Kitty Baths :)

[aligator79]

Has anyone taken their kitty to the groomer for a bath?  The groomer said they can do it and if he gives them trouble they can sedate him.  I don't think he would claw much, he's a very laid back kitty.  Has anyone had a groomer bathe their kitty?

Taz has tons of flea dirt, but I haven't seen any live fleas.  He keeps getting worms even though I give him the pills the vet gives me.  Grrrr.  He's not much of a hunter I figure it has to be fleas.  I hoped if I got him bathed that it would get rid of the fleas.  He also has very dry skin I think.  If you pet him from the shoulders back he kinda licks sideways- and gets almost violent with it.  The vet said that I could use baby lotion on him to help with it, but it makes me nervous to use something like that on him.
  

[Savas]

Heh heh...well, he is certainly a cat who can "sit around the house". He also has big, rabbity back feet... but I've found most cats do. :)

I would avoid the sedation. Animals will often become confused and disoriented when under sedation and coming out of it. It can have a negative impact on his personality, especially if done regularly.

[aligator79]

Yep, Tazzy is a bit plump- only 15 pounds but is VERY short.  He is a bit like a bulldog. His nickname is bowling ball with legs and has always been that way.  It could have been from being so sick for 9 months of his first year.  

[Savas]

I wouldn't take the cat to a groomer.

Heh heh...I've been keeping score on cats vs. groomers for sometime; the present score is;

Cats: 53

Groomers: 0

:->

Seriously, bathing is a bad idea. It strips the natural oils from the skin/ fur that are a part of the cat's digestive process.

Try picking up a fine toothed comb and brush your cat. It will help stimulate circulation in the skin and remove dirt and excess shedded fur.

Otherwise, be sure to treat your HOUSEHOLD for fleas. If your cat is picking them up, it's from the house. Just treating the cat will only do so much.

Chances are, however, your cat simply isn't bathing as effectively as he can. No offense, but Taz looks a bit...errrr...

Plump.

There's an old saying; the fatter the cat, the harder to reach the back (all right, I just made this up, but still).

Regardless, the dry skin may be also a result of diet. I'd consider switching to a high quality pet food (wet). Also, you can try a product like sea greens to help treat the skin.  

[Lonelymom]

Advantage works. When we rescued the kittens I have they were covered in fleas. With one treatment on Advantage all the fleas were gone. Now we use that on them once a month to keep the fleas away. Also the vet can give you a pill that you give your cat and it will kill fleas imediatealy and continue to kell them for up to 24 hours later. That will also give the Advantage a chance to work.  

Cats tend to clean themselves regularly so baths aren't necessary for them.

[marissposa]

wow 'sux' is a censored word on medhelp?!  that's pretty redonkulous!

[marissposa]

I think you should really consider if the risks associated with sedation are worth  giving your pet  a bath.  I know the chemi route ***** and isn't really healthy either, but fleas are pretty hard to get rid of and a bath alone probably won't do the trick.  Get a couple of doses of frontline or advantage from your vet and they'll be gone in no time without traumatizing the kitty at the groomers

[April2]

I've never tried a groomer. I have bathed Misha on occasion. She doesn't like it but puts up with it. I tried twice to bathe Sakura and had a spitfire on my hands! I never knew a cat could literally climb the walls before! Fortunately, we don't live where there are fleas so I guess they don't really have to be bathed.
I guess you can give it a try! Have you ever tried doing it yourself?

[PrettyKitty1]

At the groomer, they tell me that if the cat gives them a hard time then they will not proceed to bathe him. That's one of their conditions at Petco and Petsmart, that if the cat is very hard to deal with they'll just give it back to you the same way you brought it in :)