Charity urges owners not to wash cats
Cats Protection recommends that owners only bathe their cat if told to by their veterinary practice.
Cats Protection has warned pet owners not to wash their cat unnecessarily, after seeing an increase of cat bathing videos on social media.
It fears that inexperienced owners may be led to bathe their cats, which it says is rarely needed and can be distressing for the cat.
The welfare charity says that washing cats can remove essential oils from their coat, which are needed to add a layer of waterproofing to their skin. It can also affect the efficacy of flea control treatments.
Additionally immersing a cat in water can interfere with their pheromones, affecting their ability to mark their territory.
The charity suggests that this could be due to their evolutionary origins from African wildcats. African wildcats’ natural habitats were deserts, so being in water is unnatural for them.
Cats Protection therefore recommends that owners only bathe their cat if they are told to by their veterinary practice. In most cases, cats can keep themselves clean by grooming themselves.
If you need to bathe your cat, it suggests using only water, or a small amount of unfragranced shampoo. This is because cats have a different skin pH to humans, meaning even a mild shampoo can be damaging for cats.
The charity has shared its advice on grooming cats, as well as other cat care advice, on its Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts.
Elin Williams, Cats Protections’ regional behaviour officer, says: “It’s no myth that cats don’t like water and, as long as they are grooming themselves, they should stay clean,
“If really necessary, using a soft cloth soaked in warm water will be enough to remove most dirt.”
She adds: “If your cat stops grooming themselves for whatever reason then we’d always suggest speaking to your vet first as any changes in behaviour may indicate there’s something wrong.”
Image © Shutterstock
BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.
