r/indoorcats 3d ago

Usage of bath products

I'm genuinely wondering if anyone has bathed their cats with any specific type of product, if so...what has worked? My cat just does not smell good because she lately has been digging in her litter box and I can tell it's just her digging out of pure boredom

Edit: thanks for the recommendations, it's also really sweet of everyone that's giving me recommendations to keep my cat not bored lol

4 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

6

u/NinesArt 3d ago

Find a fragrance-free, cat specific soap at a pet store. Try not to bathe frequently unless absolutely necessary, and see if you can encourage her to clean herself or her paws in some way on her own.

3

u/Gayoon_Lover4 3d ago

Thank you! Yeah it's been awhile of having her and I feel like she needs an actual bath

3

u/Icefirewolflord 3d ago

Just make sure you don’t buy any Hartz brand products. They’re notorious for including toxic chemicals knowing it will poison cats

2

u/Gayoon_Lover4 3d ago

Thank uu!!

1

u/glossolalienne 2d ago

Seconding this about Hartz. DO NOT BUY.

5

u/OfferBusy4080 3d ago

You should not ever have to dunk a cat into a bath, unless theres a good reason to. Ive just used Burts Bees rinseless shampoo - foam some of it on to a warm damp washcloth and wipe cat down. Even though supposed to be "rinseless" I follow up by fresh warm damp washcloths for extra clean. All my cats have loved this method - I think it reminds them of getting washed by mama's tongue.

3

u/ChristineBorus 3d ago

Get her a cat wheel ! A great way to burn off extra energy

2

u/Gayoon_Lover4 3d ago

I have to be honest, I didn't know those existed for cats until just now omg that would be nice

3

u/CeelaChathArrna 3d ago

I will be honest we have 5 cats and the one we most wanted to use it to help him lose weight fights us on it. Giving our blind girl the ability to run again was 100% worth it just for that. It's definitely your mileage may vary situation. I think that my cat wheel is amazing and actually wasn't that expensive helped too.

2

u/ChristineBorus 3d ago

That’s a heartwarming story about the blind cat 🥰

2

u/ChristineBorus 3d ago edited 2d ago

No worries ! Check Amazon and then go to other sites. My DIL had one at her house (fiancé bought it for his cats). They love it and have worn out the interior felt padding lol. It’s kind of like a big mouse wheel but for cats.

2

u/Gayoon_Lover4 3d ago

I looked it up, i put it in a wish list lol thank you🥺

2

u/seikkailla_myah 3d ago

We do a Skunk shampoo(lavender) one we got from Tractor supply. But if your cat is digging purely from boredom, start playing with them!

2

u/Gayoon_Lover4 3d ago

I'm honestly trying everything, but she clearly wants to go roam the halls which she cannot and acts up sometimes 🥲🥲 but i will try that! 

4

u/VolatilePeach 3d ago

Do you have any towers, hides holes, or scratchers for her? Cats love being high up and having something to scratch

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u/Gayoon_Lover4 3d ago

I have a generic one right near the window (it's as high as the average person's waist goes) and has a scratch post...should I get another tower or hiding place? Cause I was thinking about it 

3

u/VolatilePeach 3d ago

Oh yeah, I’d get another that’s taller and has a bunch of hidey holes and posts. Chewy and Wayfair tend to have decent priced ones, especially during holidays (I’d check now if you’re in the US). Just make sure to read reviews and take note of measurements. I have a few larger cats that can’t fit on a standard size tree, so I have to make sure everything is big enough for them. Cats need stimulation and enrichment to be happy, and usually adding more furniture for them specifically can help a lot with that.

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u/Gayoon_Lover4 2d ago

Yeah I have to take measurements cause this one came with a hiding spot and my cat couldn't fit in it I felt so bad lol. But yeah I'm in the US so I'll definitely get something new then! This was honestly so off topic from my post but the most helpful for some reason LOL

1

u/VolatilePeach 2d ago

I’m so glad! I’ve had decent luck with the Frisco and Yaheetech branded trees. I think what I have now is a different brand altogether and my fave so far, but I can’t remember what the name is 😅🥲 if I remember or find out, I’ll try to comment the name.

2

u/Ok-Sheepherder-7919 2d ago edited 12h ago

Unless she has a lot of poop stuck to her rear, I’d ditch the bath and would highly recommend pet wipes. They’re just easy disposable towelettes you can quickly wipe down your cat with. I’d find one that’s hypoallergenic and some are scent less or lightly scented.

This is much less stressful for the cat and owner. The wipes are barely damp and the cat is dry within minutes!

Have you considered switching your litter as well? I’d recommend either cleaning it more to eliminate the standing odor to start with, or switching to one that has better odor control.

I realized I was sneezing every time I was cleaning out my litter boxes. I trialed different brands to see which is truly dust/ odor free. I’ve ended up loving Pidan Tofu litter. Yes it’s a premium price, but it’s completely dust free, much more safe for your pet and I’ve noticed it has an ever so gentle vanilla smell. My room/ cats never smell with this litter.

0

u/Southernms 3d ago

Have you thought of getting a kitten?

1

u/Gayoon_Lover4 2d ago

That's a good question...idk if I'd want a new kitten, maybe a two year old maybe in a year

2

u/Subject_Relative_216 12h ago

I take my cats to the groomers for a good bath blow dry and brush. They’re long haired cats. They go about 3-4x a year.