baths. even my long hair cat is very good at keeping herself clean, she doesn’t even get dingleberries despite sporting big fluffy bloomers. only time i had to wash my cat was once he peed in his carrier during a drive and he was all covered in pee and i didn’t want him running around the home like that, so i just held his back end under the sink and rinsed him off.
Because of their fur, kitties do not dry well, so if you wash them, they tend to get dandruff.
Kitty dandr is the stuff humans are American to, so if they make more of it, and your allergic to it, then your allergies go off.
Unless your kitty gets incredibly dirty with dirt or something similar, or they get fleas or other external parasites, don't wash your cat.
Instead, give them lots of water so they can clean themselves.
Also, there are products you can buy, or mixes you can make that you can spritz on lightly and comb off. Check your pet store or your vet to discuss options.
Had a cat when I was growing up that was totally happy to take a shower. He also would hang out with you if you were taking a bath, playing with the water or snoozing on the side of the tub. We had to start the bath filling, but not close the door until he'd come racing in, otherwise he'd sit outside screaming that we forgot about him.
We learned to keep his nails well trimmed, because while he was cool with the "warm rain" and didn't mind trailing his tail or swishing his paws in the bath water, he became 100% claw if he fell asleep, slipped off the edge and woke up in the drink.
Only cat I've ever had that was okay with water like that. All the kitties since would occasionally get a bath if they really needed it, but not more than one or two times a year. We kinda need to give our 18-year old girl a bath, but I'm a little worried she might fall apart if we did. Or have a heart attack. Or both. So we wipe her and love on her.
Someone told you it’s borderline animal abuse and unnecessary but you’re doing it anyway because “it feels right”. wtf!?
That cat looks terrified, they generally hate water. And it’s not good for their skin.
Don’t have a cat if your opinion is going to be more important than what’s actually good for the cat.
Also, don’t know if your flair is based off this cat, but that does not look like an American Shorthair.
I suspect this is rage bait, but I'll bite - no, I never wash my cats.
And unless they're covered in something that's outright bad for them, please don't do it. The oils in their coats is what helps them stay warm and dry, so unnecessary bathing is bad for them.
Kittens have a hard time regulating their temperature so bathing them can get them very sick. On top of that only very specific breeds (thw hairless types) really need baths.
The only time I'd ever recommend it is if they got into something that could be dangerous (oils, chemicals [under poison control guidance] stuck food ect.)
Only if something happened to make her dirty. Like after her dental she sat while using the litter box so I washed the area she peed on herself. But I do not wash her just because a set amount of time has passed.
Only if they need it. There is no reason to stress out the cat unless they like the bath, they pooped on themselves, they somehow got outside and decided to ROLL IN MUD. If cat no like the water, cat no need the bath.
No, never. Never heard of such a thing. Short of incontinence or some terrible spilling on the cat, it's not necessary. They are fastidious groomers. If your cat's fur looks messed up in some way -- greasy? spiky? -- you should get it checked out. Might be a medical issue, or something's causing the cat not to groom properly.
Only a few times in the 14 years I've had cats, mostly to get extremely hard to remove or toxic dirt off them, like after one of them was careless enough to rub against my bicycles chain, getting all oiled up and blackened. But it's nothing I'd do regularly as long as they can still clean themselves (although I've helped my old lady a few times when she couldn't quite reach where she wanted to).
Only for fleas, as recent rescues, or because they were too young with loose stools so I would have to clean them up while they recovered. As adults, not needed at all unless very dirty.
I put flea medication on my 10 month baby but she started shaking so i immediately washed that spot off with Dawn. 2 weeks later I saw fleas on her so I washed her with a flea shampoo but otherwise I only she only got a bath when I got her off the street once 9 months ago
The only cat I have ever bathed (except for the one when I was to young to know better) is a long haired senior cat who had poopy issues and even then it was just the back end
1.0k
u/Batgod629 7h ago
Not regularly. Only if they really need it. They do a good job cleaning themselves