My cat hates baths, is it abuse? How can I make bath time easier?

Hi! It sounds like she gets stressed during bath time and that’s why that is happening. Cats don’t need to be bathed more that 1-2 times/year usually. They should be able to clean themselves. I’d recommend only bathing her if absolutely needed and letting her groom herself. Thanks for using Pet Coach!

Cats do not tend to like baths however there are always a small portion that don't mind. Some grooming salons specialize in cats as well as dogs but I tend to recommend to just use a waterless bath that you can purchase from a pet store. Since the cats hair is also long it is important to brush him on a regualr basis with a brush for cats to ensure he doesn't get matted

Well, it's highly unusually that cats will enjoy a bath. At 4 years old, he's now social mature and would be more comfortable telling you to go away if you're doing something offensive. It's possible he's never really love the bathes but is just now letting you know (like a child in their 20s is going to interact differently with their parents than a 5 year old). The other possibly is that he has pain somewhere that is causing him to suddenly dislike the baths. It can be tricky to find pain in cats, even in the vet clinic, because they are just generally grumpy to be there and don't always get MORE grumpy if we find the spot that hurts. Still, starting with a vet visit is probably the best idea. If his exam is normal, I'd recommend stopping bathing him, he doesn't need it and can clean himself and see if your normal bond returns. He may like being brushed instead, or just sitting next to you. In terms of breed, I would call him a domestic short hair (DSH for short). :) I hope that helps! Your bond isn't going away, but your relationship may be evolving.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Bathing should not cause inability to walk unless you used a product that is toxic (which can be easily accidently done when using a flea shampoo in cats), or if your Paro inhaled some water. I would suggest just being very gentle with the water, and not spraying any water directly on the face. Use a non-medicated shampoo. Best of luck with Paro.

I am going to assume Lucy is a dog, as I do not have that information here. My best advice is to bathe Lucy less frequently. Baths actually strip the natural oils in a dog's skin, which help maintain a healthy coat. If Lucy does get dirty on an outing and requires a bath, try to reward her when she is still and praise her verbally. Tell her "good girl" , "calm girl" and reward her calm moments. I would also try letting her air dry rather then blow drying her. The loud noise may be frightening her, due to her sensitive hearing. This is a great option for keeping Lucy still while you try to bathe her, it has built in restraints; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=20500

Every cat has a different personality. There are some cats that may be used to baths if done on a regular basis BUT not every cat is going to do this. Cats don't like to be wet in general, so this is why they don't like baths. Once again though, there are cats who do like baths. They are all individuals! I hope this answers your questions!

If the aggressiveness is only occurring after a bath I'd recommend separating them after bathing for a few hours until they have calmed. You can also try using a Feliway diffuser or spray to see if this helps reduce the tension. If the aggressiveness continues or gets worse you may want to schedule a vet visit to ensure Sasha is not having any health issues contributing to the behavior change. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!