Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: feebee on April 18, 2008, 12:49:20 PM

Title: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: feebee on April 18, 2008, 12:49:20 PM
Anyone any advice on this?

So far I have only ever bathed my cats if they have e.g. found a mound of something smelly while they were out and rolled in it "cos it was there and meowmy makes such a funny face when we come in covered in something smelly"   :sick:

A friend who keeps cats though says she bathes hers every few months, I thought it was only necessary if they were dense furred cats like Persians. I am confused now, should I bath them once a month and take out a year's supply of plasters and TCP?  :scared:

Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: Dawn F on April 18, 2008, 12:55:08 PM
never bathe mine, they're self cleaning!
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: Christie on April 18, 2008, 13:03:06 PM
I had to bathe Lucia when she first came to live with me, she had a lice infestation  :sick: and I had to use special shampoo. It was terrible! As you can imagine, I had no skin left on my arms, she clawed it all off.

I do periodically wipe the cats down with a clean, damp washcloth, as my husband smokes and I don't want them ingesting any of the residue that might get on their fur. I do think it's important to do that when you have a smoker in the house. (At least he only smokes out in the conservatory)
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: feebee on April 18, 2008, 13:08:47 PM
Thanks,

No one in my house smokes and to be honest cats I've had before I have never ever bathed but friend takes in ex ferals and if she can manage to bathe an ex-feral !!!

Well it's just worried me that I may have been neglecting to do something I should have.  :bath:

Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: MrsR on April 18, 2008, 13:22:38 PM
Have only ever bathed mine if they'd got something stuck on them.
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: clarenmax on April 18, 2008, 14:11:45 PM
I've always assumed cats are very clean anyway, they spend a lot time grooming, so bathing is probably only necessary to stop them ingesting something on their fur, or as you say, they've been in something they shouldn't have  :)
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: bluecat on April 18, 2008, 17:55:40 PM
YOU CAN GET PET WIPES  AND  SPRAY  TOPUT ON YOUR HANDS  AN RUB IN  WORTH A LOOK
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on April 18, 2008, 20:13:34 PM
Bluecat please do not use capitals on Purrs cos its considered to be shouting and rude and as you know we are always polite and friendly  :hug:

I would never ever think of bathing one of mine and its really not needed, unless some disaster has befallen them  ;D
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: berties mum on April 18, 2008, 20:15:24 PM
I bathe Bella because she doesn't wash herself ... she had a bit of a sad kittenhood and wasn't taught to clean, although oddly she will clean Bertie.  She's a smelly little thing so I give her a wash every couple of days unless Bert has got there first, and she loves it  :Crazy:  I've never washed the other two though and they don't smell, and all my fingers are intact  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: blackcat on April 18, 2008, 20:19:20 PM
only bathe mine if they have something toxic on them that they would otherwise ingest if they cleaned themselves.... it is usually a mutually painful experience  :rofl:
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: Bazsmum on April 18, 2008, 20:57:22 PM
OH puts our Gizzy in the bath as he has masses of fur...mainly white and his fave pastime is rolling over in the dirt!  :shify:
Title: Re: To bath or not to bath?
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 19, 2008, 09:23:13 AM
I only bath if necessary, but do use a warm flannel or babywipes on the cats that will accept it.