Most cats do get to the point they are ok with it. It can’t be stressed enough that when you’re working with a semi-feral kitty in your home, you need to have loads of patience, build trust slowly, and pay attention to the animal’s body language. Many people come across an abandoned feral kitten from time to time, and for any cat lover it is a natural instinct to seriously consider scooping it up and taking it home. Comb him out so he doesn’t get matted. Obviously if you have an adult cat you’ll possibly have to overcome more resistance. A feral cat will not let you go near him let alone bath him. Cancel. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Your short- or medium-haired cats might not need blow drying, but it will blow out loose fur and cut down the shedding. Before you know it, your cat … There may, however, be times when cat ownership requires a few extra chores. Reward her when you’re done. Let Kitty to play in the dry bathtub. Autoplay is paused. But with patience, respect, and lots of treats, your semi-feral can grow to love you, too! Bathing teaches Kitty to allow handling in an unfamiliar way without scratching the handler. Use feeding times as an opportunity to speak softly and perform slow, deliberate tasks in order to desensitize the cat and show it you are not a threat. Ignoring an animal that you are trying to socialize may seem like silly advice, but according to Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, snubbing a semi-feral kitty will pique its curiosity and force it to make the first move. Outdoor cats need a regular supply of food, water and a sheltered place to sleep. Attempting to touch a cat who is clearly telling you to back off can result in serious injury and emotional trauma to either or both of you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My show cats need to be able to handled by a lot of people that handle differently. Wait until about 20 minutes after he eats, then place him in the box. Once Kitty gets used to being bathed, she will appreciate being all fresh and clean after a bath. Strays can, as Nina Malkin puts it in her book An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle, “be pretty cagey around cages. As always read the directions on the label, test in a small area first and take any necessary safety precautions. I never thought about bathing cats till I started reading cat blogs, I never did when I had cats as at the time the vet said it was not necessary but things have changed since then. Most feral cats will not use a shelter that only has one door. 83 likes. That’s when you risk being clawed to death while bathing your cat. Becky Robinson also estimates that an unfortunate 14% of cats simply cannot be tamed. There are much better ways to handle your furbaby for routine bathing. Our advice is to go for something as natural as possible. Let her come to you, and allow her to bump into your leg, arm, or hand. Yell and scream and freak out. Because they are suspicious and resist the allure bait. (As well they should be.) So, the first thing to do is to teach your feral cats to eliminate in the right place. A kitten can be bathed as young as 6 weeks with a quality kitten shampoo. Required fields are marked *. You can read our full disclosure policy here. You can keep a white cat’s clean and bright with a brightening shampoo. Pat, don’t rub or you’ll encourage matting. I never bathed him because he didn’t seem to need it until he was quite old. You may have to shampoo more than once if Kitty is extra greasy or dirty. I had two cats years ago who I would bath every once in a while when they were younger. Flea-infested cats may need to be bathed and combed to rid them of parasites. Top tip: Try to time the wash for when they’re at their most placid and sleepy, perhaps after a big meal. Dry him well. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. And you will finish the job scatch-free. These cats are not suitable as indoor pets. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. You can use a sprayer or a pitcher. Kitty depends on you to hold it together. Not only is it ineffective, but she won’t see water as a positive experience. And the ones that don’t get to at least tolerate it, you’ll learn how best to do it as fast as possible. Respect her space. Your email address will not be published. “If they are used to people, then they want that attention.” No need to take them out for walks or amuse them all the time. They feel good and they know they look good. Praise her. 5. Take time to train Kitty to tolerate the bathing process if you can. Ferals or semi-ferals are way less destructive to homes once they're been trained/socialized. When he sees you digging around, he'll want to dig, too. Or someone in your