Cat grooming
Bathing and shampooing your cat
Most healthy cats do not need frequent bathing. When a bath is genuinely useful, the priorities are a cat-appropriate product, a calm process and complete rinsing.
Decide whether bathing is needed first
Most healthy cats rarely need routine baths
Cats normally do much of their own coat cleaning. A healthy cat with an easy-to-maintain coat may need little or no routine bathing beyond targeted cleaning when genuinely necessary.
Bathing can be useful in specific situations
A bath may help when the coat is soiled with a safe-to-wash contaminant, when a cat cannot groom effectively, or when a veterinarian has recommended a bathing routine for a specific skin condition.
Use products intended for cats
Choose a shampoo or cleansing product specifically appropriate for cats. Human and baby shampoos are not formulated for feline skin, and medicated or parasite-control products should be used only according to veterinary or product directions.
Rinse thoroughly and keep the experience controlled
Any shampoo left in the coat may be licked during self-grooming. Thorough rinsing, secure footing, comfortable water temperature and a calm, short process are important.
When frequent bathing is a clue
If your cat repeatedly becomes greasy, unusually odorous, heavily soiled or unable to maintain the coat, the useful next question is why. Persistent skin or coat changes, excessive grooming, hair loss, redness or discomfort should be discussed with a veterinarian rather than managed by increasingly frequent shampooing.