Does Your Cat Really Need a Bath?

Most people are aware that dogs need baths, but you might be wondering, “Does my cat really need a bath too?” And if so, how do you give your cat a bath?

The good news is that, as a general rule, cats do NOT need to be bathed. And there's always exceptions of course (we’ll get to those in a minute). But for the most part, cats will sufficiently keep up with their own bathing.

Did you know cats actually spend approximately 50% of their waking hours grooming themselves? They groom for several reasons:

• To clean themselves
• To clean and soothe injuries
• To hide scent from predators
• To cool themselves down
• For pleasure
• To show affection (when grooming other cats)

That being said, sometimes a situation will arise in which bathing your cat is necessary like:

• Your cat has fleas
• Your cat got excessively dirty (skunked, had a potty accident, rolled in something stinky, etc.)
• Your cat is older and can’t keep up with their grooming anymore
• Your cat is overweight and isn’t able to effectively groom themselves
• You have a breed of cat that requires regular bathing

Hairless cats such as Sphynxes or Peterbalds or long-haired cats like Maine Coons or Norwegian Forest Cats, for example, need baths

If you find yourself in a situation where you do need to give your cat a bath, it’s important to do whatever you can to make it as stress-free for your kitty as possible.

How to Give Your Cat a Bath

Ideally, you’ll have the opportunity to train your cat to accept baths before you have to give them one. If you start acclimating your cat to water and baths as a kitten, that definitely helps.

But that’s not to say training an adult cat isn’t possible though. The key is starting slowly and introducing your cat to one step of the process at a time.

Oh, and give your cat lots of treats along the way for positive reinforcement!

Step 1: Gather everything you need

Because of a cat’s size, you have the option of bathing them in either the sink or bathtub. Pick your bath location, then be sure to have all the necessary supplies ready and waiting.

You don’t want to be running around the house looking for something in the middle of bath time.

When giving your cat a bath you’ll need:

• Rubber mat or another non-skid surface so they won’t slip and slide on the bottom of the tub or sink
• Cat shampoo — don’t use dog shampoo, as it can contain ingredients that are toxic to cats
• Gloves if you need to protect your own skin from whatever might be in your cat’s fur
• Long sleeves to protect yourself from possible scratching
• Cup or pitcher to wet and rinse
• Treats to make bath time less scary
• Plenty of towels
• Option to add Gaia Provides Pet Bath Bomb

Step 2: Trim your cat’s nails

We recommend trimming your cat’s nails before the bath to minimize scratching.

Step 3: Fill your sink or bathtub with a couple inches of lukewarm water

The sound of running water is alarming to some cats, so fill the bathtub with water before you bring your cat into the room.

Also, keep in mind that your cat’s skin is more sensitive than yours, so what feels like a comfortable shower to you is probably too hot for your cat.

Room temperature or lukewarm water is best for your kitty’s bath.

Step 4: Add in Gaia Provides Pet Bath Bomb

Gaia Provides Pet Bath Bombs are infused with THC-free broad-spectrum hemp extract and can provide many wellness benefits for cats.

They are ideal for cats that stress easily or have mobility issues. And the bath is a great way to have the CBD absorb into your cat’s skin and paws.

Add the bath bomb to the water and wait for it to dissolve.

Note: CBD takes time to work, so you won’t notice the effects on your cat immediately. It needs a few hours to go into effect.

Step 5: Put your cat in the water and gently begin wetting them down

You can use the cup or pitcher to pour water onto your cat. Try to avoid dumping water on their face, eyes, ears, or nose.

If your cat is especially nervous, you can try wiping them down with a wet washcloth first to slowly acclimate them to being wet.

Step 6: Time to shampoo

Once your cat is thoroughly wet, it’s time to shampoo.

Follow the instructions on the cat shampoo bottle, especially if you’re using a flea shampoo.

Gently scrub your cat. Avoid sensitive areas (eyes, ears, and nose), but don’t forget the easy-to-miss places, such as armpits, underbelly, between toes, behind the ears, and under the tail.

When it comes to washing your cat’s face, we recommend using a damp washcloth and gently wiping your cat’s face with water only.

If using Gaia Provides Bath Bomb, let your cat soak in the bath bomb-infused water for 20 minutes, giving the product ample time to absorb into your cat’s skin.

Step 7: Thoroughly rinse your cat

Once your cat is thoroughly shampooed, scrubbed, and soaked, it’s time to rinse!

You can do this by filling the cup or pitcher up with water and pouring over your cat – the same way you wet them down at the start of the bath.

However, this is where things can get tricky. If you haven’t changed out the water in the sink or tub before rinsing, you’ll just be pouring the dirty water back on your cat. To avoid this, you have a couple of options:

Drain the dirty water from the sink or tub and refill with clean water. Because this option requires you to run the water while your cat is in the sink or tub, it only works well if your cat is very calm or is already comfortable with baths.

Have a few pitchers already filled with lukewarm water before you begin the bath. Use those to pour over your cat after draining the sink or tub.

As you rinse your cat, be sure all traces of soap and dirt are removed. If you haven’t gotten all the dirt out, you’ll have to bathe your cat again.

And if you don't get all the soap out of their fur, they will lick it off later. Which can cause an upset stomach.

Step 8: Dry your cat

After the sink or tub is drained and your cat is thoroughly rinsed, you can begin to dry them off.

First run your hands down their back, legs, and tail to remove excess water – kind of like wringing them out, but without the squeezing. Then grab a towel and start drying.

If your cat will tolerate it, you can use a blow dryer with a low-heat setting. Unless slowly acclimated and trained, most cats won’t be comfortable with the blow dryer though.

There you have it

A comprehensive guide on how to give your cat a bath!

Remember that, unless absolutely necessary, you shouldn’t have to worry about bathing your cat. However, if you do, be sure not to overbathe!

Too much shampooing may strip your cat’s fur of natural oils, which can lead to skin and coat issues down the road.

About the Author

Emily is “mom” to seven cats, one dog, and two sugar gliders. She has been writing in the pet industry for over 8 years, with a focus on cats, rescue, and adventuring. When she isn’t writing, playing music, crocheting, or working on her own entrepreneurial pursuits, Emily and her husband enjoy hiking, road-tripping, camping, and canoeing with their three cat adventurers. Follow her on her blog, KittyCatGo.