Bathing a Cat

Some of you know about my 14 year old boy, Muffin. He had cancer surgery a year ago this past May, Long story short, the vet says a tumor has come back. We have opted no more surgery or intense treatment. He also deals with thyroid issues and takes medicine for it as well as a steroid. Because of all he deals with on a daily basis now, he has practically quit grooming himself. Hubby is going to don gloves to help me. I want to bathe him around his behind area as he is becoming really smelly. My question is, what kind of soap or shampoo would be safe to use. I only want to use a little, just enough to get rid of the urine smell. Also any suggestions how to go about it are appreciated. I have never attempted to bathe him, so I am not sure how he will react.

I'm sorry Muffin is going through this..

I've always bathed cats due to allergies, but I've always got mine used to it as soon as they've adjusted to my home.

If he's smelly, you really are going to need to submerge at least his bottom.. in my experience it's fast and less traumatising than trying to wash it any other way.  If you make the water 'cat temperature'.. ie just right... there's much less of a shock and sometimes you can get them in and out with them hardly noticing.. if it's warmer or cooler the sensation hits and all hell can break loose! Do it in a really big sink or basin so that you can shampoo and rinse in the same water. Just ease his bottom in, massage it a bit with the shampoo then rinse in the same water. 

I use Ecostore Baby Shampoo, chamomile & lavender - I think it's only available in Australia though.  It's absolutely non-toxic and the chamomile and lavender settles the cats.  Obviously it's not cat shampoo, but I swear by it.

 I also find there's nothing like a bath to get a cat grooming again.  I dry them as best I can with a towel (I never use hair dryers) but they just have to get right in there themselves

I have no idea if that's helpful.. it's just my own experience.

I'm so sorry to read about dear old muffin, what a wonderful looking cat by the way, I'm not sure if will help but maybe you should concider trimming the hair around his bottom. I always put on a big jumper my cats like to be held and like to hold on when I bathe them. good luck for you and muffin

I have used baby shampoo on my cats when needed.

God bless you and your hubby for the excellent care Muffin has.

I put a towel in the bottom of the sink so it doesn't feel as slippery to the cat when it is paddling around in the water.