Cat breed
: yard.
Asks : Basilisk the Beautiful. The essence of the question : how to bathe a cat if there is no shampoo?
Our cat ran outside in the morning, for the first time in 5 years. The cat is neutered, we were surprised ourselves. Came in the evening of the same day. We wanted to give him a bath yesterday, we don’t know where he was climbing. And we don't even have cat shampoo. And there are no veterinarians nearby either.
Is it possible to bathe a cat with regular shampoo or soap?
Among many cat lovers, there is an opinion that pets should not be bathed, but sometimes there is an urgent need to wash the cat. And these are not only cases when the animal has caught fleas or is very dirty, but also, for example, preparation for an exhibition.
Drying the fur
All cat owners should remember that these animals are very susceptible to colds. Even if you know how to wash a cat without injuring yourself or your pet, this is only half the battle. You need to know how to dry your pet's fur after washing. Wrap it in a thick terry towel to absorb moisture. When the fabric is wet, take a dry one. Then place the cat on the floor, on a rug, and begin to dry the fur with a hair dryer. The air stream should be warm, the speed of the hair dryer should be minimal. When drying, comb the fur with a sparse brush so as not to cause pain to the animal. But we can assure you that after using all of the above products, combing will be easy and painless.
We tried to tell you how to wash a cat and dry its fur, causing as little trauma to the animal’s psyche as possible. Give him a little more time after bathing, hold him in your arms, caress him, give him the opportunity to finally calm down.
Cat care
The importance of choosing the right detergent for your furry pet
If the shampoo is chosen incorrectly, it will negatively affect the condition of the cat's coat.
The hair will become brittle, dull, begin to get tangled, and form clumps. The skin condition may worsen. When using inappropriate products, the dermis becomes dry and there is a risk of dandruff.
It is important to take a responsible approach to choosing shampoo.
Your pet needs to be given proper care to avoid problems with its fur and skin . Responsibility for the health of the animal lies with the person.
How to wash a cat: advice from veterinarians
Veterinarians generally do not recommend washing animals frequently.
- The procedures are recommended for adult cats during spring molting so that less fluff accumulates in the stomach and does not cause constipation.
- Cats can only be washed with regular shampoo when nothing else is available. But you need to choose dermatological compositions based on soap root, without lauryl sulfates, dyes, fragrances, and with a small amount of PVA.
- Tar product is used as a flea prevention for kittens from 8-10 weeks of age. After the procedure, the animal cannot be fed for four hours; water must be given. Treatment is carried out no more than once a month. Apply the soapy liquid for 3-5 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
- Do not wash cats with hot water; the functioning of the sebaceous glands is disrupted. It is important to avoid foam getting into your ears, eyes, and mouth.
- Hypoallergenic baby washes can be used for cats if special shampoos are not available. They are not so concentrated. They must be diluted with water. Children's liquid cream soap is safer and better in composition.
- It is important that there are no wounds or scratches on the kitten’s skin. If possible, it is better not to wash a dirty pet; just wipe it with a soft, damp cloth to remove heavy dirt. After such a procedure, he will not get sick, he will get better on his own within a couple of days.
By properly caring for their pet, owners save themselves from unnecessary hassle and trips to the veterinarian. A fluffy meowing pet is not a toy, but a living creature that does not need to be constantly washed with shampoos, they are harmful to it. It is important to protect kittens from water procedures after vaccinations; they are especially vulnerable.
How to bathe a cat who is afraid of water?
What to do if the cat doesn’t really like to swim? Indeed, almost all pets do not like to bathe. Accordingly, the entire procedure of bathing a cat can become a real test for the whole family. This is due to the fact that the cat can meow, struggle, scratch, and try in every way to prevent bathing. How to calm the animal and wash it properly?
Many pet owners insist on purchasing dry shampoo. It comes with a mixture that is very similar to powder or talc. It is necessary to sprinkle this product onto the cat's fur and rub thoroughly. After this, take a brush and carefully comb out the fur. After this, the cat does not need to be washed or rinsed off with water. This shampoo contains an adsorbent that perfectly absorbs dirt, grease, and unpleasant odors. Accordingly, after this kind of procedure, the cat will feel like after a bath. Of course, it is best to wash your cat as usual using a special shampoo.
Afraid of water
Instructions for the procedure:
- Do not spray your cat with water from a hose or shower. A strong jet can frighten a pet and it will begin to panic.
- Fill the bathtub with water equal to half the cat's height. That is, the water should reach approximately to the beginning of the chest. Please note that the water temperature should be slightly warmer than when people swim.
