Should You Bathe Your Cat? A Vet's Perspective

[@8698gil]

I've had six cats over a 25 year period and have never had to give a full bath. Once, my 8 year old daughter decided to pour shampoo on our cat's back, and I had to rinse it off in the sink. Fortunately, the cat wasn't too freaked out. But other than that, no baths. My cats have always looked and smelled fresh and clean. I cannot believe how many people say their cats stink. They absolutely do not, under normal circumstances with an indoor cat. I bathed my dog several times, because dogs are different and love to roll around in smelly stuff and dogs do not clean themselves the way cats do.

[@markharrisllb]

In my experience once cats get over 18 they start needing regular bathing for their rear ends. My last two to get over 20 seemed appreciative of the help, I’m sure they realised their hygiene wasn’t what it once was.

[@jesvans]

i have to clean my girls coochy all the time, she is a leaker

[@xzysyndrome]

My cat lived to 18. I had to start bathing him around 16/17. He was cool with it.

[@alicekelly4975]

When I got my kittens they were full of fleas. I followed instructions from The Kitten Lady here on KZbin and they got a dawn soap bath. It was not a great way to start out with my little guys but that worked pretty good at killing the bulk of fleas. We then dosed them with flea meds for kitten weight and then they were happy and flea free.🙂

[@mlsaulnier]

I watched her too

[@tlynn7043]

I did the same. Mine was a rescue covered in fleas and stinky.

[@Noa963V]

Same here 😅

[@nikkis7375]

Thank you for this!! I always hear of people bathing their cats all the time and I hope that a lot of people see this video and see they don’t need to do that frequently (unless it’s needed like you said)

[@tianamarie989]

Are the people who are bathing their cats causing any issues that you see?

[@sw33tnycandy]

​@@tianamarie989 Bingo. It's still a myth that cats don't need baths. Regular brushing and cat saliva is not a replacement for baths. I bathed my cat regularly (monthly) prior to her death. My girl would get dander build-up around the 4w mark despite regular brushing and her normal grooming. Regular baths isn't harmful at all. Lack of bathing is. Cat claws is gross, litter on them, licking them and the places they've been if allowed outside 🤢😷. Then folks want to allow them on the furniture and beds. The fact that many think cats don't need baths makes me wonder if they wash their legs.

[@fuzzyduck1989]

@@sw33tnycandy My Siamese cat is 17 years old, I never bathed him and he was never allowed to go outside. He is healthy and still able to groom himself despite his age... His fur is spotless and doesn't have any odors, cleaner than most humans who shower daily LOL

[@Kriliska]

The worst thing about so many bathtubs and showers in America is that they have showerhead fixed high above and water always blasts at full force. Buy a handheld showerhead with a long enough hose and attach a thingy that allows you to control water pressure. Very easy to install yourself and it will make bathing cats (and dogs) much easier).

[@asmartbajan]

*Sandpaper tongues* indeed. The first time a cat licked me I was _shocked_ at how rough it felt!

[@g.e.boroush5176]

The trick to bathing my very longhaired cat is to not use room temperature water (which feels cold to the cat) but use very warm (not hot of course!) water. A temperature that YOU would like to bath in. But before the bathing starts, put a few towels in your oven and warm them. When you're done with the bath, wrap kitty up in a nice warm towel for the initial dry. And when that cools down, get the next nice cuddly warm towel and use that one. I always bathed my cat on a nice sunny warm day so that he could lie-N-dry in the warm sun afterwards. And I agree that talking to/praising kitty is really helpful.

[@justforthetv]

You put towels you use on your cats in your oven that you use to cook food?

[@olaten6379]

if you don’t feel comfortable using your oven, one or two hot water bottles do a good job of warming towels by wrapping the towels around them and covering with extra towels to make a little towel oven

[@waltersobchak7275]

I use one of those wood double sided bristle brushes made for suede shoes. The ones from the 70s. It was new and I gave it a try. They love it. It does take a lot of brushing to get anywhere or any fur accumulation. The furminator not so much. They run from that so I don’t use it anymore. I honestly think that does more damage than good.

