Yes, it can be bad to give your cat a bath under normal circumstances because it’ll be unnecessary (and in any case your cat will dislike it a lot). It depends on many factors but domestic cats don’t normally need a bath. However, under certain circumstances their health might be jeopardized when, for example, they fall into some sort of liquid or chemical which needs to be washed off immediately.
Other examples when it might be appropriate to bathe your cat is if her coat is very dirty for some particular reason or it appears oily or has a strong odor. Clearly, outdoor cats are more likely to need a bath compared to full-time indoor cats who should never need bathing.
Other occasions when a cat owner may bathe their cat is when their cat is a purebred about to enter a cat show and the owner wants to present him/her in the best possible light especially if the cat has a long coat.
Sometimes stray cats become very dirty and unkempt. They may have lots of fleas. Under the circumstances the rescuer will probably bathe the cat and the bath may have some form of flea treatment in it (or use a medicated shampoo). This should be done with care and consideration as flea or parasite killing dips/shampoos are poisonous in a strict sense.
Clearly, therefore, there are circumstances under which it is appropriate to bathe your cat. However, it is generally bad because your cat is a fastidious groomer. She will keep herself clean. We all know that. Over-grooming can remove the cat’s natural oils which are essential to a nice, glossy coat. Often, a good alternative would be to regularly brush your cat’s coat which might eliminate the need for bathing.
Like most cat owners, I have never bathed my cat (in decades) except under one exceptional circumstance when my cat at the time fell into a tub of white emulsion paint which I had to wash off immediately. This was a minor emergency. On a day-to-day basis if you smell your cat which is likely when you kiss her you will notice a beautiful aroma, the aroma of a clean cat, kept clean without any human intervention whatsoever.
Don’t put your cat through the stressful experience of being bathed unless it is essential for health reasons. There is, by the way, such a thing as a dry cat bath. Cats with an oily coat can collect dirt and these sorts of cats might benefit from “dry-cleaning” his/her coat between bathing. There are dry shampoos on the market. They must be cat safe. Fuller’s earth, baby powder, talcum powder and calcium carbonate are, apparently, all effective. They can be used without removing essential oils or damaging the skin or coat.
I agree that the cat does not need to be bathed regularly except for some urgent reason. But the opening statement with the words “Yes, it is bad to give your cat a bath,” I think is not a wise thing.
Because your readers (such as me) usually tend to read the sentence beginning in the first paragraph an article before deciding to read it in its entirety or not.
It would be much more sensible if the opening sentence like “bad or no to give your cat a bath depends on many factors, such as…….”.
According to my knowledge, a cat needs to bathe for several reasons, among them:
Your cat is too dirty (for some reason)
Cat flea Infestation
The coat is greasy
Your cat may have poor hygiene, even with natural grooming.
You have allergies with cat fur
Cats have weight problems.
But regardless of my opinion above, I would like to say that this is a great post and useful for a cat lover, like me.
And I apologize if you disagree with my opinion.
Thanks Miranda. I agree and I’ll amend the opening sentence.
I have changed it but I did qualify the opening sentence by saying a bath is normally unnecessary. And I did go on to explain when a bath might be appropriate. So don’t be too hard on me 😉
No problem
I have only given light sponge baths (never emersions) when they have some sort of foul odor such as happens when rolling around in dead, flat, decaying frogs. They consider themselves “perfumed”, I’m sure.
Oh, it’s a good time to really feel for any lumps or warm spots on their skin too, and give them a nice massage. I ran into someone who had a Bengal cat yesterday and I think they like water. Most don’t.
I agree that for the most part, it’s unnecessary to bathe otherwise healthy and fairly clean domestic cats. My cats roll in the dirt but I just brush it out or take a damp, warm washcloth to them. For the older, infirm, sick or flea-ridden ones, a nice, warm, gentle bath can not only be necessary, but a bonding experience. Cats who really need a bath do like the feeling after a good cleanse. There’s a proper, stressless way to bathe a cat and blow dry them, and I mean proper. I take my time, make them feel pampered and safe and while they may not like the bath, they let me. The warm washcloth is the most they need once in awhile, like Michael said. Any shampoo should be extremely diluted and sufficiently rinsed. The cat should be kept warm while it dries, no drafts, quiet and calm afterwards, too.