- Since a cat's body temperature is slightly higher than that of a human. Next, you need to wet the cat's fur. To do this, it is not necessary to pour large quantities of water onto the animal. It is enough to wet your palm, thus moisturizing the fur.
- Please note that a slippery bath may frighten your pet. We recommend placing a silicone or rubber mat on the bottom of the bathtub. This will prevent slipping. Next, you need to apply a special shampoo, thoroughly lather it on the animal’s fur, and rinse with plenty of water.
- Next, you need to wrap the cat in a towel and take it to a warm place without drafts. Please note that animals can get very cold due to the fact that there is no air cushion, which is typical for cats if they are dry.
- Therefore, try to dry the cat with a towel, and even use a hairdryer. Although many owners do not recommend using this device, since some of their pets are afraid of the noise of the hair dryer. But this will help dry the pet faster.
Pending
What to do after swimming?
After bathing your cat, you need to dry it thoroughly with a towel, since cats get very cold after such a water procedure, especially if the apartment is not very warm. Many owners consider it lucky if the cat allows him to be warmed in a towel for at least five to ten minutes. Then the animal will most likely break free and begin to lick its coat on its own.
Pre-cover all surfaces where your pet can sit down to lick with towels. They will absorb moisture, and your sofas and carpets will remain stain-free. If your cat continues to tremble violently within five minutes, try to dry it with a hairdryer to avoid catching a cold or even pneumonia.
You already know how to bathe a cat. Now it’s worth talking about combing the fur. When the cat stops licking his fur, pick him up and brush him with a wide-toothed brush. After bathing, the coat becomes very brittle, so combing must be extremely careful.
Types of cat cleaning products
All products intended for cats can be divided into three groups:
- liquid;
- dry;
- sprays.
Each type has both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is worth considering them in more detail.
Liquid shampoos
Considered the standard view.
High-quality products not only clean the coat, but also make it silky and soft. There are both general and specialized ones: against tangles, against fleas, etc. Shampoos should be used up to three times a year. Their more frequent use can lead to disruption of the sebaceous glands.
Dry products
Preference is given to such options if the pet is terribly afraid of water.
Dry products cope with the task assigned to them as effectively as liquid ones. In addition, their use makes combing easier.
Cat fur takes a long time to dry. The slightest draft can lead to a cold. In addition, you need to make sure that water does not get into your ears.
If dry powder is used, these problems do not arise. Even with frequent use, the skin does not dry out.
Sprays
Another convenient type of pet supplies. True, finding them on sale is very problematic.
In addition to cleansing wool, this product creates antistatic protection. But the aroma of the spray is often more pronounced than that of other types. This is perhaps one of its few shortcomings.
The product is applied using a sprayer. When applied, it makes noise and may frighten your pet.
conclusions
For regular use, it is better to purchase a special shampoo for cats.
If you nevertheless decide to bathe your pet and use human shampoo for this, then thoroughly wash the animal’s fur. Otherwise, when licking itself after bathing, the animal may lick off the product that remains on the fur and become seriously poisoned.
Washing with regular shampoo can be practiced only in case of one-time bathing of the pet. If you plan to subject your cat to regular water treatments, it is better to purchase a special cat shampoo.
Groups of shampoos by direction
All shampoos intended for cats are divided into several groups. They are medicinal, cosmetic, antiparasitic and special.
To make an accurate choice, you should consider each of the categories in more detail.
Medicinal
They are used to solve a specific problem. For example, killing bacteria, eliminating the symptoms of an allergic reaction, treating ringworm or fighting dandruff.
You cannot resort to self-prescribing such shampoos. You should first consult a veterinarian.
Cosmetic
Such shampoos are used to cleanse the animal and give it a fresh, well-groomed appearance. In fact, this is a classic hygiene product. It does not perform any additional functions .
Special
Designed for hair care. There are bleaching, tint, suitable only for oily or dry wool. Products designed for a specific breed are also available.
Antiparasitic
Designed to destroy parasites, such as lice, fleas and ticks. Such products contain toxic substances that cause the death of insects.
To make the use of antiparasitic shampoos as safe as possible, you must strictly follow the instructions on the packaging.
What should you not do while swimming?
As you can imagine, bathing a cat, a procedure that takes only a few minutes, is quite difficult for both the animal and its owner. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize possible irritants:
- Do not open the tap at full capacity.
- The shower should not be turned on at full power.
- Do not use dog shampoo or dishwashing detergent to wash your pets.
- There is no need to pour shampoo from the bottle directly onto the coat, especially dry hair.
- It is strictly forbidden to stuff the animal's ears with cotton - it can cause serious irritation.
