Written on August 19, 2009 – 1:00 am | by Buzz |

 

For sure, yes, I LOVE my bath.  Which, since I am a cat and many cats HATE getting a bath, is, I know, a little strange.  But, my people got me started into the bathing routine when I was just a tiny kitten.  I have attempted to jump into the shower when it has been occupied but they always throw me out for some reason.

Anyways, I really like smelling fresh and being soft and clean so I get really excited when I see Coby getting a bath because I know chances are, if there is time, I will get one too!  Coby is white, and being as how he is low to the ground, he gets really dirty really often.  Coby endures his bath.  I, on the other hand, like to supervise the gathering of all the supplies and towels.

In our home every member of the livestock family gets at least four “seasonal” baths a year, but, as I mentioned, I LOVE MY BATH so I get bathed much more frequently and so does Coby.

Here is our check-list of bath day activities:

1.  First, we get brushed with a FURminator to take away any loose hair and dirt.  For Coby, hair mats are also cut away.

The next two pre-bath activities I really do not like are —

2.  Our toenails are clipped and checked to be sure they are healthy and that the pads of our feet are healthy.

3.  Long hair around our, um, “private parts” are clipped so that nothing accidently gets stuck when we are using those “private parts” for “private elimination” activities in the future!

Sometimes, the first three pre-bath steps take place the day before the scheduled bath, especially if all eight of us are going to get dunked on the same day!

Now, on to the more pleasurable bath duties:

4.  We gather plenty of towels — some for drying and one to lay in the bottom of the sink or laundry tub for us to stand on to keep us from slipping.  Those Dollar Store foam bath mats work well too.

5.  We use “Miracle II” soap because it is all natural, organic and contains no chemicals or ingredients that can irritate the skin or digestive system when we lick later on.  Did you know that most shampoo made for pets is toxic!  Just check the label.  You really do not need flea shampoo if you groom and clean your pet regularly and frequently and use Miracle II soap and the Miracle II Neutralizer.  If you can’t get Miracle II, then use a non-toxic, organic soap.  If your pet has fleas (by accident of course), then use Diatomaceous Earth and powder their hair coat with it once they are completely dry.  Powder their sleeping area as well if you have a real problem with fleas.  Then bath your pet family member a few days later.

6.  Sometimes we get bathed in a sink, if it’s just Coby and me.  If everyone is getting a bath on the same day, my people put a hard plastic laundry tub (without the legs attached to it) into the people bathtub.  This gives us a smaller spot to move around in and we can grab onto the edges of the laundry tub to support ourselves.   The shower sprayer does an excellent job for wetting and then for rinsing.  My people like the laundry tub because it keeps us contained in a smaller spot than a full people tub and those who don’t like getting bathed are easier to handle.  I, on the other hand, LOVE my bath and so I cooperate and enjoy.

7.  After getting hosed down with warm — not hot — water, they apply a little Miracle II soap and then they lather it all up with one of those bath balls made out of netting.  Of course they are always careful to not get any suds in my eyes or ears.  They leave the soap on for a few minutes and then rinse it out thoroughly.  This is the embarrassing part when I don’t want anyone to see me.  I look like a drowned rat! While we are waiting for the soap to kill any hitch-hikers that we might be harbouring, we chat.  Oh, I forgot, for some of the other felines in the family have a collar on them during the bath so that the bather has something to grab on to to encourage potential escapees to stay in the tub!

8.  Next, my people gently squeeze the extra water out of my hair and then they wrap me in a BIG towel and dry me off.  They have tried using a blow dryer on me but, to be honest, I freak over that nasty piece of business so, towel drying is where it is at.  This past few baths they have also used a shammy (like a ShamWow)  or a micro-fibre towel to help dry us and they work better than a regular towel for getting even more water off.

9.  Next, with my body still wrapped up, someone takes a wet cloth without soap and wipes off my face and cleans out my ears.

10.  Then, they spray me all over with Miracle II Neutralizer and rub it into my hair and skin.  That helps keep my skin healthy and my hair soft and silky.  It also makes it less likely that pesky fleas will stay on me.  Although I am an indoors only pussy, the dogs sometimes pick up hitch-hiker fleas so, you can never be too careful.  Even when they don’t have time to use the Neutralizer step, the Miracle II  soap discourages fleas.  I LOVE my bath!

11.  Then we get to dry off the rest of the way by ourselves, which is why they usually plan bath days for warm, sunny days.  Coby likes to get wrapped up in another big, dry towel after being towelled dry and “Neutralized” and then he always goes for a nap, all wrapped up for an hour or so.  I think he feels like it is like going to one of those fancy people spas!

All during our baths, our people are very kind and gentle and speak in soft, encouraging tones to settle the nerves of those who are less than happy about bath time.  I can’t imagine why anyone would hate getting clean and fresh, but hey, to each their own I guess.  So, just like people, no two cats or dogs are alike so don’t assume all cats hate baths because I LOVE MY BATH!

By squeaky clean, bath loving Buzz.