[@moggridge1]

"Accoutrements", eh? 🐱 Thank you, Doctor, for your always great advice.

[@whoopdeedoo876]

My indoor cat is 15 years old and has never needed a bath. He is not dirty or smelly. Dogs can be a different story though.

[@chloenkitty]

I agree. I’ve always taken in homeless adults who are not use to getting baths, they would freak. I slowly start to brush them and use wipes but never gave a bath, they do it themselves.

[@whoopdeedoo876]

@Vanilla_Shorts I've had many cats and I've never given any of them heartworm medicine, and none of them have ever gotten heartworms. They've all been indoor cats.

[@8698gil]

I didn't wash my indoor cats, either. They don't like it and they don't need it. I did wash my dog, who absolutely loved to roll around in smelly stuff.

[@nissrinehassani8118]

@@whoopdeedoo876 did you gave them the vaccins ? my cat has only 3 month old, and I'm worried about the vaccin!???!!!! And the sterilisation

[@ถนุถนอม]

my cat 17 year old never take a bath. but i clean then by wet tower sometime of they are in dirty only

[@julilla1]

I bathed my kitten when we got him from the city animal shelter, and the other one when I got him from a rescue shelter because he smelled so bad (pretty sure the rescue person was a hoarder). After that, it's been 15 years with no baths. They are glossy and sleek and non-smelly. 😄

[@tianamarie989]

Are you sure they are non-smelly? Have you had others from outside your home actively smell your cats and your home? You could be nose blind to the smell.

[@debbieminton5885]

You saved me, The worry about this thinking well looks like their doing well without my intervention, should I. Till they look dirty or smell dirty, I am gonna put this fear away. Thank you.

[@hosseingh17]

Hey doctor...I appreciate from you for this helpful video📸🙂

[@thetheflyinghawaiian]

My boy likes to sit in the rain on our balcony for some reason. Makes him super soft!

[@lisabelle7553]

I brush my cats 3 times a day! I use those really soft human brushes that are detanglers and the kitties cannot get enough!

[@SecretplaceintheGlory]

Could you send a link for the type of brush you use? ❤

[@JoseMolina-ij3xx]

I've only needed to bathe my cat, when I see something that would be too hazardous for a cat to groom out, such as motor oil or paint. Sometimes, I submerge a cat up to their neck in water, and wait for the fleas to climb to the head and pick them off and pop them. The only exception where I've had to regularly need to bathe a cat was when they had Oral SCC. I usually use the cat's body language to indicate how warm or cool the water is. The cat meow and shakes, raise the water temperature a bit. The cat meows and pants, lower the water temperature a bit. If the temperature is right, the cat will not meow much.

[@jernestomartinez6210]

Thank you... but: Outdoors or indoors csts? There's a difference. Mine are rescued from right outside my door, and they are part time indoors cat nowdays. So, how often do they get dirty, wet, flea ladden? . Yep! Pretty much all the time.

[@saramarie7984]

I have a sphynx and I definitely have to bathe my cat! Otherwise she smells like a little old potato.

[@lujainbrooks4825]

Can you please talk about the raw food diet, and the vitamins needed if given the raw food?

[@Ahuerta51.91]

I started bathing my kittens at 8 weeks old and they really enjoyed it 😊

[@MaryBywaters]

I've never bathed a cat until now with my cat's itchy skin.

[@mjc4942]

Got my 1st cat recently. I'm interested in reducing allergens with occasional baths. That's why I was interested in this.

[@sinziana-ruxandrapaltin1850]

Thank you so much for this video! Just what I needed to know.

[@patriciamessenger9009]

I have an 18 year old cat that has been diagnosed with over active thyroid. He has soiled his back paws and doesn’t like them being cleaned, what is my best course of action. Should I try and clean his back paws.