family could develop allergies. With the blanket in two hands, calmly approach the cat from behind. Excellent post. You don’t want to add anything heavy. This is great…and starting young makes so much sense. This post may contain affiliate links. Learn how your comment data is processed. They need to have an escape route at all times. Then when that’s ok wet him with a washcloth, then pour water, then finally work up to the whole thing. If a predator approaches one entrance, they can make their escape out of the other entrance. TW tried to bathe her cat about a century ago. Make sure the veterinary office knows the cat is feral. Your furbaby can learn to tolerate, or even enjoy, a nice bath; despite the prevailing myth that all cats hate water. How to Bathe Your Cat Without Getting Scratched to Bits. They are happy to live in large gardens, stables and smallholdings. If you accidentally find yourself in a staring contest, the best thing to do is to calmly blink. It just takes knowledge like this! HOMING SEMI-FERAL & NERVOUS CATS (OUTDOOR CATS) This fact sheet was written for a Cats Protection shelter in the 1990s as an aid to adopters of cats temperamentally unsuited to living in a conventional domestic environment. Long-haired cats are prone to their undercoat matting. Make it a positive routine and you too will be able to bathe your cat without getting scratched to pieces. Once you rinse out kitty, dry her by wrapping her in an absorbent towel. Dig around in the litter a little bit with your fingers, too, as cats like to imitate the behaviors they see. Because of this, patience is important. Reason #2: Reduce Feral Cat Population. Scruffing is often recommended as a good way to handle cats because it is similar to how their mothers carry them as kittens. Oct 26, 2018 - Taming a feral cat can be challenging and requires a lot of patience - but it can definitely be done. There are a few key steps: Step 1: Dry brush the cat before putting it anywhere near water. Everyone loves having a cat around for affection and company, and most of the time cats are pretty low maintenance. We have barn cats that are only partially feral, and we never bathe them. Put a rubber mat or a towel in the bottom of your bathtub or kitchen sink. I like to keep one in the dryer to help dry and warm Kitty. Keep the water warm. My adventures as a feral and semi-feral kitten and cat foster and shelter volunteer with the Ipswich Humane Group Animal Shelter in Ipswich, MA. I will have to share this with my family member who has a cat who doesn’t feel comfortable getting cleaned. From Egypt to West Africa large buildings have been constructed for the purpose of attracting semi-feral … We did when they were kits and we had them in the house to socialize them, but once we let them loose we stopped bathing them. If you find your cat staring at you, do not engage. Mixing a little bit of shampoo into the water will help saturate the coat. Check this post out for more cat grooming tips. Restraints will make Kitty freak out from the lack of control in an already unfamiliar experience. I wouldn’t think it’s good to bathe a cat cos wouldn’t you wash away all their natural oils that keep the coat shiny? How concerned are you about disinfecting while cleaning? Be sure to keep his ears dry to prevent infections. Here’s what you need to know, How to give clothes to charity and reclaim your wardrobe, How often should you wash your sheets? Thanks to you I rinse Harvey over and over again to get rid of the eardrops that leak out (thanks to his dropped ears). Again, be sure you rinse thoroughly. Scruffing is sometimes necessary in an emergency situation; such as if you are handling a feral cat, a cat in pain, or an aggressive cat. Read on for tips on how to wash a cat. The only time cats would be handled in that way in nature would be by a predator or during mating. Try giving them a toy at … Most of the time cats bathe themselves, or rather lick themselves clean. As this doesn’t happen very often, you may not know where to start or find yourself asking: Can you bathe a cat? There are much better ways to handle your furbaby for routine bathing. I imagine it needs to be done in baby steps. Being able to pet, scratch, or cuddle a semi-feral cat may not be something that will happen overnight. 