Mary Allen
The question of whether cats can be bathed mainly relates to emergencies – cats are not normally bathed. On the one hand, they do not like water, on the other hand, they always take care of their fur themselves with the greatest care.
The cat’s metabolism is designed to clean itself. Frequent baths would not only make it uncomfortable but would upset the natural balance of skin and hair. However, there are emergencies when cleaning a cat with water is unavoidable. But how do you actually recognize such an emergency?
Dirty Fur: Can Cats Be Bathe?
If your cat’s coat is so dirty that it can’t get clean when grooming, the first thing you should do is try to get it to help with something less stressful than bathing. When in doubt, a comb, brush, scissors, damp cloths, and a lot of patience are better than a full bath in water.
The situation is different if your darling has soiled its fur with an unhealthy or toxic substance. Then you shouldn’t hesitate for long and do everything you can to get the cat out of its unspeakable situation quickly, even with a bath if you have to, because this is an emergency after all.
When Cats Don’t Groom Themselves or Have Parasites
Other exceptional cases are four-legged friends who for some reason do not care for their fur themselves, for example, because they were separated from their mother too early and never learned how to do it. In this case, consult a veterinarian. Maybe he can develop an alternative to bathing with you using homeopathic remedies or a few care tips, or even better: find and solve the cause of the problem.
If the cat has fleas or other parasites, there are alternatives to bathing, for example, a spot-on preparation, depending on the cat’s age and state of health. Your veterinarian will tell you which variant is best for your pet.