Cat v.s Blow Dryer

[Lennybells]

We like our cat clean. About every month or so Hobbes gets a bath. He’s been fine with the process (bath and blow dry) since he’s been getting it done since he was young. But recently, he has been getting very skittish about the blow dryer. He will climb on me and sometimes I get scratched. I can’t leave him soaking wet though. I do not want him to be super stressed! I think it’s too loud, so maybe I should invest in a happy hoodie?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I don’t know what a happy hoodie is, so all I can say is to buy a blow dryer with a diffuser and hot/cool settings and see if that helps.

You can also towel dry your cat and then brush after the fur is dry.

Tbh, unless your cat goes outside and gets dirty a lot, has debilitating illnesses that affect his grooming ability, or is a show cat, baths are really unnecessary

 

[Margot Lane]

I have never met a cat that needed a bath— they’re like self cleaning ovens! Work really hard at it too! They’re probably cleaner than most people.

 

[Caspers Human]

One thing about cats is that they depend on their sense of smell to survive in their environment. Scent cues are very important to a cat's sense of security. When you bathe a cat, all of their scent is washed away, making it hard for the cat to use those scent cues. That can make a cat feel less secure in its own territory, causing anxiety.

When you come home from the grocery store with a shopping bag filled with cat food, your cat will rub its face on the package to leave its scent behind. While it is true that cats scent mark objects, like this, as a means of marking territory and taking possession of things, cats also mark things to say they are safe. When a cat rubs on a can of cat food, it is actually saying, "This is safe to eat because my human brought it home for me." When you take that can out of the cupboard, the cat will know that it has seen it before and think, "This is food that I can eat."

Cat do similar things all around the house. They know that their bed is safe because it smells familiar. The know that their cat toys belong to them because of their smell. Cats can even tell when there are other cats nearby based on scent. Even if you keep all your doors and windows closed, if an intact cat from the neighborhood pees outside your house, your cat can still smell it and will know that their is another cat lurking outside.

When you bathe a cat, needlessly, you are erasing all of those scents, leaving your cat confused and anxious. It would be like a human wearing a blindfold and trying to walk around the house without bumping into things.

The last time we bathed any of our cats was when Casper had to go to the vet because he was constipated. He had to get "cleaned out," so to speak and he came home with his hind end all messy. He was too dirty, back there, to clean himself properly so we had to do it for him. I gave him a bath but I only washed his backside. He cried the whole time. I felt so sorry for him!

It was funny, though... Once I got him all washed up and dried off, he realized that his butt didn't smell like poop, anymore, and he seemed almost thankful!

If the cat gets dirty or gets into something harmful, a bath is definitely in order. If the cat has a health problem that makes a bath necessary, by all means. If there is somebody in the house who is allergic to cats, more frequent baths might help but, beyond that, you really shouldn't bathe a cat more than once or twice per year, if at all.

Bathing cats causes stress, just by itself. Even if you think your cat is used to taking baths, it's still a big stressor. Afterward, there will always be a period of stress for the cat when it can't establish its own scent markings throughout its territory. It's going to take a period of time, days to weeks, for the cat's scent profile to return before your cat will feel secure in its own territory again.

I betcha'... If you bathe your cat less frequently, his daily behavior will change. I bet he will seem more relaxed and less anxious around the house.

If you keep the baths down to the level of "spring cleaning" or the occasional flea bath, I'm sure your cat will seem a lot happier.

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

Cats are so fastidious about cleaning themselves. I have never given a bath routinely. Help with 'spot' cleaning when say our cat was very sick and going to the vets a lot and had accidents in his carrier or our 21 year old with severe arthritis that could not reach certain areas or just overall difficulty in grooming. Otherwise I think in is completely unnecessary.
Maybe with the exception of Sphinx cat , it is my understanding that they need somewhat regular bathing.

 

[Caspers Human]

Forgot to mention: We keep a supply of cat-safe wet wipes on hand, just in case one of or cats gets into a mess and needs a quick cleanup.

There are always times when, for instance, a cat gets all covered in dust and cobwebs from climbing behind cabinets and furniture. While you can always use a clean cloth and some warm water to clean the cat, it's just more convenient to have a package of wet wipes on hand for just such emergencies.

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

Forgot to mention: We keep a supply of cat-safe wet wipes on hand, just in case one of or cats gets into a mess and needs a quick cleanup.

There are always times when, for instance, a cat gets all covered in dust and cobwebs from climbing behind cabinets and furniture. While you can always use a clean cloth and some warm water to clean the cat, it's just more convenient to have a package of wet wipes on hand for just such emergencies.

Yes wipes work very well. We found them particularly useful for our very arthritic cat.

 

[Caspers Human]

When you have an all-white cat, wet wipes frequently come in handy!

 

[iPappy]

What kind of blow dryer are you using?
Happy hoodies are great but not all cats accept them. Are you drying him by yourself?

 

[FriendofFerals]

I have never met a cat that needed a bath— they’re like self cleaning ovens! Work really hard at it too! They’re probably cleaner than most people.

