Giving stray/feral cats a bath
Not an easy task to give a stray cat that isn’t used to you a bath. The same can be said for feral cats but sometimes, a bath is essential.
Having endured my share of bites and scratches over the years, I have developed a way to bathe cats unused to being handled. I wish to go on record that I do not believe any cat ever NEEDS to be bathed except if they are show cats, or there are health issues involved. Cats were given the perfect tool for grooming from Mother Nature, their tongues. They rarely need any help from us, but if you do have to bathe your cat here is my process:
Tools you will need-
3 deep buckets- two filled with warm to hot water, one with the bath water barely filled.
Pet safe shampoo. Do not use any human shampoo on your cat or kitten. Since the cosmetic industry no longer tests on animals, there are a lot of products out there that are unsafe. DO NOT use flea shampoo unless your vet has directed you to do so. If you are just giving a flea bath, any regular pet shampoo will work to stun the fleas. Then use a flea comb to get the fleas off your cat.
Warm towels cycled in the dryer
Brush or flea comb
Piece of screen that fits the bottom of the bucket
Prepare the room before fetching the cat.
Make sure the room is warm enough. Bathe in the bathroom, not in the kitchen sink. You want an room that can be closed off to drafts. This is especially true when bathing a kitten. The only time I bathe kittens are when it is a matter of health issues- heavy flea infestation would be one reason.
Cycle the towels in your dryer while you are bathing your cat. Your cat will appreciate a warmed towel over just one pulled off the shelf. They tend to snuggle into the warm towel instead of fleeing from it.
If possible, clip the claws! This will save a lot of bloodletting if you can possibly clip the cat’s claws. Using the scruffer plug www.campbellpet.com this can give you about a 4 minute window of compliant kitty.
You want a deep bucket to bathe in, not the bathtub. At the bottom of the bucket place a small piece of screen and tap it down. Put water in the bucket only enough to cover the rear of the cat if the cat was standing on two legs- trust me, she will be standing on two legs, but instead of gripping your arm, she will hopefully be gripping the top of the bucket.
Make sure the water is warm enough and not to hot or to cold. Test it on your wrist before placing kitty in the bucket. The tall sides will keep the warm water warmer than an open tub. You need other buckets of warm to hot water and a scooper nearby. These will be your washing water and rinsing water.
Open the shampoo bottle and leave it nearby. I pour it out into a small scoop, it is just easier this way.
You should be ready-go fetch the cat. Be sure the water in the bucket isn’t going to cover over half of her body if she is standing upright. For kittens, use less water.
Place the cat carefully, rear first into the bucket. She will immediately clamp on to the nearest object, which will be the edge of the bucket. Keeping her scruffed gently by her neck, begin to pour the warm water from one of the other buckets on her body. Don’t get her face or ears wet! You will see fleas scrambling for higher ground, but don’t get her face wet, not yet.
Add a small amount of shampoo and lather her up. Keep out of the way of her bite by scruffing her on the neck. Never lift her up by the scruff, her back claws should be firmly holding the screen, her front claws gripping the bucket’s edge.
Tip the bath bucket and let the water run into the tub, keeping her out of the way of the water. Then bring the bucket back up and start rinsing her off with the water from the other buckets. Make sure you get all the soap off (which is why a little goes a long way).
Once she is rinsed, snuggle her into the towels. Keep her wrapped up with only her head exposed, she will be shaking. Try and get as much water off her as possible, before using the other warmed towels. When transporting her back to her room, be sure she is securely wrapped up in the towel while you are traveling. A wet, totally pissed off cat can do a lot of damage if she can get free to do it.
Place her inside a room that has been warmed up. Sit on the floor with her, and scruffing her neck, use the flea comb to remove the fleas. Then release her.
Do not go back into the room for a few hours as she will upset with you. Let her simmer down first. When she starts eating that is a clue she is safe to approach.