If you are the owner of a cat and have never washed your cat before, you might ask yourself, “How often should you wash your indoor cat?”
We will reveal how often your should wash your indoor cat as well as explain 3 ways in which you can determine just how long to wash them!
There is no definite answer to this since it is different for every cat owner. The amount of time needed for your particular pet depends on their age, their type, any allergies they might have, and where they live.
This article will give you a general idea about how often indoor cats need to be bathed to keep them healthy.
Contents
3 Ways to Determine How Often You Should Wash Your Indoor Cat
1) A Healthy Cat
First thing’s first: you need to make sure your cat is healthy. The best way to do this is to take them for regular checkups with a veterinarian. They will be able to tell if any issues need to be addressed and provide you with advice on how often your pet needs to be bathed.
Cats that spend most of their time indoors typically have less fur than outdoor cats because they don’t tend to get dirty as easily.
A cat that has a less body fur won’t need bathing as often as a cat whose fur is long and thick.
2) Age
While washings are identical for indoor cats, the age at which you begin to bathe them will vary with each cat. This is because some cats do not require any bathing at all in their whole lives, while others may require several baths within a year.
When indoor cats get dirty, they can be washed and rinsed before being given a second coat of protective oil. This needs to be done two or three times a week if the cat spends a lot of time outdoors.
It isn’t unusual for cats that spend lots of time outdoors to get matts that do not come off from a brush or comb.
A professional groomer intervention is helpful in such situations to prevent any injury to the cat and make shaving easier.
3) Built-Up Dirt and Oils
Some cats are just more built this way. As the cat’s fur grows, it becomes very difficult to remove the dirt from their skin. The areas that have accumulated dirt and oil might feel a little irritated or tender.
If you notice some redness or breakouts around the back area of your cat’s body, it can be a sign of an allergic reaction to something such as cat dander or poison ivy.
Some cats suffer from a skin condition called seborrhoeic dermatitis. They have an excess of oil in their skin, which makes the skin produces thick, yellowish scales that can’t be removed through regular grooming.
A veterinarian can prescribe a medicated shampoo to alleviate the problem. In general, cats are pretty good at taking care of their hygiene, proper shampoo will ease things.
A Guide on How You Should Wash Your Indoor Cat
1) Use a Cat Shampoo
You shouldn’t use dog shampoo on your cat because it will leave fleas and ticks on them. Cats are like dogs in that they don’t like to swim. Using cat shampoo or soap is the best way to keep them clean and healthy.
Cats should have their paws, ears, and tails washed at least once per week if possible. The hair should be removed from these areas quickly or it can mat up very quickly with dirt.
Regular combing and grooming will prevent this from happening.
2) The Water Temperature Should Not Be too Hot or Cold.
You want to make sure the water isn’t too hot or cold when you are washing your cat. You don’t want your pet to associate in the nightmare of bathing with pain or fear.
Shaking from the cold water is one thing, but feeling pain from it can distress and frighten a cat from bathing again.
3) Use a Soft Brush or Sponge
Don’t use your fingernails or sharp-edged objects when trying to get the dirt out. These can hurt your pet and cause them to associate being bathed with pain.
You’ll save yourself from pain and expense if you use a soft brush or sponge instead of unusual objects.
Avoid using the bristles of your toothbrush on the cat’s fur as they carry bacteria that may trigger infection.
4) Don’t Use Soap on the Cat’s Teeth or Eyes
The natural oil in a cat’s skin also acts as a protective coating for the fur and skin. Cats have special glands that produce this oil.
There is no need to wash the cat’s teeth or eyes if they are healthy rather get visit a veterinarian to seek assistance.
If you notice an odor coming from your cat’s mouth or eyes, take them to see the vet.
5) Use a New Bath Towel
The bath towel you use should be new and clean. Dirty towels will cause your cat to feel a little cleaner than clean ones.
They also feel less secure about bathing in the first place. If you need to replace a used towel, make sure it’s not too big or too small to fit your pet.
It should be soft and comfortable, but not too thin or fluffy that it may cause damage to the fur.
6) Use an Old Washcloth
The washcloth you use should be new and clean. It helps in removing any soap and mud from the ears, eyes, nose, and paws of your cat. They tend to get dirty quickly and a dirty washcloth will just make the dirt worse.
7) Change the Water if it Gets Dirty
When you are washing your cat, you might want to change the water in the bathtub if it starts getting dirty or cloudy.
You don’t want your cat to get any skin irritation or build-up rashes from dirty water.
Use a fresh, warm water bath to rinse your cat when the tub is full, and change it after you have finished rinsing.
Conclusion
The question about how often should you wash your indoor cat? It is really up to you and your cat. If your cat doesn’t get dirty that often, it might not need a bath at all.
You should focus more on combing and brushing them regularly to keep their fur clean and healthy.