Do cats really need baths? How to keep your cat clean without water?

Hi, in general cats are very clean animals and they do take care of themselves so you should not bathe them. If you really wanted to bathe them you could get them used to it and bathe them once every 6 months. Hope this helps !

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

I do not recommend bathing him, if his coat seems to be dirty and sticky all the time, that is probably because he is suffering from a gum disease, this creates a very slimy saliva and when the cat cleans himself it sticks to the coat and creates a very dirty looking coat, in that case he will need to be treated for that but bathing a cat is rarely a solution unless the cat becomes extremely dirty once in a while, bathing a cat once a week is not an option.

Cats typically don't need baths as they don't get very dirty, but if he's getting better about cleaning, there's nothing you need to do. He will clean himself as needed, and if you feel he needs a little extra help with it, it's fine to give him a bath :-)

It's extremely serious that your cat isn't drinking water as she can become extremely dehydrated and die from this. I would have her seen by a vet immediately. As for baths, cats do not typically need baths at all. They are quite good at keeping themselves clean. I would only bathe her if she got very dirty.

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!

Hello, I would not consider it abuse to bathe an animal, even though they may dislike it. If Strawberry is so stressed by being bathed that you feel the need to use excessive physical force to restrain her, I would recommend talking to your vet about getting her a prescription for anti-anxiety medication to give her prior to future baths. Gabapentin is a drug commonly used for stressful situations like this. If she is just sad about being bathed, then that is completely normal as cats typically dislike water. Like most pets, they will occasionally get dirty and need to be cleaned, so it is a necessary (though not fun) part of cat ownership. Using treats, like special canned food, tuna, catnip, or toys to reward her after baths may help her cope with stress as well. If she is more smelly than dirty, a foaming waterless bath spray may help to extend the time between full water baths. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!