How to Groom a Kitten

While naturally mother cats take care of their kittens and teach them grooming, keeping your kitten extremely clean is important for its health and well-being. Before they grow and learn how to independently groom themselves properly, you can wash your kitten from the age of 12 weeks. It is especially important to groom kittens daily, because often their coat is of a cottony texture that tangles very easily. The kitten will quickly become accustomed to being combed and brushed. So, when you introduce a bath, it will not be difficult. Remember that most cats hate water with an exception of Turkish Van and Bengal breeds.

Like babies, kitties need lots of love and patience especially when being introduced to new things. When introducing it to a bathe, hold it against your body and move it slowly to ensure that it earns your trust, as some kittens get startled at the sound of running water. You need to talk to the kitten constantly as you dip her into the bathing tub.

Cleaning Items
• A soft cloth
• Warm water
• A soft towel
• Rubber mat to prevent kitten from slipping
• Pet shampoo/baby shampoo
• Lots of warmth and affection.
Washing procedure
• Half fill the sink or bath tub with warm water and insert the rubber mat.
• Wrap a towel around yourself to avoid soaking wet.
• Hold the front feet of the kitten with one hand and gently lower the body into the water with the other hand. Let the front feet stand on the edges of the tub to make the kitten feel more secure and more in control.
• Shampoo the soft towel and start cleaning from the back, following the direction of the fur.
• Move on to the tail, hind legs, front legs, neck and then the tummy.
• Remember to constantly talk to the kitten as you wash it to keep it calm. If it is scared, hold it in your towel for reassurance and comfort.
• Once rinsed, remove it from the water and hold it in a soft towel to blot out excess water.
• While doing this, hold and talk to the kitten to calm it down and to earn a lot of trust as possible.

Tips
• Make sure that the water that you use is close to the kitten's body temperature.
• Confine the kitten to a certain place to dry off.
• Kittens only require full baths if they are especially dirty or have fleas. Always use a pet shampoo for this.
• Spot-cleaning works well for them. Daily cleaning of their behinds will help keep your kitten happier, healthier and keep odors away.
• Remember not to give your kitten too many baths. The water will dry out his skin and his fur! Once every two weeks is perfect practice!
• If kitten shampoo is a little out of your price range, Johnson's head-to-toe baby wash works great and leaves her smelling nice longer. It is also very gentle on her skin and is tear-free!
• You can wash the kitty's face with a damp cloth.
• Front paws and bib area, may be rubbed gently with cornstarch to absorb the stain, and then brushed off.
• A paste of cornstarch and peroxide can be used to clean urine stains under the tail and stubborn stains.
• If you get scratches in the process, quickly use a disinfectant to clean the area thoroughly and bandage them. Check the scratches frequently for any signs of infections.
Warnings
• Bathing kittens pose serious health risks to kittens since they are not able to raise their temperature very fast after the fur has been soaked wet.
• Never get soap into the kitty's face, if it does quickly wash it. Consult a vet if the irritation persists.

Bathing a kitten can be fun and enjoyable when well planned. It controls pet dander and also lessens the risk of hair balls, which can form in the kitty's stomach and intestines if it swallows hair when licking itself.