How To Bathe A Kitten At Home

While cats are natural groomers and don’t need washing like a dog might, there could be times when you want to bathe your kitten at home.

Anything from messy eating to an accident in the litter box (kittens do love to play in litter boxes!) could cause your kitten to be incredibly dirty. In the wild, kittens would have their mothers to help them groom.

While mom might not be around, you’re there for your kitten! Bathing a kitten at home is incredibly simple, and with any luck you won’t have to do it very often.

Do I Need To Give My Kitten A Bath?

In most cases no, a cat doesn’t need a bath. However, kittens can be an entirely different story. Remember, kittens are just baby cats, and they might not be as adept at grooming, or they could accidentally eat something bad for them while grooming.

Also, it’s never a bad thing to help your cat with a little grooming here and there. After all, most people brush their cats, clip their nails, or get them haircuts — all part of the grooming process.

How Do I Give My Kitten A Bath: Step By Step Guide

If your kitten needs a bath, then time is probably of the essence. Fortunately, most of the materials you need are likely sitting around the house.

Step 1: What you need for a kitten bath

Be sure to grab the following before getting started with the bath (kittens out of the bath are bound to try and run away!)

• Towels
• Rubber mat (litter box mat works well here)
• Washcloth
• Kitten shampoo

Yes, you should make sure to have kitten shampoo when you bathe your kitten. Kittens are sensitive little creatures, and you don’t want to make issues worse. To avoid any adverse reactions, purchase some kitten shampoo.

Related: New Kitten Checklist

Step 2. Prepare the bathroom for your kitten

Before you bring your kitten to the bathing area, you should make sure everything is ready. Running water might frighten your kitten off!

Here’s what to do before starting the kitten bath.

• Fill a tub with warm water. You don’t have to fill it too high, just high enough that you can effectively wash your kitten. Make sure they are able to stand in the water for their safety.
• Bring all the materials into your bathroom. Once you start washing your kitten, you won’t want to risk running off to grab something you forgot. Get everything you need right in front of you to make this process go as smoothly as possible.
• Put the rubber mat in the tub. This helps your cat grip the bottom of the tub and can help keep them calm.

Step 3: Washing your kitten

Oddly enough, washing your kitten is the easiest part! Simply follow the instructions of the shampoo bottle, wash the area of your kitten that needs washing, then take them out and help them dry!

Can I Wash My Kitten With Hand Soap?

No, you shouldn’t wash your kitten with hand soap. Kittens have sensitive skin, and many hand soaps can be too harsh and drying for their delicate fur and skin. You also shouldn’t wash your kitten with stronger types of soap like dish soap. In an emergency, it’s best to just wash you kitten with warm water and your hands. Better to be safe for the sake of your kitten!

After A Kitten Bath: What To Expect

Once bathtime is over, you’ll notice that your kitten is notoriously difficult to dry off — so, just do the best you can and let your kitten’s fur dry naturally.

You’ll also notice that your kitten will start grooming almost immediately after the bath. This is perfectly natural and you have nothing to worry about! Kitten-safe shampoos are going to be safe for your kitten to accidentally ingest during this period, though most of the shampoo should have come out during the bath.

Lastly, your kitten might not feel very social for a few hours after the bath. Bathing can be stressful! Give your kitten the space it needs as it dries and cleans itself.

Before you know it, your kitten will be happy, clean, and ready to make another mess!