I've got one with IBD that steps in his crap and then sits down after leaving a happy trail of poo prints all over the house...then he grooms himself with poopy paws. He smells like crap, literally, and I have to bath him. I do it in the sink, warm water, butt end first in the sink while I scrub with one hand and the rest of him under my arm/hip, then I turn him around and do the front. Resistance is futile.

Same goes for my mostly blind/severe cataract cat who steps in poo from IBD cat and knows it but can't get rid of it so wipes it on the walls, doors, and himself. Sink adventure time. Mild shampoo, towel dry, blow drier on low for the Nebelung with the long hair (cataract cat) but usually a good towel dry does most of the work.

 

[Cat McCannon]

Under normal circumstances, it’s cleaner and healthier to brush your cat every day. Brushing stimulates healthy skin oils and reduces problems with hairballs and allergens.

 

[Lennybells]

Hi. I don’t know what a happy hoodie is, so all I can say is to buy a blow dryer with a diffuser and hot/cool settings and see if that helps.

You can also towel dry your cat and then brush after the fur is dry.

Tbh, unless your cat goes outside and gets dirty a lot, has debilitating illnesses that affect his grooming ability, or is a show cat, baths are really unnecessary

He likes to go on our balcony and sit. We keep it clean but his back legs get black with dirt.

 

[Caspers Human]

Having a package of wet wipes for cats on hand might help.

Like I said, above, our cat, Casper is all white. He likes to go spelunking behind cabinets and furniture and other places where he gets dusty and covered with cobwebs. He doesn't seem to mind but a white cat covered with dust and cobwebs is just an unsightly mess. He'll probably spread that dust all around the house, too.

Yes, we do dust behind the furniture but, sometimes, cats have a way of finding the dustiest places where you forget to look.

Anyhow, it doesn't happen very often but, when it does, Casper needs to get a cleaning. Wet wipes are perfect for just those situations. We could use washcloth and some warm water but that means we'd have to keep the cat still while somebody goes to get the cloth. It's much easier and more convenient to grab some kitty wipes from the cupboard.

Casper puts up a bit of a fuss when we have to clean him like this but, when all is said and done, I think he appreciates it.

If your cat goes out on the balcony and comes back all dusty, some kitty wipes might be just the thing.

At very least, it might help you extend the time between full-on baths.

I've got one with IBD that steps in his crap... He smells like crap, literally, and I have to bath him.

I feel for ya'!! I've only had to bathe Casper two times. Both, for the same reason. He cries the whole time! It breaks my heart when I have to do it but it's either a bath or else Casper will be a litteral $#!††¥ kitty!

 

[Lennybells]

What kind of blow dryer are you using?
Happy hoodies are great but not all cats accept them. Are you drying him by yourself?

Usually I blow dry him in a small room and I try to keep him close to the ground so he doesn’t get hurt. I just use a hair dryer. We live in a small apartment so we can’t get a huge dryer. We might try the happy hoodie and see how it goes.

 

[iPappy]

I'd try the hoodie. Do you do this by yourself? Sometimes a hand towel draped over their ears and neck works if you gently hold onto it under their chin.
Make sure the dryer has a cool setting and keep it moving, not aiming in one spot for too long

 

[Alldara]

He likes to go on our balcony and sit. We keep it clean but his back legs get black with dirt.

You might consider putting those straw outdoor carpets down for him then when he goes out. They can be bought at the dollar store.

The big solve for these things is really to do less and find a way where you have to do less.

A straw broom to sweep the balcony daily also helps. And some soapy water and a scrub brush yearly.

 

[Alldara]

Another thing, you can clean the dirty parts only. So just bathing his legs and belly and leaving the top of him (if he doesn't roll). So that you don't need to blowdrt so much of him.

 

[Lennybells]

Yeah or the wipes could work too.

 

[MikeTivi]

We like our cat clean. About every month or so Hobbes gets a bath. He’s been fine with the process (bath and blow dry) since he’s been getting it done since he was young. But recently, he has been getting very skittish about the blow dryer. He will climb on me and sometimes I get scratched. I can’t leave him soaking wet though. I do not want him to be super stressed! I think it’s too loud, so maybe I should invest in a happy hoodie?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cats always stressed by blow dryer. Because of the sudden noise. As soon as there’s a slight sudden noise, my Ragdoll cat runs back to her little bed. Recently I have seen some new products, pet dryer box. However, I haven't tried them yet due to the price. Maybe you can check them out.

 

[iPappy]

Cats always stressed by blow dryer. Because of the sudden noise. As soon as there’s a slight sudden noise, my Ragdoll cat runs back to her little bed. Recently I have seen some new products, pet dryer box. However, I haven't tried them yet due to the price. Maybe you can check them out.

It has been 20+ years since I've seen a drying box, if you use one please do so only under supervision. I have heard horror stories where the boxes, temperature, and/or timers malfunctioned and pets have died in them. We had a grooming customer who was very nervous about leaving her dogs because her last dog was a victim of overheating in one. They can have their place, but just be cautious and keep a close eye on them. (BTW, I love your username!)