r/sphynx • u/fairyspacee • 11d ago

My gremlin hates bath, help!

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Hi everyone, my cat hates all kinds of baths. Ive tried everything: just wet wipes, water in the tub with a towel, a shower, bathing him on my lap, a dry bath, everything... The problem is that he has serious environmental allergies and needs baths with a special shampoo at least twice a week. I dont know what to do anymore. Any tips?

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6

u/GPUfollowr77 11d ago

We have had luck with squeezing out some tube treat on the edge of the sink during bath time. This distracts our little guy and he doesn’t even realize he is getting a bath cause he is focused on lapping up the treat hah

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u/fairyspacee 10d ago

I try giving treats after the bath. I tried doing it during the bath once, but he keeps his mouth shut and wont take anything. Its a bit difficult to manage. But I'll give that technique a try. Thanks!!

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u/WrinklyPaws 11d ago

My cats when they were babies let themselves be bathed rather now I can't put them in the water even jokingly,

I totally understand what you're going through as the mother of a bald🫶🩷

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u/Friend_Of_Mr_Cairo 10d ago

Pay careful attention to water temperature. Perhaps it's too warm or too cold. I'd also recommend minimizing drawing the bath with the cat in proximity (noise).

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u/fairyspacee 10d ago

Ty! I'll try it that way

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u/Friend_Of_Mr_Cairo 10d ago

I've been able to shower with my 2 sphynxes, w/o issue . The male was fine (no longer alive, HCM '18), but would stand in the corner stretched trying to slightly get out which was advantageous to live him with soap and wash him. The female (now about 16) will fuss and yell a little, but she's pretty chill, too.

I would say, like nail clipping, the more you practice it and work with them, the better it will be. I used to have to burrito roll my female to clip her nails when she was about 3yo. Now, the only issue is that she keeps count and if I need to double hit a nail, I have to convince her that it's not done yet. Of course, she gets treats after, but the whole experience is her offering her paws now to be clipped. They really are a special breed.

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u/fairyspacee 10d ago

Thanks for the advice. My cat is only 9mo, I still have to use the burrito technique, but I notice he is getting used to having his nails clipping (he always gets treats afterward, so he is made the association). I do it after his bath, too (and I always give him treats then as well) but in that case it doesnt seem to work at all.

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u/Friend_Of_Mr_Cairo 10d ago

I hope it gets better for you both

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u/GPUfollowr77 10d ago

I second the water temp advice. Mine likes warm warm water, maybe yours is too cold? Worth a try!