The TAKK TEAM Cattery's FELINE BATHING TIPS :)

FELINE PURR-reshness!


By: Vanessa A. Triunfo

The TAKK Team Cattery

Traditional (Doll Face) Persian Cats and Kittens







Cats and kittens always keep themselves clean. It’s not really necessary to bathe them more than the usual. We can give them a bath at least once a week or if certain “occasions” call for it: i.e. fur is stained and caught something greasy, litter accidents etc.





Have a safe, painless and anxiety-free feline bathing experience with these easy to follow steps:





STEP 1 - We have got to face it - our feline friends hate getting wet. Protect yourself from any possible scratches when your kitty gets anxious during bath time. For starters, you may consider wearing a long sleeved shirt so that no skin is exposed for the kitten to scratch. If you don’t have one, you can also wear long sleeved gloves. Trimming your kitten’s claws will also reduce the risk of being scratched. Just clip the very tip of the claws. Be careful - there's this pink fleshy bit inside the claw that may bleed if you cut them too short.



STEP 2 - The Persian breed is characterized by its long, thick and fine coat and is prone to matte build up, knots and tangles. Before you give your kitten a bath, remove any matte build up and knots by sliding in a wide-toothed comb under them and cut with scissors parallel against the comb so that you won't cut the skin. Such fur ordeals can be prevented by daily use of wire brush to remove her loose fur and minor tangles.



STEP 3 - Make sure that you already have a container filled with warm water for rinsing and a tub filled with warm water for washing (3-4 inches deep - enough to cover your kitten’s paws) before bringing your kitten to the bathroom. Our lovely furballs have the tendency to be unnerved by running water.



STEP 4 - Gently settle your kitten into the tub. The feel of water against your kitten’s skin (once it gets through the coat) can make her riotous so maintain a good grip on the neck or shoulders before you start pouring water over her body.





STEP 5 - Apply a shampoo made for cats (i.e. Sergeant’s, All Systems) and rub it against your kitten’s fur while massaging her body. Work your way from her neck, body, legs, belly and up to the tail. Be sure not to get some water or suds on her eyes, mouth and nose to avoid irritation. Cotton balls should be placed on both ears so that water won't get into the ear canals. Our veterinarian said that getting water in a cat or kitten's ears may disturb it's pH balance which can make the ears more susceptible to infection.



STEP 6 - Rinse your kitten thoroughly. Press as much water as you can from her fur before you wrap her with a towel. Rub her gently with the towel and continue to do so until the kitten is damp. Comb her fur as she dries with a help from a hair dryer while keeping its heat setting as low as possible.





POST GROOMING MUST-DOs



Gently wipe your kitten's eyes with a damp soft washcloth or cotton with distilled water. Hold the tip of the ear between your thumb and forefinger and gently roll it up. Apply 2-3 drops of ear cleanser to fill the ear canal and massage the base of the ear gently. Use a cotton swab to remove excessive wax. Get a large towel to swaddle your kitten while doing all of these to avoid being scratched.



Use treats like Greenies or Aristopet (Brewer's Yeast) during and after the cleaning to reinforce positive experience she will later on associate with grooming.





PRODUCTS CITED:





SHAMPOO:
*Sergeant's
Under the Sea, 3rd Floor, SM North Edsa, QC



EAR CLEANSER:
*Virbac's Epi-Otic Drops
Animal House
737 Aurora Boulevard, QC



TREATS:
*Greenies
Pet Studio 105 B Scout Castor St. corner Tomas Morato, QC



*Aristopets (brewer's yeast)
Bio-Research, Ground Floor, SM North Edsa, QC

thanks