Cats generally do a really good job of keeping themselves clean. You really shouldn’t need to to bathe the cat unless they have gotten into a really big mess, or have been infested with fleas. In the case that you do have to bathe the cat, the following instructions should help you through the process.
First, choose whether you wish to bathe the cat in the bathtub or in the sink. Many people prefer the sink, as it fits cats well, and you do not have to hurt your back and knees by bending down the whole time. It is up to you though.
Gather everything you need so that you do not have to go running for things when the kitty in immersed. You will need: two cups, a sponge, shampoo, conditioner (for long haired cats), and two towels. You will likely want to have a helper around as well. Once the cat is in the water, he may not be too willing to stay in!
Place a rubber mat on the bottom of the sink/tub so that the cat will not slide around during the bath. Fill the tub/sink up with a couple of inches worth of body-temperature water. The water should feel neither warm nor cold when you stick your hand in it.
Fill one of the cups with warm water. Squirt some shampoo into it and mix well. This will make sure that the shampoo is nice and warm when it gets onto the cat.
Now, go find your cat! He is likely hiding, since he senses what you will be doing to him. I’ll wait…..
Ok, now (you will likely need a helper for this part), take the kitty and lower him into the water slowly. Talk to him calmly and pet him as well if possible. Allow the cat a couple minutes to get used to the water and to calm down. Pet him and talk to him throughout.
If you have a shower sprayer, then you can use it at this point. I do not have one, so instead I just use another cup of warm water. Use the sprayer or cup to wet the cat’s fur. Once she is thoroughly wet, massage the diluted shampoo into her fur.
Rinse well, again with the nozzle of the sprayer or a cup of warm water. Massage her fur gently, trying to wring out excess shampoo. You may have to rinse several times in order to do this effectively. Try not to leave any shampoo on the cat, as this can irritate their skin.
When you are finished, lift the cat out of the sink/tub using a towel. Wipe her down gently with the towel. Once she is dry enough not to drip everywhere, let her go. She will likely shake off some of the excess water, and them run and hide for a bit. This is fine.
Congratulations on cleaning your cat!
