Cats are well-known for grooming. They’re normally able to keep themselves fresh and clean with their tongues, jaws, and paws without any outside help.
However, your pregnant cat may want assistance in remaining clean at times. If your feline pal is covered in something harmful, stinky, or sticky, or if they have picked up parasites, it may be time to give them a bath.
So, can you bathe a pregnant cat?
Yes, you can bathe a pregnant cat but with precautions.
Keep reading this article to know more about how can you bathe your pregnant cat and is it safe or not.
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Is It Okay To Bathe Pregnant Cat?
Yes, it is okay to bathe a pregnant cat with special precautions.
According to Experts, most pregnant cats do not require regular cleaning.
Many people ask me when they get a pregnant cat how often they should be bathing them.
Cats are naturally meticulous creatures who can keep themselves tidy.
The rough tongue of a cat is covered with small curved barbs known as papillae, which transport saliva across her fur.
Each lap spreads healthy natural oils across her coat and skin, making it seem like a small spa massage.
Those small spines also act as natural detanglers, which is why you’ll frequently notice your pregnant cat licking and chewing at fur clumps until she smoothes everything out.
Although a pregnant cat spends around 30% of her time on daily self-care—of course, in between naps!—
Experts believe that keeping your cat groomed is more vital than bathing them, as frequent brushing and combing help disclose health problems more rapidly.
Many times, skin conditions are signs of underlying metabolic or gastrointestinal disease, so if your cat’s hair coat has changed, talk to your vet.
Regular visits to the salon with your cat also aid in reducing loose hair and avoiding hairballs.
To carefully untangle matted areas, especially around her belly button and along her legs, Experts advise using a metal comb.
To remove filth and loose hair from every part of her body, use a rubber or bristle brush after that.
Groom long-haired beauties every day, and short-haired cats usually once a week.
If she appears to be willing, it would be fine to gently bathe her as needed to clear up the mess.
You don’t want to do it if she becomes really upset, and you certainly don’t want to be violently grabbing her about the belly!
Just be cautious of how you treat her. You might need two people so that one can hold her while the other bathes.
And you might not need to bathe her complete body. To reduce stress, you could merely put her in the sink and bathe the dirty area.
If you have a spray attachment, adjust the temperature and volume of water, then bring the spray nozzle up close to the dirty fur, rinse as much as possible, then add some baby shampoo or dawn dish detergent, wash it well, and use that washcloth… maybe use a grooming comb as well to loosen up stuck litter.
Then rinse with the spray nozzle, alternating with spraying water over the soapy area.
Adding a little white vinegar to the water can help get the soap out, and it is critical to rinse thoroughly to remove all of the soap.
Make sure to comb out her coat before bathing her, especially if she has a long or thick coat! otherwise, the water will tighten any tangles even more.
If she’s a longhair, you could also clip the fur around her rear to keep it from getting tangled.
A regular probiotic supplement may also help with her loose stool. (this is not unusual for a cat in late pregnancy).Â
Interesting Read: Can I Bathe My Cat In Winter?
How To Bathe A Pregnant Cat?
Here are the steps to bathe a pregnant cat: –
1. Take Control
Keep your cat under your control. While washing, have a quiet, calm conversation with your pregnant cat.
Pregnant cats will occasionally attempt to exit the bathtub.
Face them toward the rear of the tub and allow them to stand on two feet if they prefer to just have two feet in the water.
Try your best to keep them steady.
To keep your pregnant cat securely in the bathtub, a well-fitting harness is advised.
By hanging onto the harness rather than your pregnant cat’s neck or collar, which could damage them, you can hold them in the bathtub.
Two people can bathe your pregnant cat more easily, especially if it is a strong cat that can kick and wriggle its way out of your hands.
While the other person bathes the cat, one person can confine it by the scruff.
Plan to finish as rapidly as you can without rushing. Make sure your pregnant cat can comfortably breathe while being restrained.
2. Avoid Fighting Your Pregnant Cat
Never engage in physical combat with your pregnant cat.
A frightened 20-pound cat can seriously hurt a person (or two). It could be necessary to start by only wetting your legs and feet before stopping.
