Is it possible to wash the cat with regular shampoo?

For a person, hygiene is absolutely familiar and obligatory, but is it necessary for our pets, especially cats? After all, they are the cleanest among all animals. Their tongue has special bristles, with the help of which cats independently care for their fur. In addition, on the skin they have a greasy layer. It protects the body from external influence and penetration of harmful microorganisms. Therefore, in bathing the cat is actually not necessary. If the animal goes for a walk - you can wipe its paws. But it happens that after the walk the cat comes in very dirty. In this case, it will have to bathe. True, such procedures are best performed only as a last resort, since they cause severe stress in a cat. If she is pregnant, then you can not bathe her at all.

Why "human" shampoo does not fit?

If suddenly there was an urgent need to bathe your pet, is it necessary to buy a special shampoo for this, or will the one that we use fit? Shampoo designed for humans, the cat is not suitable. There is not one reason for this.

1. Cats have a different skin structure.
2. Their pH level is higher than that of a person.
3. In extreme cases, you can use gentle shampoos. They will not damage the protective layer. If it is damaged, it can harm the animal. Before the layer is restored, the cat's body will be vulnerable. An infection can easily enter it.
4. After the procedure it is very important that the pet is warm. This is especially true of kittens.

What and how to bathe a cat?

If there is an urgent need, and there is no special shampoo at hand, designed for cats, it is best to wash the animal with plain water. Do not use shampoo for dogs and other animals.

It is necessary to bathe a kitten as little as possible. Do not do this unless absolutely necessary. The optimal frequency is twice a year.

The exception is therapeutic bathing. In this case, the frequency of the procedures is determined by the veterinarian.He can prescribe them for dermatitis or other similar problems. Show animals bathe before heading to the show. In this case, it is necessary to teach the animal to water from childhood. The kitten will get used to bathing, and will not experience so much stress from the procedure.

Rules and sequence

When bathing you need to remember a few rules:

1. If the animal has been immunized, it can not be bathed for several days. If you have a British breed cat, then there are special rules for her bathing.
2. If the animal has been treated for fleas, it cannot be bathed for 3 days before treatment and 3 days after.
3. If you only brought the kitten to the house, wait a few weeks before you bathe it.

When bathing a kitten should follow a certain sequence of actions.

1. If the animal has long hair, then before the procedure it must be carefully combed out. If there are tangles that you will not remove before bathing, they will not be able to unravel when wet. Will help only vystriganie.
2. Do not start bathing immediately after the pet has eaten. It is desirable that after this several hours have passed.
3. Type water in the bath.If you want to bathe a little kitten, it can be done in the pelvis. Make sure that the water temperature is higher than the temperature of the cat.
4. Your pet will feel much more comfortable while swimming, if you put a towel in the bath or basin. Paws will slip less.
5. Do not delay the procedure for more than a quarter of an hour.
6. If the animal behaves restlessly during bathing, it can be distracted by various toys.
7. When soaping the animal, it is important to ensure that the shampoo does not get into his nose, eyes or ears. This will cause even more irritation.
8. It is necessary to ensure that water does not flow into your ears. This can lead to otitis. To avoid this, you can plug the kitten's ears with pieces of cotton or make him a small polyethylene cap. If the pet from this will be even more nervous, it is better to just ensure that the water does not fall into the ears.
9. Shampoo with a kitten needs to be washed off very carefully. After that, the animal is wrapped in a towel.
10. If the cat's hair is long, it should be combed during the drying process. If the kitten is very cold and he does not stop shaking, you can use a hairdryer.But only in the mode of cool air.
11. In order for the animal to recover a little, you can treat it to your favorite delicacy.

If the pet suffers very much during the procedures and could not get used to bathing - try to give preference to dry shampoo.

Video: how to bathe the cat - veterinary advice