Lesson 3 (1/2) - The Bath: Why and How

• Coat Preparation
• Bathing and Drying
• +1
• Vocational Education

Lesson Outline

Theory

• The Bath: Why and How
  

Practical

• Coat Preparation
  

Models

Dummy

• Theory 1 Hour
  
• Quiz 15mins
  
• Break 15 mins
  
• Practical 2.5 hours
  

Lesson 3

The Bath - Why & How

Presented by:

The Bath

Why?

• Degrease the coat
• Remove loose dead coat, tangles or mats 

Frequency

• Short coat: every 6-8 weeks
• Medium and Long coat - every 4-6 weeks

Unless otherwise stated by the vet, bathing a cat too often can dry the skin and cause flaky and dry skin

Factors to Consider

1.  Environment
2. Coat Length & Type
3. Activity Level
4. Health Issues

Before and After

Before and After

Before and After

Before and After

Types of Shampoo

• General Purpose Hypoallergenic Shampoo
  
• Kitten Shampoo
• Medicated Shampoo
• Flea & Tick Shampoo
• Electrolysed Water Baths
• Waterless Shampoo

Waterless Shampoo

Waterless Shampoo can come in the form of  a powder, mousse, or spray.

Pros

• Less stressful than a wet bath
• Mask bad odours

Cons

• Causes skin and coat to be even more greasy
• Exacerbate any problems a cat already has, making mats or tangles worse or increasing the amount of dandruff
• It is only temporary

Choosing the right Shampoo

• Skin Type
  
• Age 
• Temperament

Skin Type

- Dry

- Rashes

- Greasy

- Dandruff

- Parasites (Mites, ringworms)

- Yeasty

Age

- Kitten

- Adult

- Senior

"Cats groom themselves and cats hate water"

Matts & Pelts

Matts & Pelts

Side Effects of Matting

• The cat endures a great deal of pain and suffering when matted
  
• It can suffer from open sores, infections and impacted rectums
•  Severe pelting can actually kill the cat

What's under the matts?

What's under the matts?

What's under the matts?

Dandruff

What causes dandruff in cats?

• Not thoroughly rinsing off shampoo/conditioner 
• Excessive matting and undercoat build up
• Using concentrated shampoo
• Skin and coat issues e.g. dry skin, rashes, greasy coat
• Irregular combing and brushing 

Introducing a 

Cat to the bath

Before the Bath

• Do any pre-clipping necessary 
• Remove mats that may inhibit the thorough cleaning of skin underneath.
• Have shampoo products ready and within reach
• Make sure a towel is spread out nearby, ready for a wet cat to be wrapped.
• Have ear and eye cleaning solutions near the towel for easy access once the kitty is wrapped in the towel.
• Have a muzzle nearby in case it is needed

Bathing the cat

• Prepare warm water and dilute soap
  
• Dip feet in first
  
• Gently bathe cat in the bath
  
• Rinse off the soap
  
• Remove excess water
  
• Towel dry thoroughly and brush out
  
• Let cat rest in dryer
  

Dirty Bath Water

Clumpy Finish

Troubleshooting

• Ensure that the cat is thoroughly combed out after bath
• Combed thoroughly = fur is straightened from the roots, no undercoat or matts 
• Some fidgety/aggressive cats do better during the bath/ calm down after a bath
•  Any basic touchups can be done when cat is wrapped in the towel after the bath

Stud Tail

Stud tail treatment is largely based on hygiene and the removal of debris. It is important to keep the area clean and free of debris. Using an anti-seborrheal shampoo regularly will prevent the buildup of oily accumulations of sebum. It is also important to prevent the buildup of matted hair.

Stud Tail

Feline Acne

Feline acne is a poorly understood disorder that’s related to the overproduction of keratin — a key structure that makes up the outer layer of skin.

For a variety of reasons, this excess keratin becomes trapped, causing the formation of blackheads, or comedones. When these blackheads become infected with bacteria, they form pustules that look quite similar to what you would recognise to be pimples.

Feline Acne

Practical

• Pair yourselves up with a partner - 1 cat per pair
• You will need to complete a basic groom for you and your partner's cat - nails, ears, face, pawpad, sanitary shave and bath
• Prep the coat - removal of undercoat 
• Take turns working on each cat
• By the end of 3 hours, each pair should have completed a basic groom with either a wet or dry bath for both cats
• Take pictures of before and after the groom

What MUST you do before the bath?

1. Clean the ears
2. Dematt
3. Removal of Undercoat
4. Brush the teeth

Provide 3 reasons why baths are important?

How often should an indoor long coated cat have a bath?

What are the negative effects of prolonged matting?

What type of shampoo or treatment should you use on a cat with ring like lesions?

What happens if you give a cat with excessive undercoat a wet bath?

What causes dandruff?

What are some ways to treat/remove feline acne?

What are some ways to treat/remove stud tail?

When should you conduct a dry bath?

What should you take note of when doing a wet bath?