Lindsay Ray
If you have a feline friend, you probably know most of them absolutely despise getting wet. It’s no surprise that bath time for your cat—with their sharp claws and quick reflexes—sounds like an awful time.
However, you may be relieved to know that you actually don’t have to bathe your cat at all.
It’s normal species behavior for cats to self-groom (and they do it daily). Vanessa Spano, an associate veterinarian at Behavior Vets of NYC, told Martha Stewart that an unnecessary bath might be very stressful and uncomfortable for your cat, who might not like being exposed to water.
Because of their flexible bodies and sandpaper-like tongues, cats make excellent self-groomers. In fact, kittens learn to bathe themselves at a very young age and are often self-grooming by the time they are about six weeks old.
However, there are circumstances where a bath may be necessary. Checking in with your vet is always a good idea before doing so, just to be on the safe side, as certain shampoos (like ones for humans and dogs) can be toxic for your cat.
So not only do they take themselves to the bathroom, but they bathe themselves too. Talk about independence! We love our doggo friends, but cats are definitely in an entire league of their own.