Work your way up to a full bath by trying more the next day.Your cat will sense your anxiety or excitement and react by becoming anxious as well.
3. Start Bathing
Soak your pregnant cat from the neck down. Wash your cat’s neck, body, legs, belly, and tail using a small amount of shampoo and water.
Begin at the neck and work your way down to the tail, in the direction of fur growth. Wash the cat in a massaging motion so that it feels calmed rather than afraid.
Pretend you’re just caressing and grooming your pregnant cat and that this trip to the bathtub is nothing out of the ordinary.
Avoid getting shampoo in your pregnant cat’s eyes, nose, mouth, or ears. To reduce the possibility of an ear infection, insert a cotton ball (a little wad of soft material used to close a wound or an entrance) into each ear.
Remember to take them out at the end of the bath. Cotton may also help to reduce noise and make your job easier.
Wet the region around your pregnant cat’s neck first if you’re giving it a flea bath. Fleas will try to flee to the cat’s dry parts, which can result in a mass exodus of fleas to the head and face while bathing.
A moist neck will keep them off the head and in contact with the flea shampoo and water.
Rinse the shampoo off your pregnant cat. Using the water in the tub, properly rinse your pregnant cat.
Then, drain the tub and rinse it twice more with bucket water or warm tap water. It is critical to remove all of the soap from the coat.
Rinse until the water is fully clear and free of bubbles and soap.
Diluting your shampoo before you begin will assist you to avoid using too much soap or detergent, which will require additional rinsing afterward.
This technique will take considerably longer if your cat has a long, thick coat.
Using a washcloth and water, clean your pregnant cat’s face. There’s no reason to risk upsetting or injuring your pregnant cat by getting shampoo or soap in their eyes.
Gently rub a moist washcloth along your kitty’s face, brushing the fur away from their eyes and nose, until their face, head, and ears are clean.
You might wish to postpone this for another day and call it a day after failing to complete the bath.
Never submerge your cat’s face in the water. This will undoubtedly cause them to panic.
4. Watch Your Cat For Signs Of Panic And Distress
Hissing, growling, heavy breathing, sneezing, sobbing, and meowing are examples of these sounds.
Pay close attention to your cat throughout the bath. Stop whatever you’re doing if your cat is too scared.
There is no reason to continue if one or both of you will be injured or the cat will be extremely stressed.
Take it gently on your cat during his first bath.
Don’t do anything that may irritate them or make him fear his next bath. It is preferable to proceed gently so that you can try again later.
Interesting Read: Cat Died After Bath? What Could Be The Possible Reasons?
Precautions To Be Taken While Bathing A Pregnant Cat
Below are the precautions you need to take while bathing a pregnant cat: –
1. Get Your Cat Ready For Bath
A. Trim Her Claws
Trim the claws on your pregnant cat. Before bathing your pregnant cat, clip its nails to prevent potential damage.
Your pregnant cat could become agitated or afraid when submerged in water.
To give them time to calm down before taking a bath, try to do this a few hours or even a day or two earlier.
Take care to cut at a point that will not cause pain or bleeding.
As a reward for having their nails cut, giving your pregnant cat snacks will always make them feel better and calmer.
B. Brush Your Cat
Don’t skip this procedure. Once your pregnant cat is wet, it will be much more difficult and uncomfortable to remove any knots and tangles in the fur, therefore brushing the pregnant cat will help.
If your pregnant cat enjoys being brushed, you can use the brush to help her feel more comfortable in the bathtub.
In certain cases, you can even brush your pregnant cat to keep them occupied long enough for you to clip their nails.
This is a fantastic approach to accomplishing two goals at once, but you’ll need assistance from a friend.
C. Choose The Right Cat Shampoo
Your veterinarian or the neighborhood pet store both sell cat shampoo. To determine if it is suitable for your pregnant cat, read the directions and, if necessary, dilute it with water.
Regular human shampoo can be harmful to cats and can also cause the skin on their bodies to become dry.
Also, never use dog shampoo as a last resort. Using water is preferable to using a potentially harmful product for your pregnant cat.
You might want to use a washcloth to apply the shampoo to your pregnant cat’s body, but your hands might work just as well.
