Do you use shampoo to bath cats?

Yes, you can use shampoo to bath cats, but it is recommended to use cat-specific shampoo. However, be cautious not to bathe your cat too frequently. It is not suitable to use human shampoo on cats. This is because the skin pH of humans and cats is different: cat skin is alkaline, while human skin is acidic. If the alkaline skin of the cat uses human alkaline shampoo, it not only cannot neutralize but also wash away the oil on the surface of the skin, causing dryness, itching, allergies, dandruff, and other problems.

How to bath a cat without shampoo

If there is no cat-specific shampoo, it is best to bath the cat with clean water. If the cat is too dirty and needs to be cleaned, you can temporarily use human shampoo for bathing. However, since the skin pH of cats and human shampoo is different, using human shampoo may cause the cat's skin resistance to decrease, fur to become rough, and hair loss. Therefore, it is not recommended to use human shampoo for long-term cat bathing.

When can cats bath

Usually, cats younger than five months old should not be bathed because their physical fitness is relatively weak and they are prone to diseases. Bathing is not recommended for kittens under five months old. However, cats older than five months should not be bathed too often, with 1-2 baths per month being appropriate. The oil in a cat's skin provides protection for the skin and fur. If the cat is bathed too frequently, the oil is lost in large amounts, and the fur becomes rough, brittle, and loses its luster. The skin's elasticity decreases, and it may even become a cause of skin inflammation. Kittens that have not completed their vaccination schedule should not be bathed during the vaccination period to avoid affecting the vaccine's effectiveness.

Precautions for bathing cats

When bathing a cat for the first time, first test the water to see how the cat reacts. If the cat shows strong resistance, consider using a cat bag to prevent scratches. After the cat's bath, make sure to clean the water out of its ears to prevent ear mites from breeding. Brush the cat's fur before bathing to avoid the cat swallowing loose hair that could form hairballs in its stomach.