Cats shouldn't need a bath, they'll groom themselves.

The rat reference made me laugh and put me in mind of when one of our cats fell into the garden pond, what emerged bore no resemblance at all to our fluffy moggie and (shame on us) we laughed until we cried.

I've always had pet cats as far back as I can remember and I've never heard of bathing a cat before. What is the point? They are very clean animals, constantly grooming themselves. They are not dogs! Even if a cat gets dirt on them it is better for you to comb out any dirty and let the cat see to the rest.

Fill a wheelie-bin full of water and drop the cat in, close the lid to ensure the cat can't escape.

When one of my cats was a kitten he was so obsessed by me that he would sit on my chest and expect to be held when I was in the bath. He'd get a bit wet and not mind.

Hes needed a bath a few times now, the only one of the five who does. I can assure you he DOES NOT like it. lol

Mary, is that you?

My cat cleans herself! Cats generally don't need a wash, although it is perhaps worth giving them a web sponge down once every two months?

*eek* (or is that squeak) I've been rumbled.

Whilst I wouldn't go as far as to say our cat likes being bathed, she does put up with it.

When she was a kitten she was far too 'busy' being a little monster and she wasn't cleaning herself as she should so the vet suggested we put her in a very shallow bath, get her all wet, towel dry and the leave her - this was supposed to encourage her to the wash herself (it worked a treat I have to say - and she is the cleanest little puss in town now!)

We only bath her a few times year now and normally if she manages to get coevred in something

Cats clean themselves - they keep themselves immaculate (when they're happy)

Bathing them is just cruel unless they are one of the rare cats who likes water

This is true. I've had cats for over 20 years and never bathed any of them.
If they happen to get dirty (cat food accidently lands on their head for example) then a simple smooth with a baby wipe works wonders.

Can you not teach cats that have not learnt to wash themselves by smearing them with butter (or ice cream etc).

Having a bath at 6am this morning played havoc with my wifes cat.

Getting them wet is better than smearing them with some other substance surely???

Oooo-err missus.

i had to wash one of my cats when she got covered in emulsion but i dared not bath her, she`s evil.

Our cat never needed a bath, but I saw a vet clip on TV of best way to bathe a cat if you have to. (I now use the same on my small dog):

Get two buckets of warm water.
Squeeze a little mild shampoo in one bucket; make it sudsy.
Dip the cat in bucket one, then in bucket two to rinse.
Done!

Our old WHITE cat once went out and got tree sap all over him and THEN went and rolled in an old bonfire. He was covered in ashes.

Mum tried to bath him. His legs wouldn't go into the bath, he just stretched them out at all angles to avoid the water and push his body up. Mum got clawed to buggery! Had to do our best with flannels in the end!

are you sure the cat hasn't been drugged?

The cat in the video appears to be conveying, just you wait....

Elphie was fine with being bathed in soapy water in the sink after her month away (she was filthy so it had to be done!!)

Ruby on the other hand.. well lets just say I still have two big red dots on my arm...

I posted a few weeks ago about bathing our oldest cat, who definitely wouldn't have liked it! I ended up using petwipes to clean him up - he didn't like that either, but it did work.

I was a bit embarrassed to discover that our neighbours had been allowing him to sleep on their son's bed (they adore cats, but don't have one of their own) - I did explain that oldest cat wasn't perhaps as fragrant as he might be, but they didn't seem to mind!

Yeah, a couple of places did sting a bit - but they were just surface scratches, nowt serious - any cat-owner will know all about 'em

You got lucky with just scratches.

Ruby dug her claws in so deep the skin pulled out a good inch and I still have two big red dots on my arm a good two years later!! (ouch!!)

I had the same problem when oldest cat got sick last year and had to have about three types of medication. After three failed attempts to get the pills down him, I ended up with my hands and arms covered in bites and scratches and gave up - I mashed all the pills up in butter, smeared it on his paws and let him lick it off! Might not have been quite as scientific (although he's now completely better), but it was a LOT safer!