How to Bathe a Cat and Survive to Tell the Tale (23 Photos)

Andrey Kuzmichev shares: “Today, I’m going to show and explain step-by-step how to properly bathe a cat at home. This isn't show grooming—just a solid, routine wash for home life. Bathing your cat at home comes down to 15 simple steps that will leave your furry friend looking and feeling like a million bucks.”





To wash a cat, you’ll need: a bathtub, a warm shower sprayer, two to three highly absorbent towels, and an extra pair of hands.



You will also need to prepare: a hair dryer, a degreasing paste with an application brush, a degreasing shampoo, conditioner, a grooming massage mitt, a texturizing shampoo, combs, nail clippers, and a suction-cup grooming tether.





Step 1. Attach the suction cup of the tether firmly to the wall of the tub. Fasten the noose around the cat’s neck. The loop should be snug enough to keep the cat securely in place without choking it. It should also give the cat a way to slip out in an emergency if panic sets in.

Our feline model for today is Lisa, a female Maine Coon.



Step 2. Before bathing, give your cat a thorough brush-out and work through any tangles or mats.



Step 3. Next, trim their claws with specialized pet nail scissors or clippers.



Step 4. Apply the degreasing paste.



Apply the degreasing paste to the tail and other greasy areas: behind the ears, under the chin, and along the ruff. Work the paste into the tail right down to the skin along the hair shaft, starting at the tip and working your way to the base.



Step 5. Once the degreaser is applied, let it sit. The required contact time is specified in the product instructions. Then, rinse it out thoroughly. This will also wet down the cat’s entire coat. Be careful not to get water inside the ears! If you need to wash the head, place your palm over the top of the skull and gently press the ears flat against the head.



Step 6. Apply the degreasing shampoo.



Distribute the degreasing shampoo evenly throughout the cat’s coat.



Step 7. Rinse the shampoo out thoroughly.



Repeat Step 6 (apply a second round of degreasing shampoo to the coat).



To help the shampoo penetrate deep into the coat, use a rubber massage mitt. Stroke the cat gently in the direction of hair growth.



Repeat Step 7: thoroughly rinse away the degreasing shampoo until the fur is squeaky clean. Run your hand down the coat—it should literally squeak under your fingers.



Step 8. Now it's time for the texturizing shampoo, which will give Lisa’s coat great volume and fluffiness once dried. Texturizing shampoos are ideal for semi-longhaired and longhaired breeds.



Step 9. Rinse out the texturizing shampoo until the coat is once again squeaky clean.

For show cats, this step is usually followed by color-enhancing shampoos tailored to their coat color. We can skip that today, as Lisa won’t be hitting the show ring anytime soon.



Step 10. Apply a conditioning balm (cream) to the coat.

The degreasing process stripped all the excess oils from the fur. To keep the skin and coat from drying out, it is essential to rehydrate the fur with a post-wash conditioner or balm.



Step 11. Rinse out the conditioner until the fur is squeaky clean.



Step 12. Let the excess water drain off for a minute or two.



Step 13. Towel-dry the cat. Do not rub vigorously! Simply blot and pat dry. Swap out damp towels for fresh dry ones as you go.



Step 14. Release the cat from the grooming tether. Lift her out of the tub and cradle her in a dry towel for a short while.



Step 15. Tether the cat at your blow-drying and grooming station. Comb through the coat, moving the comb and the dryer together in the same direction.

And that's it! Our cat is squeaky clean, fully brushed, and looking fabulous.

Once you’re done drying and brushing, don’t forget to release your cat from the tether.