BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Cats smelly cat!!!!!

i have a cat called joey and he really smells!!! we have tried getting the smell away but nothing has worked! should we give him a bath??

I have had cats that I bathed regularly and it made them much nicer to be around.
If you have a panicky cat you will need help to control his legs. - Someone to hold all four.

If you have a calm cat just put a towel over the center divider of the sink so that he can hold on to it with his front feet. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Claire, Around here we have a product called Poosh. It is a spray that makes your cat smell nice if you don't want to give him a bath. Could your cat have bad breath and when he cleans himself, he is leaving an offensive odor behind? One of our cats has this problem. Does your cat go outside? Maybe he is getting into something. Usually cats hate baths. The Poosh can be bought at animal groomers places. There are probably other sprays out there as well. Let me know how things work out for you and your kitty. Give him a kiss for me; but hold your nose when doing so! I love kittys!!!!!!! Sincerely, moose

I have aided in the bathing of cats, and while it can be quite physically tricky with frequent comic results, usually the cat does smell better.

By all means, get someone to help you if the cat is uncooperative. I once had to help bathe a cat that had climbed up a chimney and was covered in sticky black soot. It was slightly dangerous process to wash her, but absolutely necessary. We had to talk calmly to the cat the whole time and wash *very* quickly but all was well in no time.

If the cat has bad breath and that is leaving a strange oder on it, investigate what you are feeding the cat or see if the vet recommends a teeth cleaning.

- Rae

is it an outdoor cat or an indoor only cat?

I've always wondered if we could get a sedative from the vet for our cats for bathing.....I don't see why not. You might look into it if you think he's going to be a terror in the tub. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There is an "over the counter" sedative that is for cats called "Calm Down". We get it from Petsmart. We give it to our 17 pounder (with claws) whenever we have to give her a bath! It doesn't knock her out, but it does make her [b][/b] easier to handle. It is a lot less expensive than anything you can get from the vet.

Also, Sewer, you didn't mention whether Joey was a long or short-haired cat. Somtimes long-haired (or very fat) cats have a hard time cleaning themselves around their anal area. When we had a persian, we kept that area trimmed short to make it easier for him to clean himslef. And it cuts down on matting when he goes potty.

BTW: now I've got that song running through my head, in Phoebe's voice no less! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Auuuggghhhh it's driving me crazy! <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

ooh, gotta check that sedative out. My mom and I know our cats need baths, but we dread doing so because we know they'll freak out! It'll be easier than going to the vet.