No, is the short answer you’ll be relieved to know when it comes to bathing your kitten. However, it’s a “no” that comes with a proviso. Your kitty may be a little bit too small to bathe now, but it’s never too soon to get started.
By getting it used to an idea it’s going to hate when it gets a little older and you have the flea shampoo ready!
Lets dive right in.
Preparation for Bathing Your Kitten
The best way of bathing your kitten is with patient preparation – and the time to start preparing your kitty is as soon as it moves into your home.
No Bathtub Needed While Bathing Your Kitten
You won’t be using the bath, but you can get them used to the procedure. This will come in handy when the real thing starts to happen, they aren’t going to get a shock.
Find a Bowl
Prepare a bowl that’s big enough to bath a half-grown cat. The first couple of times, don’t put any water in it.
Just put the dish on the floor in the bathroom, assemble items you would use in the event that you were actually bathing them such as shampoo, towel, comb, plus have a warm (not hot) damp face cloth on hand.
Put the Kitten In
Put the kitten into the bowl so that they are standing, and firmly hold them there. Talk softly and reassuring to them. Stroke them from the head down then along their body and up to the tip of their tail.
When they are used to you doing that, take the face cloth in the same hand and do the same only with the damp face cloth touching their fur, constantly talking to them in a gentle reassuring voice.
Time to Add Water
After a few weeks, add a little bit of luke warm water – just covering the bottom of the dish – for them to stand in. Then hold them firmly while bathing your kitten and talking reassuringly until they get used to the feeling.
After a few more weeks, raise the water level so that it just covers the top of their paws.
Practice Makes Perfect when Bathing Your Kitten
It may seem like a lot of work but most cats are terrified of water. By spending this growing/learning time bathing your kitten will ensure that when it comes to doing the “real deal” bathing, your cat is going to have some positive experiences to fall back on. Thus it shouldn’t be such a traumatic exercise for either of you.
Now I’d like to hear from you.
If you found this post on Bathing Your Kitten informative please share it on social media through the buttons on this page and/or leave a comment below. Thank You For Reading!
