How to teach a cat to wash. How to teach a cat to water

Everyone knows that the cat does not like to swim terribly and avoids this procedure in every possible way, probably believing that it licks itself well enough. But after amazing walks, there is sometimes an urgent need to wash it all the same. How often should a cat be bathed and what can be done to teach her to bathe?

Bathing cats is often not recommended, as their natural grease is washed out with shampoos, while the skin is no longer so elegantly shiny, the skin dries out and becomes susceptible to various diseases and infections. But it is necessary to bathe for an exhibition or show, and also if she comes dirty from the street. Skin diseases also require cleanliness.

Consider how to teach a cat to swim. Basically, cats do not like to swim, but only some breeds agree to accept such an exotic procedure without appeal. Despite the fact that cats are difficult to train, but if you teach them to swim from a young age, then they will gradually get used to it. And, of course, very small stupid kittens are relatively calm about water, but as soon as they grow up a little, their rage knows no bounds. If the kitten is interested, but not forced, then resistance will be minimal.

To begin with, you need to pour quite a bit of water and wait until the cat climbs in to inquire about what is there in the basin? Vodichka should be warm and pleasant, but only without violence. And let it wet only paws. You can also take the kitten in your arms and a small bowl, put one paw there, then the other. Wet all paws the next day. It’s good to put your cat’s favorite toy in the basin. This will also encourage curiosity and play.

We looked at how to accustom a cat to water gradually. You can let the cat watch you bathe yourself, showing that it is not at all dangerous. Perhaps your pet will be interested.

But all the same, cats are cats, and if it is impossible to accustom, then there should be no violence in any case. It is difficult to convince a cat, and if she rested, then it is already impossible to remake her.

It should be noted that there are special shampoos for cats. It is they who create the acid-base balance in the best way, and in the least harm the skin. After you teach the kitten to wash, then the bathing process itself should be as follows.

You put the cat in a bowl filled with warm water at the temperature of the cat's body, then take a mug and pour it slowly, wetting the skin, and be sure to speak in an affectionate voice. Then pour a little shampoo on your hand and rub it. Then, continuing to talk, water it clean water. Wrap in a soft cloth, and, stroking, dry your pet. All movements should be calm and pleasant for the cat. And then she will absolutely calmly endure all your actions.

Instruction

Pour warm water into a basin or bath and add a non-caustic shampoo. Can be used for washing special agent or regular baby shampoo that does not irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes. If during the first bath the fluffy experiences fear or a burning sensation in the eyes, as well as water in the ears, then that’s it, the next time he doesn’t step into the water.

Place cotton balls in your cat's ears before diving into the bath. Gently wet, do not forget to gently and iron. If fluffy shows you his sharp claws, leaving a mark on your hand, do not swear. Try to be as calm as possible. After the main wash, rinse the animal's coat thoroughly running water. Dry your cat with a soft, clean towel.

If the experience of the procedures ended in failure, and you hastily managed to wash off the foam from the cat, do not try again in the very first days. Some animals imitate their owner, so when you go to take a bath, don't close the door. The cat should be interested in bubbles of foam, and he will also understand that if the owner is washing, then this is not at all scary.

The cat needs to get used to the water, repeat attempts to wash the animal, but try to minimize the impact on his mental health. If the pet yells heart-rendingly and scratches, and before this incident he went unwashed for several years and nothing, then let him continue to wash with his tongue. And you sometimes wipe it with a damp, clean cloth against wool.

Helpful advice

It is better to start washing cats from early childhood, so they will quickly get used to it and begin to get real pleasure from water procedures.

Many people know that almost all cats avoid direct contact with water. This instinctive fear dates back to the period when animals lived in wild nature. But what to do if your beloved pet is dirty, smells bad and urgently needs to be bathed? Conduct water procedures possible, subject to certain rules.

Instruction

The animal should not be afraid of the sound of water. To do this, regularly bring the cat in your arms into the bath and briefly turn on the water so that the animal sees and hears everything that happens. The more often this happens, the better. If your pet is tense, you do not need to hold him by force, release, but after a while repeat the procedure for being in the bathroom. The cat should be calmed down by stroking its head, thereby letting it know that it is under protection. If the first point is passed successfully, the next step will be to introduce the animal to the bath.

