Bathing & GroomingYour Kitty

This is how WE bath our cats.

You may decide the kitchen sink works best, or putting plastic tubs in the bathtub..

For me a tub bench, a handheld shower and a plastic pail and cup works best. I also put a board across the end of the tub to put stuff on..I always bathe more than one at a time. I have the stuff out, so...why not!
OK, so grab your kitty...check for matts and remove them. Clean ears if needed.

 

 

Now, soak him thoroughly with the shower right up close to the skin...

 

 
Get underneath as much as possible.

 

 

Now squirt the coat with some DAWN dishsoap (this cuts the grease) and add warm water and suds up everywhere adding warm water as you go.

 

 

 

And then rinse...rinse everywhere!!

Squeeze the fur as you go to make sure the suds are gone. Hold your hand over the ears so no water gets in them. Can cause ear infection.

 

SECOND SHAMPOO!!

Ok..now use your favorite shampoo for the final wash. Mane & Tail is good for the everyday bath. Find at WalMart in the pet section.

 

 

 

 

 

And once again...RINSE,
RINSE, RINSE!!

It is important to get ALL the soap out else the coat will hang heavy and matt making your efforts a waste of time.

In your rinse pail or tub, add some VINEGAR to your pail of warm water. Vinegar cuts the soap and makes the coat squeaky clean. I keep some in a bottle and just liberally squirt it in the clean warm water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you can...put your kitty in the water and rinse him with the vinegar water. The idea is to 'float the coat' in the water to get the suds all out. You can also pour water where you need it.

If your cat will have no part of being put in a tub of water, well...just pour water over the fur and squeeze it through with your hands
I use my hands to swish the coat in the water.

 

 

 

 

Now, squeeze the coat and make sure you cannot work up suds anywhere..if so, just re-rinse that area.

 

The key to a fluffy coat is no soapy residue.

Next, I get a washcloth and wipe the feet and then wring, and wipe the belly and the wring...do this all over the body.

 

 

 

 

Next, wrap your kitty in a fluffy bath towel.

 

This is when I wash the face. I used that warm washcloth to wash the face.

If this is a white cat, I would add a drop or two of baby shampoo on the washcloth. You can also use a baby toothbrush with soft bristles with a drop or so of baby shampoo and then finish with the washcloth
This is a great time to pull out one leg at a time and clip the nails!

 

 

 

Next I either hold the kitty for a few minutes or put him in the carrier in his towel to dry for a 5-10 min

NEVER NEVER blow dry a cat inside a carrier!!!!!!!!! You can KILL him with a heat stroke!

 

My favorite combs! These are made by
Miller-Forge.

The blunt end curved scissors come from any beauty supply place.

 

 

 

 

 Use those blunt end scissors to trim around the eyes..keeps crusties from forming if the fur is trimmed close to the rims. This is a calm cat...some jerk away. Be careful..or just don't try it. No need for an injury
Unwrap the kitty and with your hands, fluff up all of his fur..it will dry a LOT faster if it is not laying flat...

 

 

 

 

GROOMING PRODUCTS THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE

 

 Now, with your blow-dryer going at a few feet away, begin combing the coat...do one layer at a time, don't try to get all the way through with a wet coat...as it dries, you can work further down.
I prefer to dry UNDERNEATH and the ruff first...

 

These little pet-mate cages (I got mine at Walmart for under $30) are perfect for blow-drying while you clean up. I have a cage dryer, but you could use a people blow dryer as long as there is PLENTY of ventilation and you keep it far enough away so you do not burn the cat.

NEVER NEVER blow dry your cat in a carrier!!! He can get a heat stroke and die!!!

 

Haul him out periodically and do some more combing to get that fur all separated so it will dry!

 

Got a WHITE CAT??? Please click here for face-cleaning info...

 

 

These Combs and brushes are essential..for a persian you need a metal WIDE toothed comb mainly, and the smaller one is for the head and face.

The pin brushes (notice these do NOT have the ball at the tip of each bristle) are for fishing

You can get these at P-K Products
This is a METRO Force Blow dryer for pets. You can get these at Amazon and many other places...follow your Google search results. These dry the animal in half the time. They are rather loud, and quite powerful.
We blow dry our kitties while they sit in ne of these small wite pet crates...you can get these in many places as well!

READY, SET ...SHOW!!!!!!!
Your hard work pays off!!

Fountainhead Deluge being judged by TICA judge, Rene Knapp!

Fountainhead Deluge being judged by CFA judge, Chuck Gradowski