At what age can kittens be bathed?

Bathing a cat is an integral part of the complex of hygiene procedures necessary for any animal. This action occupies an important place in the process of caring for your pet. Some kittens quite easily and painlessly accept such an event, while others are clearly not happy with it and show very stormy emotions. Any pet owner is ready to do everything so that the kitten’s fear of bathing is minimal.

It has long been noted that the first encounter with water leaves an imprint on all further relation to it. If the water procedure is easy for the kitten, then in the future he will not be afraid of water. Therefore, the first bathing should be carried out with utmost care and all efforts should be made to eliminate errors.

The owner of the pet must clearly understand that without bathing the cat just can not do. The procedure is simply necessary for the animal, despite the fact that he wears a flea collar. Of course, there are breeds of cats (Manks, Canadian Sphynx) that are not bathed at all, since this procedure can cause significant stress on them. But this, for the most part, is the exception rather than the rule.

Start time for water procedures

If there is an urgent need to bathe a monthly kitten, then the process must be approached with extreme caution. It is extremely important to control the temperature of the water in order to prevent hypothermia. You should not rush to send a kitten into the water if he has recently been vaccinated. After it should withstand at least two weeks.

Bathing frequency

A big mistake is the one who bathes the kitten weekly. In no case should this be done. It is always necessary to remember that bathing for a cat is stressful. But there is one more unpleasant moment. If washing is carried out often, then grease disappears from the wool, which performs a protective function for the coat. Of course, the appearance of the pet will suffer from this.

The frequency of water procedures is determined by the time of year. Depending on the season, the swimming pattern can be represented as follows:

• Winter is a one-time swimming for the entire season.
• Also, wash the cat once in the fall.
• In the summer and spring, the kitten is washed twice a season.

The cat has a natural cleanliness, and more frequent bathing is simply not necessary.

Means for washing kittens

Of course, the shampoo that people use is not suitable for cats at all. This is due to different pH values ​​in animals and humans. An ordinary shampoo cannot be used because it will ruin the hair of an animal. If a kitten accidentally got a little dirty, you can just wipe it with a damp cloth.

Types of Shampoos

Means for washing animals can be used in various states of aggregation:

1. Liquid shampoos. They apply to both kittens and adult cats. If you use a suitable shampoo, then the pet will have a soft and silky coat. Use the product in small quantities. Otherwise, abundant foam then qualitatively wash off will be very problematic.
2. Dry shampoos. They resort to their use if the animal has a pronounced panic fear of the type of water. After application to the body, combing is performed. Contaminants will be removed in parallel with excess wool. Compared to liquid products, shampoos in this form are indicated for more frequent use. This is due to the fact that they are not able to clearly upset the acid-base balance. Its use can begin when the kitten is 3 months old. Application is carried out only on a dry surface of the body.
3. Detergent in the form of a spray. In this form, it is allowed to apply shampoos to a wet body. Use begins at the age of 6 months, since such products have a pronounced smell.

For kittens and adult cats use different shampoos. If you wash the kitten with shampoo intended for an adult cat, dermatitis can develop.

First bath: instruction

First of all, it is necessary to create optimal conditions in the room where bathing will take place. The room should be warm and dry. The kitten must be absolutely healthy. If the animal is sick, it is not worth bathing. For those who bathe a kitten for the first time, you can give a few recommendations:

1. Bathing is carried out in the pelvis. A soft towel and special shampoo for kittens should be prepared. You can immediately open the detergent.
2. Naturally, it is necessary to wear an apron and clothes, which is not a pity. You need to be prepared for the fact that the kitten will begin to scratch and can just damage your things.
3. Water is poured into the basin at room temperature. It is enough if the water layer is a couple of centimeters from the bottom.
4. Two cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly are laid in the ears of the kitten. This will prevent water from entering them. In addition, the animal will not hear noise and splashing, which for him are additional irritants.
5. The left hand holds the kitten at the withers and the pet is seated in a basin. It does not matter what position the kitten takes in the basin, if only he thoroughly entrenched in it.
6. Then it is rinsed with water from the shower, a predetermined temperature. The pressure of the water should be small.
7. No need to water your head with water. You can just hold it with a damp towel.
8. Then a few drops of shampoo are applied to the coat. With one hand you should hold the kitten, and with the other evenly distribute the shampoo on the surface of the body.
9. For some time (see instructions), the shampoo should be on the body. After that, it is thoroughly washed off.
10. Taking the kitten out of the water, it is wrapped in a towel. In this case, the head is not wrapped.
11. After 5 minutes, the kitten is freed from the towel.

If the first bathing is done competently, then the kitten will not have a strong fear of water in the future. This will cause his psyche to experience less stress, and your pet will always be clean. In addition, a properly selected shampoo will ensure the smoothness and silkiness of the pet's hair.

In the event that the pet is shy enough, but clean, you can not bathe it, but simply wipe the paws with a wet towel. At the age of two months, bathing can be done simply with warm water, without using shampoo. Starting from three months, you can use a special shampoo for kittens.

If all the conditions are met, the kitten will have only pleasant associations from the first bathing, and in the future it will cease to be very afraid of water.

Video: how to bathe a kitten for the first time