Can I wash my cat with ordinary shampoo?

For humans, hygiene is absolutely familiar and mandatory, but is it necessary for our pets, especially cats? After all, they are the most clean among all animals. Their tongue has special bristles, with the help of which cats independently take care of their hair. In addition, they have a greasy layer on their skin. It protects the body from external influences and the penetration of harmful microorganisms. Therefore, bathing a cat is actually not necessary. If the animal goes for a walk - you can wipe his paws. But it happens that after a walk the cat comes in very dirty. In this case, it will have to be redeemed. True, such procedures are best done only as a last resort, since they cause severe stress in a cat. If she is pregnant, then you can not bathe her at all.

Why is a “human” shampoo not suitable?

If suddenly there was an urgent need to bathe a pet, is it necessary to buy a special shampoo for this, or is it the one we use ourselves? A shampoo intended for humans is not suitable for a cat. There is more than one reason for this.

1. Cats have a different skin structure.
2. They have a higher pH level than humans.
3. In extreme cases, you can use gentle shampoos. They will not damage the protective layer. If it is damaged, then it can harm the animal. Before the layer recovers, the cat's body will be vulnerable. An infection can easily enter it.
4. After the procedure, it is very important that the pet is warm. This is especially true for kittens.

How and how to bathe a cat?

If there is an urgent need, and there is no special shampoo designed for cats on hand, it is best to wash the animal with plain water. Do not use shampoo for dogs and other animals.

You need to bathe the kitten as little as possible. This should not be done unless absolutely necessary. The optimal frequency is twice a year.

The exception is therapeutic bathing. In this case, the frequency of the procedures is determined by the veterinarian. He may prescribe them for dermatitis or other similar problems. Exhibition animals are bathed before heading to the exhibition. In this case, it is necessary to accustom the animal to water from childhood. The kitten will get used to swimming, and will not experience so much stress from the procedure.

Rules and sequence

When bathing, you need to remember a few rules:

1. If the animal was vaccinated, it can not be bathed for several days. If you have a British breed cat, then there are special rules for bathing it.
2. If the animal was treated for fleas, then you can not bathe it for 3 days before treatment and 3 days after it.
3. If you just brought a kitten into the house, wait a few weeks before bathing it.

When bathing a kitten, a certain sequence of actions should be followed.

1. If the animal has long hair, then it must be combed thoroughly before the procedure. If there are tangles that you do not comb out before bathing, then when wet, it will not be possible to unravel them. Only clipping will help.
2. Do not start swimming immediately after the pet has eaten. It is advisable that after this several hours pass.
3. Draw water into the bath. If you want to bathe a little kitten, then this can be done in the pelvis. Make sure that the water temperature is higher than the body temperature of the cat.
4. Your pet will feel much more comfortable while swimming if you put a towel in the bathtub or basin. Paws will glide less.
5. Do not delay the procedure for longer than a quarter of an hour.
6. If the animal behaves uneasily while swimming, it can be distracted by various toys.
7. When soaping an animal, it is important to ensure that shampoo does not get into his nose, eyes or ears. This will cause even more annoyance.
8. It is necessary to ensure that water does not flow into the ears. This can lead to otitis media. To avoid this, you can plug the ears of the kitten with pieces of cotton wool or make him a small cap of polyethylene. If the pet becomes even more nervous from this, it is better to just make sure that the water does not get into the auricles.
9. Shampoo from a kitten needs to be washed off very carefully. After that, the animal is wrapped in a towel.
10. If the cat’s coat is long, it needs to be combed during drying. If the kitten is very cold, and he does not stop trembling, you can use a hairdryer. But only in cool air mode.
11. In order for the animal to recover a little, it can be treated with a favorite treat.

If the pet suffers during the procedures and is still unable to get used to bathing, try to prefer dry shampoo.

Video: how to bathe a cat - veterinarian's advice