Is it necessary to bathe a cat?

People tend to bathe our feline friends, but... is it really necessary to do so?

Cats are one of the cleanest animals that exist, and it is a well-known fact that a mentally and physically healthy cat spends most of its time grooming itself, by licking all its fur. 

Cats and water:

The myth that "cats hate water" is a well-known one, but it all depends on the period of socialisation, just as it does with other animals. In other words, if you accustom your cat to water from the age of 2 to 3 months, which is when it has already been vaccinated and is in the full stage of socialisation, it will be a cat that will learn that water is not a bad thing. If you have to accustom an adult cat to bathing, it will be more complicated. 

There are breeds, such as the Bengal cat, that like water, but these are only exceptions. It will always be necessary to get your furry buddy used to water from a very young age, otherwise you will probably get a scratch or two in the process, or you will have to do it gradually and with lots of treats in between to make them happy in the water. 

So, if your cat is healthy and looks well, it is not absolutely necessary to bathe it, indeed, if we have not accustomed it to water from an early age, we may be putting it under unnecessary additional stress. 

That is why we should bathe it when necessary, as frequent bathing can also cause it to lose essential oils contained in its coat. 

It will be necessary, especially if you have a cat with long fur, to brush it regularly to keep it tangle-free. 

Reasons why you should bathe your cat:

1. When it’s dirty
2. If it has fleas and you have to wash it with a special shampoo
3. If, for any reason, it has stopped grooming itself
4. If it has got dirty with a chemical or toxic substance that it cannot clean off by itself or with a wipe
5. If it has long fur and it is tangled and you can't untangle it
6. If it is very hot or if it has suffered a heat stroke
7. If it has a skin rash or allergy

Alba Serrano, canine and feline psychologist and Master in Clinical Ethology from the UAB, @enlamentedelosanimales.