How to Bathe Your Cat Without Getting Scratched to Bits

Last Updated on June 22, 2021 by Holly Anne Dustin

Yes, you can bathe your cat without getting scratched to pieces. Your furbaby can learn to tolerate, or even enjoy, a nice bath; despite the prevailing myth that all cats hate water.

A kitten can be bathed as young as 6 weeks with a quality kitten shampoo. The earlier it becomes part of his regular routine the easier it will be to bathe him as an adult. But even an adult cat can be bathed without undue stress to either you or your cat. And you will finish the job scatch-free.

Why Bathe Your Cat

It is important that you are able to bathe your cat without getting scratched. Even low-maintenance cats can get into something toxic or sticky that you need to get washed right off. Every cat is going to have a potty issue at some point that needs a bath to remedy especially if your cat is longhaired. Your furbaby could develop a medical condition that requires regular bathing. Or someone in your family could develop allergies.

Bathing teaches Kitty to allow handling in an unfamiliar way without scratching the handler. My show cats need to be able to handled by a lot of people that handle differently. But even cats that don’t show have to be handled by vet techs and your vet.

Making bathing a positive experience helps Kitty get used to unfamiliar handling in future situations.

How to Bathe Your Cat

Bathing a cat isn’t as hard as people think; even if you have never bathed a cat before. The most important thing I can stress is that you need to stay calm and don’t freak out. Kitty needs to trust you, and trust that you have things under control, or she will freak out too. That’s when you risk being clawed to death while bathing your cat.

This post may contain affiliate links. Life and Cats is a Chewy affiliate and a member of the Amazon Associates program and as such we earn a small commission when you shop through our our links and banners. It doesn’t change the amount you pay. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

Preparing to Give Your Cat a Bath

Clip Kitty’s claws first so she doesn’t hurt you if she tries to get away. Be sure she is brushed out without any mats. Don’t get mats wet. It is like felting wool and will make it much worse to remove the mat.

Put a rubber mat or a towel in the bottom of your bathtub or kitchen sink. It makes Kitty feel more secure to have something to sink his claws into instead of sliding around.

Organize your supplies before you start. The last thing you want is an upset, wet, cat flying through your house because you had to grab your shampoo.

Click here to check out this post for more cat grooming tips 

Wash Your Cat

Wet your cat’s coat. You can use a sprayer or a pitcher. Mixing a little bit of shampoo into the water will help saturate the coat. Make sure he is thoroughly wet. Don’t get water in his eyes. Be sure to keep his ears dry to prevent infections.

Apply shampoo, dilute according to manufacturers’ instructions or use an amount about the size of a quarter. Shampoo the coat. Don’t get his face wet.  You may have to shampoo more than once if Kitty is extra greasy or dirty.

Rinse Kitty Thoroughly

Rinse the cat until the coat is squeaky clean.This is where most people go wrong. You need to rinse a lot more than you think you do. I tell people to rinse until they think Kitty is rinsed and then rinse 5 times more.

Most cats don’t need conditioner but silky long coats and dry or damaged coats might need a light rinse. You don’t want to add anything heavy. I only use a light rinse on my Persians. Again, be sure you rinse thoroughly.

You can keep a white cat’s clean and bright with a brightening shampoo.

Dry Your Cat

Once you rinse out kitty, dry her by wrapping her in an absorbent towel. I like to keep one in the dryer to help dry and warm Kitty. Switch the wet towels for dry.

Use paper towels, or a microfiber cloth, to dry her face, legs, and tail. Pat, don’t rub or you’ll encourage matting. You can dry Kitty with a hair dryer on low and cool, or preferably use a high velocity pet dryer, once she’s as dry as you can get her with towels.

Your short- or medium-haired cats might not need blow drying, but it will blow out loose fur and cut down the shedding. You will need to blow dry long-haired cats or they will tangle and mat. After the cat is dry comb him out to make sure there are no mats.

Reward Kitty When You Finish

Reward her when you’re done. Give her a favorite treat, plenty of cuddles, and her favorite foods. Praise her. Make bath time as positive as possible.

What Not to Do When Bathing Your Cat:

• Don’t use restraints like “Cat bags” or grooming tethers. Restraints will make Kitty freak out from the lack of control in an already unfamiliar experience.
• Scruffing.  Scruffing is often recommended as a good way to handle cats because it is similar to how their mothers carry them as kittens. But mother cats don’t carry older kittens or cats that way. Scruffing is an aggressive act to cats beyond kittenhood. The only time cats would be handled in that way in nature would be by a predator or during mating. It is not calming. Scruffing is sometimes necessary in an emergency situation; such as if you are handling a feral cat, a cat in pain, or an aggressive cat. There are much better ways to handle your furbaby for routine bathing.
• Yell and scream and freak out. You’ll only scare her. Losing control is the worst thing you can do. Kitty depends on you to hold it together.
• Make it a punishment. You want to make bathing and grooming a positive experience.

Help Your Cat Get Used to Bathing So She Won’t Scratch You.

• Start young. Obviously if you have an adult cat you’ll possibly have to overcome more resistance. Take time to train Kitty to tolerate the bathing process if you can. If she rolled in fly-tape like my Mocha, well then you just kind of have to go for it.
• Let him play with dripping water in the sink or tub.
• Drop a motorized fish toy in a shallow tub of water or float some ping pong balls. If the tub doesn’t entice, try a heavy, large casserole type dish.
• Let Kitty to play in the dry bathtub. Then add a little bit of water so she’s used to the feeling on her paws.
• Wipe her with a wet washcloth to get her used to the feel on water in her coat.
• Don’t discipline her with a spray bottle of water. Not only is it ineffective, but she won’t see water as a positive experience.
• Churu or similar treats might help a food motivated cat. Put her in a shallow tub and let her lick her treat while you dampen her coat.

Cats have a well deserved reputation of being very clean animals. In fact, they are rather vain. (As well they should be.) Once Kitty gets used to being bathed, she will appreciate being all fresh and clean after a bath. My cats are more playful and social after being groomed. I’ve heard the same from many of my clients. They feel good and they know they look good. Make it a positive routine and you too will be able to bathe your cat without getting scratched to pieces.