How Do Groomers Bathe Cats? A Look Behind the Scenes

While you may know that cats learn how to groom, clean, and take care of themselves at a very young age, that doesn’t mean that you should never groom or bathe your cat. Many people get a bit upset at the thought of bathing a feline, however. Cats are infamous for their fear of water, and most aren’t shy about letting you know that taking a bath displeases them. For many cat owners, taking their feline darlings to the local groomer for bathing and everything that goes along with it is easier and safer.

Have you ever wondered how groomers bathe cats? Groomers generally use professional equipment for bathing and drying the cat, along with high-quality pet shampoo. We’ve done our research and will take you behind the scenes to see how groomers handle cats.

How Do Groomers Bathe Cats?

Below you’ll find a few tips and tricks groomers use to bathe cats without getting scratched. It’s important to remember that cat scratches can be dangerous, so it’s best to let the groomer handle it if you don’t think you can.

grooming ragdoll cat — Image Credit: Pxhere

The 4 Tips Groomers Follow to Bathe Cats

1. Keep Things Quick and Relaxed

One of the first tips a professional groomer will give you is to be quick and calm when bathing a feline. Most breeds detest water and getting wet, and there’s not much you can do about that. You must stay calm and talk to your kitty in a calm, soothing voice.

Get your cat in the tub, wet them down, lather them with shampoo, and then rinse and dry the cat off. The longer the process takes, the more likely your feline is to get upset. Calm and quick is the way to go when bathing a cat.

Can You Use Human Shampoo on Cats? What You Must Know! Cats are equipped with all the tools they need to bathe and clean themselves, but there may be times when your cat needs some assistance, possibly after they have walked through or played in something particularly dirty. Besides the fact that your cat will probably hate the experience of being bathed, it is important to remember that regular bathing can cause more harm than good, so it should be reserved solely for emergencies. With that said, there is a good chance that you won’t have cat shampoo laying around in the cupboard. So, can you use human shampoo on your cats? Is it safe? The quick answer is no, you shouldn’t use human shampoo on your cats. We’ll tell you more below. Should You Bathe Your Cat? Your cat has a rough tongue and powerful teeth. He has the tools he requires to effectively keep himself clean most of the time. This is especially true of short-haired cats. As such, it is rare that you will even consider bathing your cats. However, it is also true that cats are incredibly inquisitive. Some might say nosey. They want to investigate every portion of every room. They want to know what you keep grabbing out of the cupboard, and what it is that has such a strong smell in the back of the shed. They rub against things, roll in liquids and substances you don’t want them to, and have a seemingly endless list of ways in which they can cause mischief and end up caked in mud and other nasties. There may, then, be occasion when you feel it is necessary to bathe your cat. Occasional bathing is fine. The same natural oils that help protect your cat’s coat from everyday dirt and grime will recover after a bath. Frequent bathing, though, can strip these oils from the fur. This will leave your cat with dry fur. It can also lead to dry skin, rashes, and other problems that not only leave their fur lacking luster but may actually cause them harm. So, you can bathe your cat, but you should only do so when it is absolutely necessary. If you have ever had to bathe a cat, you likely won’t want to repeat the process too often. It tends to result in a lot of soapy water everywhere except on the cat, and a terrified and angry cat warning you off. It’s a lot of water, claws, and hissing, but not a lot of cleaning. You should make the process quick, be confident, and you should have everything ready before you even consider turning the tap on. Should You Use Human Shampoo? Even the most delicate human shampoo contains chemicals and other ingredients that are harmful to your cat. A lot of shampoos contain perfumes and even essential oils, both of which can prove toxic to your cat. The ingredients are effectively absorbed through the cat’s skin and broken down by the liver, but a cat’s liver is not the same as a human’s and it is not as effective at breaking down the chemicals that are found in human shampoo. Therefore, it is safest to use a shampoo specially designed for cats. Using Specialist Cat Shampoo It is worth having a bottle of cat shampoo in the cupboard, ready for any mud-based emergency. These shampoos are formulated especially for use on cats. They have the right pH balance, so are not usually as acidic as human shampoo, and they do not contain the same essential oils and perfumes as are used in our own shampoo. Cat shampoo won’t dry out your cat’s fur or skin as readily. It will contain some natural odor that will help get rid of the smell of dirt and muck, but it uses natural ingredients that are not damaging to your cat. Is Human Shampoo Safe For Cats? Some human shampoo may prove relatively safe for cats, but the majority of ingredients found in human shampoo can prove dangerous for your filthy feline. Stick to cat shampoo, only bathe when necessary, and be prepared before you grab the cat because the process is likely to get a bit scratchy. — Image Credit: Olleg, Shutterstock

2. Special Shampoos

Most groomers use a special shampoo that won’t irritate a cat’s sensitive skin. The shampoo is hypo-allergenic, lightly scented, and designed specifically for cats. The groomer makes sure to use as little of the shampoo as possible so that it’s easier to rinse out. Sometimes they dilute the shampoo with a bit of water to make rinsing even easier.

This is because shampoo left behind can lead to skin irritation for the feline, and if a cat licks the shampoo, it could cause digestive issues.

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3. Rinse and Dry

Professional groomers know that rinsing a cat can be the worst part of the bath. Some groomers use a mesh screen that the cat can dig their claws into while being rinsed. They then use a spray nozzle and rinse through the screen instead of turning the cat to get all the soap off.

Afterward, they wrap the cat in a cozy, large, warm towel to be dried. If the cat isn’t afraid of the blow dryer, the groomer will use it to gently dry the cat’s fur. They, of course, use the dryer on the lowest setting so as not to terrify the feline any further.

cleaning cat by shampoo on water bath — Image Credit by: angnokever, Shutterstock

4. Groomers Use Professional Equipment

Groomers also use professional equipment, like a recirculating bathing system, which provides a gentle yet complete bathing experience for the cat while cutting down on water and product usage. There are also special drying systems that are different from traditional hair dryers that help keep the cat calm so they can be dried.

Does My Cat Really Need to Be Bathed?

While cats are neat freaks and can be seen cleaning themselves several times a day, they need to be given a bath on occasion.

Here’s a list of the possible reasons your cat might need to be bathed:

If your cat has parasites
Excessive shedding
If your cat has developed dandruff
If your cat is excessively dirty

These are a few of the biggest reasons that your cat might need a bath. While it’s not recommended that you bathe your cat frequently, it doesn’t hurt for the cat to have a bath at least once a month.

When Should You Use a Groomer to Bathe Your Cat?

For many pet owners, there’s no problem when it comes to bathing their own cats. However, if you don’t have the time or are scared of what your cat might do, it might be a good idea to take the cat to a professional groomer.

Cat scratches can get infected easily, and cats that are scared can claw and bite and do considerable damage. If you’re unsure of who would be the best groomer, do your research, talk to your friends who have cats, and talk to your vet for recommendations.

tabby cat taking a bath — Image Credit by: Marie-Claude Lemay, Shutterstock

Final Thoughts

Cats are neat freaks and can be seen cleaning themselves daily. In fact, grooming is one of their favorite things to do, next to eating and sleeping. However, every cat needs help with grooming now and then. It’s best to know how to bathe your cat before giving it a try. If you feel that you can’t handle your cat, professional grooming might be better and safer for you and your cat.

Sources

Featured Image: KDdesignphoto, Shutterstock