1. How to wash a cat. Cif Cream Cleaner is great for ceramics and enamel, making it ideal for bathroom tiles and sinks. Then add a little bit of water so she’s used to the feeling on her paws. And there you have it! Furthermore, bringing cats to the veterinarian can cost a lot of money and you may have to do it in the future. You're signed out. The more mats they acquire, the less vigilant they become about grooming themselves, easily setting up a vicious cycle. Let us come to you. Don’t use restraints like “Cat bags” or grooming tethers. Use paper towels, or a microfiber cloth, to dry her face, legs, and tail. I wish I had these tips back then. When it comes to trying to touch a semi-feral cat, it’s important to take it slowly and stay very in tune with her visual and vocal cues. I only use a light rinse on my Persians. NOT Truffle or Brulee. Creamy treats. I would give him regular baths but ended up traumatizing him and I stopped. I would just dry him well with a towel and not worry about drying with a drier as long as you can keep him warm. Welcome to Life & Cats where we celebrate all things feline by inspiring cat moms and dads to help their furbabies to live their best life possible. Acclimate the feral cat to your hand. dry her by wrapping her in an absorbent towel, Churu or similar treats might help a food motivated cat. Drive the cat to the appointment and let the vets take control of the situation. *. You can train her to use a scratching post. Feral cats usually have sturdier immune systems than indoor cats, but when they do need medical treatment, the challenge for caretakers is to find ways to treat them without using stressful and traumatic restraint. Clip Kitty’s claws first so she doesn’t hurt you if she tries to get away. They usually stay pretty clean, but every once in a while, they need a butt bath. This is such a helpful post. Speak gently to the cat in a soothing voice and keep the situation calm. Because of this, when you embark on your adventure with your semi-feral cat, remember to be patient and to respect their space. Transformations don’t take place overnight, and you’ll need to operate on your cat’s terms, not your own. Let him play with dripping water in the sink or tub. Let the cat make the first move. I agree that starting young would be the best thing. Don’t get his face wet. Lavender, pennyroyal, citrus, and coffee grounds, are scent deterrents, that may help keep cats from wandering through your gardens. Step 1: Choose your cat litter wisely. If you are involved in feral cat relocation to farms etc, or you are planning to adopt outdoor feral cats, you may find the information useful. No need for human intervention. Don’t get water in his eyes. So now we come onto the important question of how to bathe a cat. But even cats that don’t show have to be handled by vet techs and your vet. My previous Persian was fine with baths. Life and Cats is a member of the Amazon Associates program and as such we earn a small commission when you shop through our our links and banners. The cat was pure white. Talk to him or sing to him softly. After the cat is dry comb him out to make sure there are no mats. So now we come onto the important question of how to bathe a cat. You might think that adopting one feral cat wouldn’t make such a huge difference to their overall population, but you’re doing a bigger service than you initially realized. Washing pets can be a pretty messy business, but never fear; if you have a few cleaning products to hand, you can sort it out in no time. I was under the impression the absolutely abhorred water! The following guidelines will help you during the crucial settling-in period. This helps to remove any knots in their fur meaning you have to do less work while bathing. Understand that socializing a semi-feral is a process, and it won’t happen overnight. Still wary of more human interaction, the feral cat will need time to adjust to your hand. It is difficult to raise pigeons—they are monogamous, altricial, and require large spaces for flight—so a semi-feral method of trapping is presently the most efficient. Check out these tips on how to tame a feral cat. I’ve heard the same from many of my clients. Although he was normally quite docile and easy-going, he freaked out before I ever got him in the water. Something you should know about feral cats is that they breed, and they breed fast. Rinse the cat until the coat is squeaky clean.This is where most people go wrong. Up Next. However, most feral and semi-feral cats may take up to six months or more, to bond with their Hoomanz. Bathing a cat isn’t as hard as people think; even if you have never bathed a cat before. Your furbaby could develop a medical condition that requires regular bathing. It doesn’t change the amount you pay. Yell and scream and freak out. It is like felting wool and will make it much worse to remove the mat. Washing your cat only when necessary and having some fast acting bathroom cleaner to hand to clean up any mess in the house when you are done! Cats are clean animals so you shouldn't have to bathe her, but you can buy some pet wipes which is what I did and if you can pet her, you can usually use them on her also. I tell people