[@losmutatitos5422]

Hey, can you do a video about instinct raw grain free food for cats, it would be amazing!!!

[@heidislz]

I was the only one who could bathe my friends cat. I just kept it calm, but trust me, it hated it. She said she was allergic to the dander.

[@MackenzieCushing-v1j]

Hey sorry to bother i 'm just wondering what I should do I think my kitten plays in his litter and smells like pee what should I do to get the smell out if his fur

[@TheSpar29]

My cat likes to go outside sometimes I want to bath him but he does not like the water

[@amorypeace]

Thank you very much for your info, So usefull👏 I was doing one time a year and because I did not know but the water came clean.

[@Alvicatchannel]

Don't do it, unless necessary. Our Cody cat smells lovely.

[@DioneN]

I take my cat to the professional groomer around 4 times a year, to get a bath and deshedding and her claws clipped much closer than I can! I brush her all the time and she loves it, but I’m not brave enough to bathe her myself. My groomer says she does very well, she mostly hates the dryer!

[@user-uk9ro4gz5x]

How about stay in shampoo sprays for cats like burts bees wax?

[@liztaylor85139]

My cat is almost 3yrs. He is a Siamese and he goes outside and rolls in the dirt? I live in the desert. He's coat is brown tinged from the dirt. He does clean himself but he looks dirty. He would freak if I tried to bath him. What should I do? Leave him alone? He's inside a lot.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

I'd recommend brushing him off a little bit before he goes in to do his own bath.

[@serily4524]

Yes and whoever doesn't bath them needs to bathe them more, bathing is healthy and self care

[@janetmalcolm6191]

Not at all. Cats have oils on their skin. A rough tongue to groom. Bathing not required.

[@delrio4222]

What about fragrance free wipes or the foam that you can supposedly leave in and comb thru?? My cat is always itchy and has dandruff. There’s no way I could bathe him though. Sometimes I wet a warm wash cloth and just wipe him and brush him but he still has itchy skin?

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Yes, you can use these! I would also look into other ways to improve your cat's skin health, as that's probably the source of that itchiness and dandruff.

[@delrio4222]

@@AllAboutCatsYT I give my cat “omega 3 cat fish oil” supplement with his wet food. I feel like he might be allergic to chicken or salmon? I feed him tiki cat wet food in those 2 flavors. I can’t afford to take him to get actual allergy testing done. It’s waaaaay to expensive. However, I do not neglect my cat, he is VERY SPOILED lol.

[@thepetchannel3950]

Thank u for this video! Great information! 🐈 😃

[@PainKiller1.6180]

My cat has flees but she's not dirty, and whenever I try bathing her she runs away. I do have an anti flea spray but is it really enough? Or do I have to bathe her just to make sure

[@LunaJo67WDHTMJ]

I just looked it up in Dutch and they advice strongly against bathing your cat unless you absolutely have to or when you have a show cat, for winning prices. Like I said, NEVER heard of bathing your pet cat. They are perfectly capable of cleaning themselves in normal circumstances. Why would this be different in the States??

[@pixpecs]

Now let’s all say it together: „Thaan Paaper Tongues“ 😂😂😂

[@sabrinam1969]

Can a cat suspended over the bath in a small dog grooming hammock work to safely and not cause them distress whilst necessary bathing?

[@mrmeowmeow710]

Good video as always

[@ianpeddle6818]

I’ve only ever regularly brushed my cars but never had to bathe them. They take care of themselves. They have flea collars for the summer as I live in a rural area and ticks are a risk. I tend to not favour bathing cats unless it’s needed for medical reasons.

[@modifiedwaystattoo5022]

An we get a sphynx cat maintenance video? ❤

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Maybe at some point in the future! Thanks for commenting.

[@masterEEE]

You keep says “adult cats” don’t need baths. What about kittens?

[@waltersobchak7275]

Also I’ve noticed since the surgery every single one of my 1.5 year old boys, their fur has gotten way softer. It’s been tethered months. No longer course like broom hair. Does the lack of nasty testosterone make the fur softer?? I swear I’m not imagining it.

