The sooner you can get her used to the idea of water, the more likely she will tolerate it when she's older. Acclimate her to the sink or tub weeks before you bathe her. Place her in the space with toys, catnip or treats so that she makes positive associations with the location. Allow her to play in the water.
Add Cat to Water – Put a few inches of lukewarm water in the sink or tub and place your cat gently inside. Keep your cat calm by talking soothingly and praising them for good behavior.
Cats are sensitive to smell—14 times more sensitive than humans. Your water may have chemicals (or even minerals) that your cat doesn't like the smell of, like chlorine or fluoride. Your cat may also dislike the scent of the shampoo you're using, especially if the scent is strong.
Most cats feel anxious and stressed by baths because they dislike water. If you do need to bathe your cat, it's essential to follow our advice regarding how to wash your cat safely and with minimal stress. By safely, we mean without hurting your cat and without getting scratched yourself!
However, bathing cats can be quite a challenge as most of them really dislike baths and they can find the experience very stressful. That said, there are rare occasions when bathing your cat is unavoidable, in which case there are ways to make the experience more comfortable for both of you.
Catnip is great for baths. Not only can catnip calm your cat down to get them into a bath, but it can also be used to soothe irritated skin. There are benefits to using it in bathwater as well. The scent will stay on their coat, and it will penetrate through their skin and will alleviate soreness.
The average indoor cat may never need a bath, but if you do decide to take the plunge, we do not recommend bathing your kitty more than a couple of times a year. Only you know your cat's personality and levels of aggression, which can be a key deciding factor when it comes to bathing a cat.
Some breeds dislike water more than others, whilst other cats don't mind getting splashed at all. Fortunately, their self-grooming regimen means cats don't need bathing very often—so both you and your can can breathe a sigh of relief!
The cat bath temperature should be around body temperature, in other words pretty warm but not so hot that it's uncomfortable. Place a towel or rubber mat in the bottom of the tub or sink. Cats hate the insecure footing of slippery surfaces and this will make it less stressful.
Alternatives to water bathing
Getting a professional groomer to bathe your kitty is one option if your cat absolutely hates baths, but another alternative is to use bath wipes specifically designed for cats. These wipes are designed to clean your cat like a bath, but without the water.
Catnip tea is a safe and refreshing treat for your cat that is made by steeping the leaves of a catnip plant in boiling water, then serving over ice. Catnip is an inexpensive herb available at most grocery and pet stores.. or you can even grow it in your garden!
Cats like catnip for two reasons: smelling it stimulates their senses, and eating it calms them down. Felines are receptive to a volatile oil (an oil that evaporates in the air) found in the stems and leaves of the catnip herb.
Eating. The most intense catnip experience starts with the nose—one whiff of the stuff and your cat promptly goes nuts. Researchers suspect that the herb targets feline "happy" receptors in the brain. When eaten, however, it tends to have the opposite effect and your cat mellows out.
As "fastidious animals," cats spend a big part of their day grooming themselves, and they find wet fur is extremely uncomfortable and often takes a long time to dry. Another reason cats hate a soaking is that wet fur is way heavier than dry fur, and it makes a cat "less nimble and easier for predators to catch."
Let your cat air-dry. Keep the air temperature in the house moderate while they're drying so they don't get a chill. If your cat has long hair, comb it out while it's still damp. (You may need to add conditioner to his coat to keep it from tangling.)
A grooming professional will try to calm your cat before placing her into a few inches of lukewarm water and applying the shampoo. Often shampooing starts from the head down to the tail, while avoiding the nose, ears, and mouth of the cat.
Purring. In many cases, soft, gentle purrs signal your cat's satisfaction with the world, providing an audible sign of her contentment. But purring doesn't always indicate happiness; some cats also purr when they are hungry or stressed.
If you don't have a spray hose, a plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup works great. Gently massage your pet with a solution of one part cat shampoo (human shampoo can dry out her skin) to five parts water, working from head to tail, in the direction of hair growth. Take care to avoid the face, ears and eyes.
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can't stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
Although most domestic cats don't like water, their wild cousins, such as tigers, happily use it to cool off or hunt their next meal. There are also a few breeds of household kitties, including the Maine coon, Bengal and Abyssinian, that love the water and occasionally enjoy a few laps around the pool.
Look at them standing in the partially filled tub, pawing at the water, splashing around, even shaking it off their heads casually like dogs — but never leaving the tub!