to rinse until they think Kitty is rinsed and then rinse 5 times more. Use Humane Deterrents. Yes, you can bathe your cat without getting scratched to pieces. Avoid Eye Contact. Scruffing. Invest in the process, respect … It makes them feel trapped. If he’s really traumatized you could start by just getting wet without shampooing or anything and stop just before he hits panic mode. Wood shavings and crystals are not wise choices in this case, as they make the cats feel a bit weird and uneasy. Losing control is the worst thing you can do. To begin, place your hand flat on the floor, palm side down. Scruffing is sometimes necessary in an emergency situation; such as if you are handling a feral cat, a cat in pain, or an aggressive cat. Be sure she is brushed out without any mats. Don't play loud music or drive with the windows down. If she rolled in fly-tape like my Mocha, well then you just kind of have to go for it. I have had him since he was 8weeks old and was infested with fleas until he was two years old when I got rid of them. Step 2: Then place them in a special bowl big enough to act as a cat bath and make sure they are calm. Perhaps the best-known semi-feral bird is the pigeon, which people have been known to attract to their households for some 3,000 years. There are a few things you can do in these circumstances: So you’ve managed to placate your moggie and she is now lovely and clean. Feral Kitten. Place him in the litter box periodically, particularly after a meal. The offering of delicious food will help your feral cat come to you and become more and more used to her new domestic life. Great post! I filled the sink with warm water and carried him over to the sink. The best answer for how to give a cat a bath is to make it quick and efficient. The last thing you want is an upset, wet, cat flying through your house because you had to grab your shampoo. The cat will be understandably nervous and require a place to hide when overwhelmed. You’ll only scare her. Even low-maintenance cats can get into something toxic or sticky that you need to get washed right off. There are a few key steps: That all sounds pretty straightforward, but what happens if you are bathing a cat who is just not having it? She had a hard time spreading her oils around evenly, so bathing her helped. I never thought about bathing a cat. Make bath time as positive as possible. She had a harder time cleaning herself, so I would give her a bath every 6 months or so just to help her stay clean. Your bathroom however might not be. But my 2 cats if they see a round object they will run away from Earth how can I get them not scared of bathing them ? Every cat is going to have a potty issue at some point that needs a bath to remedy especially if your cat is longhaired. Start young. She put some pink shampoo on her and she bolted out the back door. I will now know if in the future I get cats again. Don’t discipline her with a spray bottle of water. You’ll get nowhere and your pet will just become increasingly irritated and aggressive. You’ll only scare her. Scruffing is an aggressive act to cats beyond kittenhood. Cats have a well deserved reputation of being very clean animals. The most important thing I can stress is that you need to stay calm and don’t freak out. Not too concerned, I only disinfect occasionally, How to use laundry capsules: the definitive guide, Can you recycle plastic bags? Give her a favorite treat, plenty of cuddles, and her favorite foods. Keep your eyes closed for a few seconds and turn your head away. This shows your cat … Eye contact is an aggressive act to feral and semi-feral cats. They will run away from it but when I bathe them I do a soaking wet rag and just get them with it, I’ve only had one cat, and he was about two years old when he came to live with us. You also need to spend more hours per day to treat a feral cat. From_feral_to_family, Ipswich, Massachusetts. Thanks for the tips. Once you have welcomed your new semi-feral kitty into your home, there is still work to be done. Cats are generally self-cleaning, but sometimes you might need to know how to wash a cat to help them out. Kitty needs to trust you, and trust that you have things under control, or she will freak out too. Before making a companion out of the feral cat, take account of your capability beforehand. It could take weeks or months to acclimatize the cat to your family and environment. Rinsing him well is the other key to make sure he doesn’t mat. You want to make bathing and grooming a positive experience. It is not calming. You could try filling a bucket with the warm water and dip the water with a pitcher to wet him and rinse him. Think spa low lights, classical music or the calming music for cats channel on YouTube.