# I Just Had to Give a Cat a Bath!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/469177>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 23, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/469177 "2008-10-23T04:39:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/469177/21 "2008-10-25T05:59:54Z")

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> [@Chef\_Troy](#):
>
> I second this approach. I used a pillowcase myself - squirted some pet shampoo into the pillowcase, inserted the cat (up to the neck), and held the opening snug around his neck along with the scruff (for added immobility) while I worked up a lather through the pillowcase. If I’d had a mesh bag I would have used that instead – it sounds like it would be a lot easier to rinse the cat off afterwards.

“I’m in ur tub, shittin’ in ur pillowcase”

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**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/469177/22 "2008-10-25T17:35:37Z")

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Tomorrow is cat washing day. I have 3 cats to wash. If I don’t post by Monday send help.

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**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/469177/23 "2008-10-25T18:14:44Z")

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> [@Pushkin](#):
>
> The hairdryer afterwards didn’t calm it either, it just sat there quite motionless with it’s pupils widely dilated.

Not intended as a rebuke to you, **Pushkin** , but FYI for anyone planning to give Fido or FiFi a bath at home: please don’t use hairdryers meant for humans to dry them! The blowdryers that groomers use blow warm or cool air because the hot air from a human’s hairdryer can easily burn a dog or cat’s skin.

Thankfully, I’ve never had to bathe one of my cats. They’re indoors only, so the worst messes they get into can be taken care of with a damp washcloth. I’m pretty sure the Mean One would slice me to ribbons if I attempted to pour water over his head.

Glad you survived, **Tuckerfa** n!

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**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-had-to-give-a-cat-a-bath/469177/24 "2008-10-25T18:18:38Z")

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Worst accidental cat bath: five kittens playing tag throughout the house while I was soaking in a nice hot bath. The chain of holy terrors ran into the bathroom and dove into the tub, only to suddenly learn that they really did not like swimming, and then frantically clawed their way back out, with me being the only surface they could dig into. Did I say claw? That was 90 claws.

The water turned bloody, and I emerged as a pin-cushion.

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