Bath Time rant

[Bobbafett]

I am seriously so upset right now.

Ever since I got Mercedes, she's a horror to bath. She literally freaks out, and wants to claw you to get out. She howls, and bites and tonight she seriously sounded like she was having a panic attack and making weird noises.

Ive tried the sink, the tub, a bucket. Having the water running, and not. Having a towel down for traction. I've even tried getting in the tub with her. Even having grandma help hold her.

My grandmother literally thought I was going to come through the bathroom wall with all the noise she makes.

She's TERRIFIED. Mercedes hates the water. And I'm scared of bathing her because now I'm covered in scratches. She even scratched herself on her paw this time.

I'm not sure what to do.



Help?

 

[Bobbafett]

Let me put it this way:

I've bathed cats that have never been in water before and I can handle them no issue.

With Mercedes, I feel like I'm going to snap a leg or something trying to hold her down.

 

[nfaerie]

Let me put it this way:

I've bathed cats that have never been in water before and I can handle them no issue.

With Mercedes, I feel like I'm going to snap a leg or something trying to hold her down.

Have you tried a pet shower head? Cleopatra hates going in a tub of water Full Stop. She didn't mind it so much when I poured it cupful by cupful over her but I still had to hold her still. So I brought a hose thing with a shower head and plugged it over my tap. She gets a good drenching now. It sounds like bathing Mercedes is a two person job. One holding her still and another washing her.

 

[nfaerie]

Maybe a kitty harness? One of those ones that wrap around her body with material? Or you might just have to baby wipe her. Have you tried just wiping her with a damp warm cloth??

 

[Bobbafett]

Have you tried a pet shower head? Cleopatra hates going in a tub of water Full Stop. She didn't mind it so much when I poured it cupful by cupful over her but I still had to hold her still. So I brought a hose thing with a shower head and plugged it over my tap. She gets a good drenching now. It sounds like bathing Mercedes is a two person job. One holding her still and another washing her.

I havent tried that but in all honesty, I don't see it working. I'll try next bath time.

I really don't want my grandmother having to help because she's diabetic and got scratched up good the last time I got her to help and she's still not healed yet.

 

[Bobbafett]

Maybe a kitty harness? One of those ones that wrap around her body with material? Or you might just have to baby wipe her. Have you tried just wiping her with a damp warm cloth??

The cloth method doesn't really keep her clean. It's good for inbetween but doesn't keep her pink areas, pink.

I don't think the harness would be good either because she just wants out. She tries to cling to you to get her out!

 

[PrimateLove]

I am sorry you are having these issues

Things that helped Emma calm down for her baths:

1. We give her protein based baby food (i.e. turkey with turkey gravy, chicken with chicken gravy, etc.) before her bath and right after. Once she realized she had a treat coming after the bath, she accepted it a lot more.
2. Filling the tub up to her mid chest before bringing her into the bathroom. Not sure if it is a security thing, but she will just stand there, not try to jump and take the bath.

Good luck and hope you find a method that works for you and your baby!

 

[Inflamed]

We don't have a bathtub so we just wash the boys with scrubby gloves drenched in soapy water and it works pretty well. We put them on a towel and get to work with the gloves, they don't like it but neither of them was bathed in a tub or sink by their breeders so it's an ok compromise

 

[andreanar]

Hmmm, my Jinx would do something close to this for awhile. My solution was to fill the sink up to her chest, as PrimateLove said. Before taking Jinx to the sink I would put a pile of soft cat food or chicken baby food on the counter. On the way to the sink I would let her lick some babyfood, or whatever I was using, off my arm. Show her babyfood thats on counter, put her in sink and do what you can while she licks up food.
Sometimes I couldnt get her all washed, but little by little she got better.
She still doesnt LOVE her bath, but she tolerates it with some yowling. And I have to talk baby talk and keep kissing her head the whole time.

Good luck.

 

[ElvirasMum]

Try trimming her nails before you bath her so she doesn't slice you to ribbons!

 

[Embracing-Joyx4]

My Anastazia isn't crazy about baths either my husband helps me and I just make it real quick hit the dirty spots and out. fortunately she is my cleanest kitty and really doesn't require baths often. I think you got some good advice I would wash her with a baby wash cloth and warm water every few days leading up to bath time.

Christina

 

[Bobbafett]

The deep water doesn't seem to work.

I'll try maybe the glove idea, and see if shes willing to munch out during bath time!

 

[Lickleone]

My boy hates bathe acts like I'm dipping him in acid so what I do to make it a bit quicker and easier us I put a towel down I lather him up and rub him outside the bath then I quickly put him in to just ribose it off then I stand aside and let him jump out by himself.. Then I wrap him up to dry him.. This makes it go quick and a little less traumatic I don't think he'll ever get use to it I thin he would be by now so I try just make it as quick as possible