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.

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.

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.

The best pet shampoos are carefully formulated to clean your pet without causing irritation. Hepper's Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo does a great job of this by combining soothing ingredients like aloe vera and colloidal oatmeal. It is also pH-balanced and free of irritants like dyes, soaps, sulfates, and phthalates. You and your pet will both enjoy the fresh, clean scent, too! 

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Featured Image: KDdesignphoto, Shutterstock