[@elizabethhall9334]

If everything goes as planned, I will be getting a young cat (I'll be looking for adoptable cats around 6 months old) soon. I've never had a cat myself, so I'm trying to do lots of research and get different perspectives. I want to try to walk my cat outside on a leash and harness. If they take to it, I would probably want to help clean them afterward, right? Especially if the ground was damp. Could I sit in the tub with them and just wipe down their fur with a damp washcloth and then rinse off their feetses? Could I use diluted plain baby shampoo? (I want to slowly introduce them to water, harness, and outside the first week I get them, if they're handling the new space well--I'm not gonna spring a bunch of new things on them at once, full-throttle) Thank you!

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Hi Elizabeth, if you don't mind it being a bit wasteful/expensive, wet wipes are a good option for this. Otherwise, you could sit in the tub with the cat and wipe them with a damp cloth. I doubt that shampoo will really be necessary most of the time, but if you do want to use it, either diluted Dawn dish liquid or a cat shampoo would work. Hope this helps!

[@elizabethhall9334]

@@AllAboutCatsYT thank you so much!!

[@mashail9883]

how often should you bathe a persian cat ?

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Depends on how dirty the cat gets. Regular brushing should be enough to get rid of mats in a longhaired cat's coat, but bathing may be helpful on occasion if the cat isn't grooming themselves or gets dirty.

[@TheHeelswatchs]

My 3 adventurous and curious cats love going outside EVERYDAY either just roaming in our yard, hanging out, short nap in the porch, watching bird, morning / afternoon walk. they love walking on the grass, climbing trees, roll over in the soil or stepping on the mud. Yes, rolling over in that dusty soil makes my white cat fur dirty 😔 my other 2 cats have grey and dark colors, so we didn't really notice the changes color in their fur. Why, I let them outside? Because They get agitated & stress out if I keep them indoor all day. I would say they are indoor and outdoor cat. Their having morning-afternoon nap in the house, specifically in the sofa / carpet. During the night, they love sleeping on the floor or in our beds. Need your advice on how often should I bathe them. Thank you Dr. Sarah

[@BeelzebubtheNihilist]

What about if they just appear greasy looking

[@micahsabaduquia1613]

It's okay to bath a cat sneezing and have a watery eye??? Please answer.

[@lenehbest]

What about cat wipes?

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

They're a good option and definitely allow you to clean your cat more frequently, making them a good choice for cats who tend to get messy! We have an article reviewing the best ones here: cats.com/best-cat-wipes

[@lenehbest]

@@AllAboutCatsYT thank you! So glad to have found your channel.

[@caitlinsampson269]

So would you saying using waterless shampoo for dander reducing for human allergies once a week isn’t good either?

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Hey Caitlin, I'm not Dr. Wooten nor a vet, but to my understanding, the reason to avoid frequent bathing is to prevent drying the skin and stressing your cat. If your cat's skin is not dried and they are comfortable with the waterless shampoo, I see no reason not to use it once a week. Hope this helps! - Mallory

[@samarigosa]

This is a terrible stress for them an you should avoid it if it is not necessary. This could also ruin the trust they have on you. Cats can wash themselves, as the doctor says. They need the oils produced by their skin to mantain the integrity of their fur and thus regulate their temperature.

[@gypsycatpeople]

Waterless shampoo isn't a good idea for cats. To help with allergies, bathe your cat once a week with a degreasing shampoo for cats and don't forget to blow them dry. (I'm a cat groomer.) Some recommendations: dawn dish soap, Lespooch F&T shampoo (for dogs, but it's widely used in the cat world too), Chubbs bars, Chris Christensen has a cat line that's decent.

