> clean out his bucket so what's washing a cat once in a
> while.....)
Been there, done that. It's possible, but there can be some tiny
complications...like the fact that cats *don't* *like* getting doused in
water. My feline friend learned how to say, "No!" to baths...but she still
took one once a week. Very patiently, considering the insult. Giving that
cat a pill might be easier....
Barb in Southern Indiana Zone 5/6 dorsett@blueriver.net
A root is a flower that disdains fame.
*****************
How to Give Your Cat a Pill in 10 Easy Steps
(written by Glenda Moore)
Sit on sofa. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your elbow as though
you were going to give a bottle to a baby. Talk softly to it.
With right hand, stroke cat's throat until it opens its mouth (be patient).
Drop pill into mouth. Let go of cat, noticing the direction it runs.
Pick the pill up off the floor and go get the cat. Sit on floor in kitchen,
wrap arm around cat as before, drop pill in mouth. Let go of cat, noticing
the direction it runs.
Scoot across floor to pick up pill, and go find the cat. Bring it back into
the kitchen. Hold cat as before, but hold down its front paws with forearm.
Drop pill into mouth.
Pry claws from back legs out of your arm. Go get the cat, pick up
half-dissolved pill from floor and drop it into garbage can.
Get new pill from bottle. Go into bathroom and get a fluffy towel. Stay in
the bathroom with the cat, and close the door.
Sit on bathroom floor, wrap towel around kitty, leaving only his head
exposed. Cradle kitty in the crook of your arm, and pick up pill off of
counter.
Retrieve cat from top of shower door (you didn't know that cats can jump 5
feet straight up in the air, did you?), and wrap towel around it a little
tighter, making sure its paws can't come out this time. With fingers at
either side of its jaw, pry it open and pop pill into mouth. Quickly close
mouth (his, not yours).
Sit on floor with cat in your lap, stroking it under the chin and talking
gently to it for at least a half hour, while the pill dissolves.
Unwrap towel, open bathroom door. Wash off scratches in warm soapy water,
comb your hair, and go find something to occupy your time for 7-1/2 hours,
then repeat.
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/cat_pil2.htm
http://www.nanceestar.com/CatPill.html
For allergies, you may not need to give the cat a total immersion type
of bath. A friend who is very allergic, but loves cats and cannot be
without them, gave them a sponge bath each week. Far less traumatic for
the cat and the bather!
Lee Ann
> It's possible, but there can be some tiny
> complications...like the fact that cats *don't* *like* getting doused in
> water.
That has always been my impression, too, but these cats are
supposed to enjoy baths -- maybe even hop in and swim with
you in the tub. Maybe it's only because they get a bath
once a week forever and think it's normal. I dunno.
--
Barbara Martin
Now at The Cottage Garden: "Walking to the Other Side"
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/cottage_gardening
Active Co-Owner, Gardens List
mailto:gardens-request@lsv.uky.edu
Regional Horticulturist, National Gardening Association
http://www.garden.org
We've always bathed our cats. We used to have an abyssinian who loved water
so much that she would get in the tub with anyone who would let her. She
was a cutie, and we had her for 18 years. Even people who didn't like cats
liked her.
Therese
cabincrk@macrevolution.com
East Texas, zone 8b
Claws are not the only hazard animals present in the bathtub. A friend who
was visiting used the bathroom off the master bedroom, ran her bathwater as
she stripped, leaving the doors ajar because nobody would be walking in on
her. She bent over to test the temperature of the water just as my beagle
wandered in, thinking someone had drawn bathwater for her. Bare butt stared
her in the face so she put her cold nose on it, and guest nearly came
through the bathroom wall. Scared heck out of the dog, too. Margaret L
> We've always bathed our cats. We used to have an abyssinian who loved
> water
> so much that she would get in the tub with anyone who would let her.
Good grief! I hope she swam with her claws in!!!
--
Barbara Martin
Now at The Cottage Garden: "Walking to the Other Side"
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/cottage_gardening
Active Co-Owner, Gardens List
mailto:gardens-request@lsv.uky.edu
Regional Horticulturist, National Gardening Association
http://www.garden.org
I hope you meant a shower.
--
Barbara Martin
Now at The Cottage Garden: "Walking to the Other Side"
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/cottage_gardening
Active Co-Owner, Gardens List
mailto:gardens-request@lsv.uky.edu
Regional Horticulturist, National Gardening Association
http://www.garden.org
She did, and it was really kind of fun! The woman who bred her told us that
lots of Abys like to swim. (For those of you looking for water-friendly
cats. LOL!)
Therese
I once had a cat that had got VERY VERY dirty - smelled awful - so I
decided to dush her - and that was something she sure was not used to! It
was an extrem experience: she SCREAMED like something I never have heard a
cat screaming .. and totally in schock she starte to climb straight up the
mouldling (?) around the door!
I felt so bad ! But it was absolute necessary!
I have never bathing any cat after that!
Arnhild
Yes of course! (or douche????? - wrong writing!?????)