Lower the cat into an empty, dry bath. Most likely, she will want to run away, try to restrain this impulse by lightly stroking and calming the pet. Do not hold and try to wet the paws and wool by force, this will only frighten the pet more. For maximum comfort, place a towel or rubber mat on the bottom of the tub or basin.

No, this is not a whim and not character flaws, but instinctive fear. In nature, a wild cat will climb into the water, guided solely by survival instincts. There are exceptions, for example, tigers are swimmers and fishermen, calmly enduring water procedures due to the water-repellent structure of the coat. It just so happens that more than 80% of domestic cats hate bathing, and the remaining 20% ​​tolerate it. From the point of view of feline psychology, purrs do not like water because their coat gets wet quickly, and water, especially with shampoo, dries out delicate skin.

If you hope to "twist" the pet and redeem it "somehow" - leave the illusion without washing the wool, you risk the health of the ward. In addition, true fear provokes animals to desperate acts, fighting charms and torn clothes are provided for you, and after that, wet slippers and torn wallpapers as moral compensation for "abuse".

Read also: A cat hisses at a person - lack of education or physiology

"Tactics" of accustoming a cat to the bathroom

Before you teach a cat not to be afraid of water, you need to overcome all the associated uncomfortable moments. Bring the animal into the bathroom on your hands, if the cat does not tense up, try opening the water for a while. Reassure the ward, let him know that he is under protection, but be prepared, the sound of running water can plunge the cat into a panic.

Try to lower the animal into a dry bath, most likely, the pet will immediately run away, but this is only the first stage. Negotiate with your pet, do not try to wet the coat or force the cat not to be afraid, forcing events will only add to the hassle. Gradually, patiently, agreeing to the conditions of the animal and only in this way!

Important! Bathroom lighting is a separate issue. It has been established that animals experience fear if there is not enough light in the room. Change the light bulbs to brighter ones or install an additional lamp over the bathroom for the duration of the training.

Naturally, it is easier to accustom a kitten to water, unconditionally trusting you a crumb to accept or at least endure water procedures after 3-4 “training swims”. It is difficult, sometimes impossible, to train an adult cat. If the pet does not walk on the street, it is easier to quickly redeem it than to torment it with months of training.

Swimming preparation

Half the success is good preparation, especially when it comes to training. adult cat, which has not yet experienced the "joys" of water procedures. You will need:

  • 2 shallow but wide basins for water.
  • Comb with large rounded teeth.
  • Sponge.
  • Capacity for pouring up to 250 ml in volume.
  • Large bedspreads or sheets.
  • Several thin ones and one bath towel.
  • Gloves and tight clothing to protect the body.
  • Thermometer for water.
  • Shampoo, if necessary.
  • It is very good if there is a “second pair of hands” to help.

Read also: How and what to feed newborn kittens?

Important! The cat must not be tied while bathing. If the pet panics, he may injure himself with the collar or leash.

How to teach a cat to bathe without too much stress

  • One of the basins is filled completely, the second so that the water barely covers the bottom. The water temperature is 38.5–39 degrees.
  • You and the assistant dress in ammunition and gloves. The bathroom floor is completely covered. Any "force majeure" will be accompanied by turmoil in which it is easy to slip.
  • Gently and slowly, holding the animal from above, lower the cat's paws into a basin without water. The animal will tense up and will be cowardly with its paws - we calm it down, stroke it, hold it (there will be attempts to escape), we do not try to seat or lay it down.
  • After wetting the sponge with water, run it over the animal's fur and calm the pet again.
  • As a result, all wool should be wet. The exception is the muzzle and ears. The second step is lathering the wool, if necessary.
  • We comb the "fur coat" with a comb. In general, combing is necessary to remove foam if you use shampoo, but during training, we do not deviate from the algorithm.
  • Pour the cat several times from a small container.
  • We soak the wool with thin towels and wrap it in a bath.
  • Do not rush, but do not pull, the procedure is not pleasant and the sooner it ends the better.
  • Repeat the procedure no more than once a month, even bathing with clean water partially removes the protective layer of fat from the skin of the animal.