[@vanessa_the_mindset_maven]

My Kuro smells like a teddy bear 🧸❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️( I LOVE HIM SOO MUUUUUCH)

[@gypsycatpeople]

I groom cats for a living. I agree with Dr. Wooten for the most part, but there are benefits of bathing your cat that she doesn't mention, such as...the Fel d 1 protein in cat saliva is responsible for people having allergies to cats and when cats lick themselves, they cover their fur with the protein. Washing your cat weekly helps minimize the allergy causing protein in the cat's fur. Washing removes dander and dirt on the skin level that licking doesn't. Regular washing also minimizes shedding hair on your clothes and around your home...moreso than brushing alone. Believe it or not, cats are greasy, thus they need special degreasing shampoo to get them clean. From my experience, cats enjoy getting bathed regularly-maybe not the first time, but the ones that get regular baths enjoy it. If you bathe your cat, it's important to blow them dry or it can cause mats to form. Having your cat bathed is more of a personal decision rather than a right or wrong decision.

[@ratioetscientia]

The allergy thing isn’t really a benefit for the cat though. That’s a very specific situation and I’m not traumatizing my cat just on the off chance someone with an allergy might come round. They can take an antihistamine.

[@jeanmorell1947]

I’m not in favor of bathing my cats unless there clear cut reason. Even when they are seniors sometimes brushing or wet cloth dip in vinegar just wipe down. I had a cat Flaxseed hated me giving meds but didn’t care it he was bathed or water being wet or shampoo. But my other cats hate it it’s dangerous. I would get a bath bag there are videos that show how use bath bag.

[@kalynxmikazuki]

My cat smells, like his fur is always on different direction, I barely see him bathe. He's always sleeping or wondering around. But he loves cuddling with me, and I can't really let him when he smells like old rags😐. I bathe him every 2 -3 weeks. Depends when he's too stinky.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

It sounds like your cat may need some help from a vet-not grooming and allowing the coat to get very messy is a common sign of illness.

[@Gregory......]

Hello, I have a question on teeth cleaning ? When you take your cat to the vet, to get it's teeth cleaned. Do they normally X-Ray the cat's teeth, or is that something you have to request ?

[@juliac3933]

Most vets should include it but it doesn’t hurt to ask

[@nikkis7375]

X rays are usually expensive so you might be able to tell by the price alone if they are charging a lot of money for it

[@Gregory......]

@@nikkis7375 yeah I know it cist a lot, but I can't get around the fact that my cat might have cavities, and I just don't know

[@juliac3933]

@@Gregory...... fun fact: kitties don’t get cavities like humans do. However there are other common dental conditions, like feline oral resorptive lesions (FORLs) that x-rays can check for

[@워녕이-x1g]

does Devon rex cat needs bath？

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Yes! It's recommended that you bathe your Devon Rex every few weeks. Good question!

[@barbarasteffenhagen8322]

Totally off topic, you’ve got awesome cheekbones and face shape, Doc!

[@waltersobchak7275]

She part Native American I’d bet my check on it. My mother had real high cheek bones she was Irish though.

[@Solaventus]

My cat will oddly enough start to smell like Bees wax over time and I have to bath him when it gets bad.

[@mjwsmile]

We have been bathing once a week, hoping it helps with shedding and dander, to lessen allergies!

[@Mike-dy8sj]

Did you watch the video? Your literally torturing your cat once a week.

[@bluered5527]

I heard you have to bathe them once a year, so I tried today as he turned 1, got scratched all over and he's not much cleaner, won't be trying again for awhile LMAO.

[@Gromitdog1]

my cat goes out and plays in dirt and looks like a stray cat now.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Sounds like he's having fun. :-) Make sure to keep him safe.

[@silentvalue]

The cat in my profile pic loooooves to be brushed. I have 5 different ones for different areas. In certain areas along the neck or ears where they can't reach, my other cat will allogroom and they help each other with those spots. They are happy and healthy.

[@Iamsnaill]

That "cat" looks like a person.

[@sarahzz8061]

Is once a month too much?

