Kitty needs a bath...

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
I've got a 15 year old cat and I think she's starting to go a little senile. She can't keep up with her grooming anymore and she REALLY needs a bath. Problem is, that would be like sticking my arm inside a garbage disposal. :eek: Of course no cat likes a bath but she's much worse...and if you touch the back half anywhere she'll kill you even when dry. She's pretty much totally insane.

Anyway, what I was wondering, does anybody make temporary covers for cat paws? Like some kind of rubber boot or something so she can't kill me? I know they make individual claw covers you glue on, but that won't work since she lives outside and needs to protect herself from the local wildlife.

Any other products out there that might make bathing an insane kitty easier?
 

sprite115

Cadet
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Jun 10, 2007
Messages
23
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Sounds as if she has soreness in her backside....... my moms dog was like that and turned out he had tumors all over, but on the bathing , put a bath towel in the kitchen sink, that way she will have something to grip on to and feel more secure [it worked w/ my 12 yr old cats]. also make sure someone else is near by to help hold down and keep talking to her, also you might try a animal tranquilizer to help calm her[your vet or farm supply].... might see a vet about that touching thing........ any vet would tell you the same i'm sure.......GOOD LUCK!!:eek:


P.S. have some triple antibiotic close by for cuts, if any!:)
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
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Oct 30, 2002
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Just take her to the vet, they are trained professionals and have the kevlar suits to do the job properly. :)
 

rwise

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Jul 5, 2001
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

when me old cat (before he passed about a year ago) got really old (18 years) he had a skin dissorder. I found a medicated shampoo called Zema at the local atwoods (country farm store), this stuff realy helped him. After I started useing this stuff on him he stopped fighting the bath, maybe cause he felt so much better after, and the bumps on his skin would dissapear for a few months. Damn I miss him!
 

Sherminator

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 8, 2007
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

the cat WILL go crazy when you start to run water over it, make sure that the water isnt too hot, keep it almost kinda cool not cold but just cool, scrub and rinse let it go!! it will look like a wet rat for about an hour and it wont stop licking itself. almost kinda funny! and if it meows in while the cleaning..its the weirdest meow/howl youll hear from your cat! just be careful they'll claw and bite anything and anyone to try to get out! we used to wash our old cat in the tub but we had a detatachable showerhead with a hose on it that we used.
 

BoatBuoy

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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

This topic reminds me of a story. A little son of a Baptist minister was in church one morning when he saw for the first time the rite of baptism by immersion. He was greatly interested in it, and the next morning proceeded to baptize his three cats in the bathtub.

The kitten bore it very well, and so did the young cat, but the old family cat rebelled. It struggled with him, clawed and tore him and got away. With considerable effort he caught it again and proceeded with the ceremony.

But she acted worse than ever, clawed at him, spit, and scratched his hands and face.

Finally, after barely getting her splattered with water, he dropped her on the floor in disgust and said: ?Fine, be a Methodist.?
 

bjcsc

Lieutenant Commander
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Jun 1, 2006
Messages
1,805
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Easy. Take a good size cooler and put about 6" of water in it. Give it a couple of shots of soap. Put the cat in and close the lid. After a couple of minutes, open the drain on the cooler. Once all the soapy water has drained out, open the lid enough to refill the cooler with the hose and replenish the oxygen. Drain it, and repeat until the water comes out clear of soap.:D

Seriously though, take the cat to a groomer. It will be the best $30 or so dollars you've ever spent...
 

TwoBallScrewBall

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Sep 14, 2003
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

I have an old cat with the same issues. My wife was buying some cheap food. She switched over to something else and it made an immediate, huge difference in the matts and hairballs in her coat. I found her as a stray about 12 or 14 years ago so I don't know how old she is. But it seems the better food maybe helped her make more of those grooming enzymes that help keep the hair clean/untangled. She has long hair so it got bad.

For the bath, what I do it put her in the cat carrier, then put about 4" of soapy water in the bath tub. Put the carrier in the tub and slowly slosh it around. Then a couple rinse cycles. It works, I'm being serious, just be very gentle. The cat will hate you for a while but it will get over it.
 

Scout Sport Fish

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Apr 23, 2007
Messages
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Might sound kinda cruel but my mom bought a life jacket for her pup and he dudnt like his first bath so we strapped him up in it while I held him over the sink.
 

Scaaty

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May 31, 2004
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Did ya call the vet?...think they know the answer
 

BoatBuoy

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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

For the bath, what I do it put her in the cat carrier

I think I'd rather try to get our cat in the bath tub as the cat carrier. She knows that a cat carrier means THIS AIN'T GOOD.
 

salty87

Commander
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Aug 12, 2003
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

could be she just needs a good combing out. dead hair starts to stink to he!! after a while.
 

ZmOz

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Aug 13, 2003
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Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Sounds as if she has soreness in her backside.......

No, she's always been like that. She's just crazy. She'll be sitting on your lap purring one second, and then turn around and attack you the next, for absolutely no reason.

could be she just needs a good combing out. dead hair starts to stink to he!! after a while.

That's part of the problem, her hair is matted all over and she won't let me comb it out on the back.

I might take her in somewhere, but she's probably going to need another bath in a month or two. I don't want to have to keep taking her over and over. So nobody makes some temporary covers for kitty paws?

Anybody got a chainmail suit I can barrow? :eek:
 

Wingnutt

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 16, 2003
Messages
255
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Here's two methods that might work, Feel free to try either one. :)


METHOD #1: CAT BATHING AS A MARTIAL ART

1. Know that although the kitty cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, we recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)

2. Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. We recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face-mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.

3. Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule.)

4. Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have now begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life.

5. Be aware that cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)

6. Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared with what you have just been through. That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg.

7. You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.

In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.

You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath. But at least now he smells a lot better.


OR


METHOD #2: FLUSH 'N FLUFF

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.

2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water, and have both lids lifted.

3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

4. In one quick, smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape). At this point the cat will self-agitate and produce lots of suds so there is no need for you do do anything except to keep all of your body parts out of the way.

CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for any purchase they can find.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a 'power wash and rinse' which I have found to be quite effective. Never mind the sounds coming from the bowl area, studies have found that the cat actually enjoys this.

6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside where he will dry himself.

Alway remember that five of the six ends of a cat are pointy!

and-now-you-die.jpg


omg-do-not-want!.jpg
 

BoatBuoy

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 29, 2004
Messages
4,856
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

That is a hoot. But you need to add a warning for those folks who decide to dry their cat with a hair dryer. My daughter actually tried that years ago. It didn't go too well.
 

bassboy1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 23, 2006
Messages
1,884
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

What, no one knows about instant cat claw keepers? Same item also works for teeth of terror.
tape_duct.jpg
 

briannh1234

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 19, 2003
Messages
233
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Don't bother bathing the cat. Just use some sizzors to cut out the bad fur. Have someone else hold the cat if the cat objects.
 

jeeperman

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
1,513
Re: Kitty needs a bath...

Easy. Take a good size cooler and put about 6" of water in it. Give it a couple of shots of soap. Put the cat in and close the lid. After a couple of minutes, open the drain on the cooler. Once all the soapy water has drained out, open the lid enough to refill the cooler with the hose and replenish the oxygen. Drain it, and repeat until the water comes out clear of soap.:D

You forgot the part about shaking the hell out of the cooler with the cat inside. The aggetation is what cleans your clothes...........or cat!!!
 
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