How to Shower the Cat

By Panicha Jongjaroen

A cat is a clean animal. Owners might think that they don’t need to take their cats to a groomer. However, a cat sometimes needs to take a bath (once a year) to stay healthy. In case your neighborhood doesn’t have a cat grooming service, here are the necessary steps to give your cat a bath by yourself.

Things you have to have…

1. Towels

2. Shampoo for cat

3. A big basket

4. A hair dryer

5. Treats

6. Bandages (a lot)

7. 1 Cat

8. 2-3 humans

First, you must tell your cat that she is going to take a bath. You might need to make an appointment with her a week ahead of time. I suggest to book her appointment on a sunny day. Keep telling her every time you feed her that she is going to take a bath this Sunday, this Sunday… until the date arrives. This is kind of calming and the cat will get used to the words “take a bathhhhhhhh”, even if it sounds horrible.

Second, at the date of the "appointment". Prepare yourself and your helpers by wearing a long shirt and long pants. If you have ski pants, that is perfect. After that, prepare the bathroom by making as much space as you can. Get towels, cat shampoo and a basket ready.

Third, Run around with your cat. Make her feel tired. Take her to the bathroom. Give her some whipping cream, butter (ooooooh…) or things that your cat loves but aren’t healthy. Then, close the door and run the warm water.

Forth, mix the cat shampoo and water together. Rub and clean her with warm water as fast as you can (I really mean that). You need your helpers to help with this step in case the cat climbs up on you and sits on your back or head. Bandages need to be used if this takes place. It depends on how sharp her claws are.

TIPS: Don’t touch her face, don’t ever ever ever think about it.

We are almost finished. After the war, dry the cat with towels. Take her to a sunny place. Cover her with the basket. Dry her with the hair dryer. If she is scared by the sound of it, let the towel cover her head. She will feel calm and comfortable and think she is hiding.

This is my purrrific cat :-)

Last, let her go. The cat might be a little bit wet but this is ok. She will lay down in the sun all day. Give her some treats again and don’t forget to compliment her by saying something nice. (Such as “thank you”, or “dinner time”).

Congratulation to the owner if you can follow these steps. I suggest this how-to guide because there aren’t any cat groomers in my neighborhood. By the way, my prayers have been answered. A new grooming salon will open in my area this winter. Thank God a million times, and for those of you who are not in this service area, keep praying harder. Have a good day : -)

#howto #bathe #cat #grooming #bath