[@LunaJo67WDHTMJ]

I had cats for over 30 years and never once had to bathe one. Maybe it's a cultural thing? I live in the Netherlands and never heard of it.....

[@jc.1191]

My cat says no

[@adeizaschecter1736]

I need help for bath my old 15 years cat. Please send me addresses to call. I live Yorkshire in Manhattan .

[@damnjustassignmeone]

I’ve never even brushed my cat. She keeps her coat soft and beautiful on her own.

[@obsoletepoc7050]

Same, we have never bathed or brushed or gone at the claws of our cat, they are completely fine! The fur is sooo soft, he always looks so clean and his claws are fine! He deals with them himself scratching at the side of a tree or something!

[@fredygump5578]

My cat is very interested in the dirty cat photos....not sure why?

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Interesting!

[@minniegarcia692]

Well, I like to bathe my cat because I do not like it to stink! Dirty cats are not allowed in my house.

[@MaryBywaters]

My 20 year old cat has developed skin issues since being vaccinated a couple of weeks ago inspite of my request for her not to be the vet did it without my knowledge. She has seemingly had a bad reaction to the vaccination. She has a few symptoms the most annoying is her itchy skin and her over grooming until her fur is wet. Next and worryingly her behaviour has changed and she has taken to sleeping in the back junk room. Yes I know what that is a sign of. But she is eating well - uncharacteristically finishing the red meat diluted with warm water and she is having healthy bowel movements. I'm looking for new dry food for her. And unless her eating changes I'll just be on high alert watching her. She hangs outside in the garden during the day and seems happy enough except when she squawks wanting my attention. She seems to have lost hearing though sometimes I think she answers my calls so it might just be when she is in a deep sleep. She has missed the mark when jumping up on a couple of occassions bless her. I'm worried about her in general. Of course I'm looking out for signs of deterioration now and will seek veterinary help when necessary. As to the bathing I've bathed her 3 times about a week apart. It's hot weather here right now so that is good. Once with colliodal oatmeal, once with coconut oil and lastly with a pet shampoo with oatmeal and aloe vera. Better but still itchy. My question is how often should I bathe her considering that her symptoms are still evident?

[@scottshomo2205]

I get what she's saying but you don't what your house to smell bad you should always bath your cat

[@joniangelsrreal6262]

Barking… yes ..barking… never again

[@kaykaym1770]

This is just her opinion. This is not based on facts! Long-haired cats need frequent bathing. A mistake that vets make all the time is prescribing different types of food to long haired cats for Constant throwing up. When in fact it’s hairballs for being a long haired cat! people find that bathing their cat keeps hairballs in check!

[@kayfaith]

No ma’am if I bathe myself and my human kids the fur babies are getting bathed too. Once a month minimum!

[@josephtran-day6281]

Welp im bathing my cats regardless due to my allergy 😂

[@mydog1974]

Brushing is a bonding never bathe your cat

[@OMGFrijoles]

Teething Young cats fur smell like gingivitis. BATH YOUR CAT!

[@missBrittanyLynne]

Bath as a kitten but only once a year as adult if needed.

[@peterrhoads7253]

What does gingivitis smell like?

[@peterrhoads7253]

I only bathe mine when they get poo all over bum

[@kandycandy1]

Only of is very dirty! Yes! Yucky!

[@logansturin1199]

Cat's don't need to bath.... except in few exceptions... Because hair goes inside their stomach after bath they suck their own body wet hair falls down throughg tongue

[@masseiy]

So this is why cat homes smell nasty

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

No, I don't think so. An unbathed cat smells fresh-seriously! If the house smells bad, it's probably because the litter box(es) are not properly maintained, and the cats may also be urinating outside of the box and leaving long-lasting odors in the carpet or other soiled areas.

[@lolitamoonprod]

Do you have an Instagram profile? there are countless videos of people bathing cats. Cats who appear healthy and do not seem to need bathing.

[@nura111ful]

ok, i never cut my cats nails because it is bad for them! so thank you but i don't follow your advice.