Best Bathing Frequency for Cats: How Often Should You B

It's crucial to strike the right balance when it comes to how often you bathe your cat. A recent case highlights the importance of this: a cat owner, overwhelmed by their pet's newfound love for the outdoors, ended up bathing their cat six times in just three months, leading to the feline falling ill.

The owner explained that after moving the cat back to their hometown, the animal suddenly let loose its wild side, spending every day outside, rolling in mud, and burrowing into piles of grass, often returning home looking quite the sight.

Once a pristine white cat, the animal would return from its adventures looking more like a black cat, covered in grime.

Unwilling to keep the cat cooped up indoors or see it soiled, the owner decided to increase the bathing frequency. The cat, which was previously bathed every three months, was now being washed six times over the same period. Unfortunately, this led to the cat falling ill.

After taking the cat to the vet, it was discovered that the animal had contracted feline distemper. The veterinarian attributed the illness to the excessive bathing, combined with the cat's daily exposure to different cats in a poor environment, which weakened its immune system and made it susceptible to the disease.

After a grueling 30day treatment, the cat finally recovered.

It's been emphasized many times before that cats are capable of grooming themselves, and a healthy cat can live a full life without ever needing a bath.

However, due to human preferences and certain unexpected situations, some cats may require a bath. Bathing can bring about various risks, such as the wellknown stress response.

Another cat owner shared their experience with a shy barn cat, which was only bathed once in its nearly two years of life. The cat's reaction to the bath was so severe that it refused to eat for two days, losing a significant amount of weight.

Experts advise against frequent bathing of cats. The only exception is in special circumstances, such as when a cat has come into contact with toxic substances, in which case bathing is an urgent necessity.

For healthy cats with good coat conditions, simply allowing them to groom themselves and occasionally brushing them can maintain basic hygiene. If bathing is necessary, it's essential to start this habit early (after three months of age) to ensure the cat isn't overly stressed by the water.

There is no onesizefitsall answer to how often a cat should be bathed. The time between baths depends on the cat's skin and coat condition, as mentioned earlier.

Other factors that influence how often a cat should be bathed include:

Indoor vs. Outdoor Environment: Outdoor cats may require more frequent baths than indoor cats.

Hair Length and Type: Medium to longhaired cats may need more frequent baths than shorthaired cats, and hairless cats must be bathed regularly to remove oils from the skin.

Cat's Grooming Behavior: Cats that cannot or cannot effectively groom themselves need regular baths to prevent their coats from becoming greasy or sticky.

Activity Level: Highly active cats may require more frequent baths.

Overall Health: Cats with skin irritations, worms, or issues like diarrhea may need more frequent cleaning.

The specific frequency of bathing is a topic of ongoing debate among experts. Some suggest bathing cats every 5 to 6 months, while others recommend every 4 to 6 weeks.

Some veterinarians advise bathing shorthaired cats twice a year and medium to longhaired cats three to four times a year.

Specific breeds with longer hair, such as Maine Coons, Persians, Himalayans, and Ragdolls, may require more frequent baths due to their dense coats.

Despite being known as exotic shorthaired cats, Persian cats, for example, have very dense fur and need to be cleaned regularly to remove excess shedding and mats.

On the other hand, some shorthaired cats, like the Siamese, Burmese, and Balinese, have smooth fur with minimal undercoat and rarely face issues with hair tangles, making regular bathing less necessary.

The National Cat Groomers of America recommends bathing and drying cats every 4 to 6 weeks to help prevent shedding, parasites, and skin diseases.