Hygiene is important for everyone, especially for pets. Without following the rules of cleanliness and safety, animals can not only get sick themselves, but also become a source of infection for their owners. Let us dwell on the cats that supposedly despise washing. Their hydrophobia has become a parable. At the same time, everyone notes the cleanliness of these animals, stating that the kitty is quite capable of serving itself.

You can wash a cat, and sometimes it’s just necessary! Just be sure to remember the safety and basic rules of this procedure.

    Firstly, in no case should water be allowed to enter the auricles, inflammation may begin.

    Secondly, you should wash the animal only with special products.

    Thirdly, it is necessary to accustom to water procedures gradually and humanely. The animal not only needs to get used to it, it may even like it.

How to teach a cat to bathe? It's best to start with young age, from three months.

It is better to start getting used to washing an animal in a small basin than in a huge bathroom. It is better to put something non-slippery at the bottom, pour warm water, add detergent. It is best if it is a special cat shampoo. After placing the animal in water, stroke it, gradually watering it, soothe it with your voice.

Especially carefully it is necessary to wash off the product afterwards (in no case do this from the shower). And it's better if there is an assistant nearby.

After washing, thoroughly dry the animal with a towel, wrap it up well and try to do everything so that it does not end up in a draft. The number of water treatments depends on the condition of the cat's coat and skin. There are representatives of a graceful tribe who do not need bathing a priori, but there are also those who are simply shown water procedures.

But there are also such options when the cat does not wash itself, putting up such resistance that the owner risks being seriously injured. Therefore, there is a wonderful alternative to wet water washing - dry shampoo. You can also use talcum powder and brush the wool. You can discuss all methods with a veterinarian, since an animal may be allergic to some drugs. As for bathing with water, there are many examples where cats not only got used to washing, but fell in love with this activity!

Make sure that the product diluted in water does not get into the eyes, ears and mouth of the animal. The cat should only be washed with a special shampoo. You can not use products for people to cleanse it! Be sure to thoroughly disinfect the basin or sink in which the animal was washed after bathing.

Good luck and patience in this hard work!

Instruction

The animal should not be afraid of the sound of water. To do this, regularly bring the cat in your arms into the bath and briefly turn on the water so that the animal sees and hears everything that happens. The more often this happens, the better. If your pet is tense, you do not need to hold him by force, release, but after a while repeat the procedure for being in the bathroom. The cat should be calmed down by stroking its head, thereby letting it know that it is under protection. If the first point is passed successfully, the next step will be to introduce the animal to the bath.

Lower the cat into an empty, dry bath. Most likely, she will want to run away, try to restrain this impulse by lightly stroking and calming the pet. Do not hold and try to wet the paws and wool by force, this will only frighten the pet more. For maximum comfort, place a towel or rubber mat on the bottom of the tub or basin.

Cats do not like bright light, so you should take care of subdued lighting for the bathroom in advance, this will help the animal adapt more comfortably.

It should be understood that accustoming an adult animal to water is much more difficult than a kitten. Therefore, do not waste time, and if you have acquired a fluffy baby, regularly lightly wash the paws once a week. This procedure will become habitual in a few weeks, and in the future the cat will not be afraid of water.

Do not try to tie the animal, thereby trying to redeem it by force, in case of panic, the cat can cause serious harm to itself. To protect your hands from scratches at first, when the cat is not yet accustomed to water, you can wear rubber gloves. When bathing, use a soft sponge, as well as wool brushes. Use only specialized shampoo purchased at a pet store. In no case do not use the shower - it can scare the cat. It is best to wash the foam from the wool using a small container.

During bathing, the entire coat of the animal, with the exception of the muzzle and ears, should be wet. After bathing, wrap your cat in a soft bath towel and wait for it to slightly absorb the water. After a light drying, you can begin to lightly comb the wool with a comb with large rounded teeth.