D. Encourage Your Pregnant Cat To Take A Bath
To get your pregnant cat as relaxed as possible before letting them into the water, you should first wear them out.
They won’t be as prone to bite, scratch, or flee as a result of this. Choose a moment when your pregnant cat is most relaxed, which is frequently right after they eat.
Play with them as much as you can till they are exhausted if they continue to act hyper.
Before you begin bathing your pregnant cat, try some of the other methods listed below to help them become used to the water:
- Fill the empty tub with cat toys. Play for a while with your pregnant cat inside of it. Then pause, add a little water, and resume playing. Your pregnant cat will become accustomed to the tub and water if you do this. Soon, bath time will be viewed as a relaxing and unthreatening activity.
- Additionally, you might have a unique bathtime toy, like a floating object or a mouse on a string. Only allow your cat to play with this toy in the tub and it will inspire her to look forward to bathing, instead of fearing it.
2. Prepare The Bathroom
A. Shut The Bathroom Door
If you have more than one cat, this will prevent the others from getting in as well as prevent your pregnant cat from escaping.
Your bathing cat may become frightened by a yowling cat and may scratch or become anxious.
Additionally, keeping the door locked will stop your pregnant cat from escaping and destroying items out of fear.
You might wish to acclimate your pregnant cat to the space if she has never used the restroom.
Keep the toilet seat down at all times if there is one in the restroom. In a fit of utter terror, your cat might dive into the bathroom!
Similarly, if the pregnant cat’s litter box is in the same room as the bath, take it out.
If your pregnant cat manages to get out of the bathtub, it can dash straight for the litter box and create a large mess.
B. Make The Tub Secure
Put down a rubber mat or towel in the tub to provide your pregnant cat a more secure footing and to prevent slipping.
The floor will become damp, so you should spread out some towels. Additionally, keep at least two towels on available so that you can quickly dry your pregnant cat.
The pregnant cat will have something to hold on to if you put a small cooling rack or oven rack in the tub.
This lets the pregnant cat feel safer and lessens the likelihood that you will get scratched.
C. Set Up The Tubs
Before bringing your pregnant cat into the bathroom, fill the tub with a few inches of warm, not hot, water because some cats find running water unsettling.
Fill two sizable glasses or, better yet, plant watering pots so that you may control the direction of the water flow while rinsing the pregnant cat.
This is so you don’t need to run more water during the bath, which might frighten your cat.
Never give your pregnant cat a bath using the faucet or the overhead shower head. This will cause the water to fall too quickly and could drown your cat.
The bath shouldn’t feel like a water attack and should be as mild and calming as possible.
While your pregnant cat is in the bath, you won’t have time to hurry outside for anything, so you’ll need to have everything ready. Be organized and composed.
D. Wear Protective Clothing
You will be protected from any possible scratches, no matter how little or severe. Wear a jumper, sweater, or long-sleeved shirt to prevent your pregnant cat from having any exposed skin.
Long-sleeved gloves are an option, although they might be bulky and in the way. His head and tummy are sensitive places, so be cautious and gentle when massaging them.
Wearing old clothes that you don’t mind getting wet is another smart move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if pregnant cat protests being bathed?
If your pregnant cat is adamant about not being bathed, use a wet washcloth. It cleans well and removes the exterior filth. Pet stores sell sterilized towels that do not require water to groom the cat. They even have a lovely fragrance. Rather than soaking your cat in a bath, you can clean it using a sprayer instead of a washcloth.
Can a bath harm a kitten?
It is risky to give a kitten a bath, so it can be fatal for the kitten. A kitten’s fur is designed to keep its body temperature steady when it is dry. Warm animals cannot regulate their temperature or get very cold when they are warm.
Is there a safe way to bathe a cat?
Human shampoo should not be used on cats. They are unsafe and may irritate your cat’s skin if they lick them. Instead, make sure you use a shampoo made especially for cats. Starting at his neck, carefully massage your cat’s tail with shampoo. Aim to avoid having them focus on your face, eyes, or ears.
Final Words
Bathing a pregnant cat could be easily done if done right, with a help of a friend. Just make sure to stay calm and patient with your approach.
If you have any questions, ask us in the comments section.
