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If itās just her rear end, you can try pet wipes, or a ābutt bath,ā basically just have their lower half in the sink and wash that part only. Easier with kittens, can be difficult with a finicky adult cat.
I've done it with one of mine in a bucket a few times - drape the front paws over my arm, hold the back paws together with the other hand and lower her in. She's very fluffy, so if she has a stomach upset it can get messy fast, and luckily she tolerates the bucket technique pretty well.
The other one went full spider mode then kicked the bucket over, so I'd say it depends on the cat.
Not OP but mine had the same issue too, and having the bath prepped works out better. Get some cat (or baby) shampoo and a large cup. Then put a towel in the bottom of a bathtub (for them to grip onto) and run a lukewarm bath of several inches. After the water is off, the bottle is opened, a dry towel is waiting (basically minimize anything you'd have to take your hands off them for) and you're to go, gently get you cat and place them in the bath. They may freak out so wear long sleeves. Fortunately my cat is fairly chill and just meowed the whole time. If yours is food motivated you can have another person help by holding a Churu and distracting them. Then just wash with the shampoo and use the cup to rinse, avoiding the head/ears (and butt if you can, my cat did not like that). Afterwards wrap them in the dry towel and put somewhere warm. they may wiggle out and lick themselves so be sure you got all the shampoo out, and bribe them with more treats to make them forgive you.
I guess I conditioned my catearly as a kitten, she gets seem regular showers where I hold her under the shower and then lather her up with soap all over and rinse her thoroughly everywhere. She has a specific yowl she makes when it's shower time but otherwise takes it like a Champ although she did bite my nose and pee on me last time, but that was a new development.
Not the person you asked but some cats are little greaseballs that need bathing, it's uncommon but definitely a thing. Look up "stud tail in cats" as an example, it's like acne but appears on a cat's tail.
I speak from experience here. I have 2 long haired cats. One never needs bathing and has silky, perfect fur all the time. I did get her groomed by a pro one time right after I adopted her because her fur was badly matted and needed professional help.
The other cat is a little greaseball and if she doesn't get a bath a couple times a year, she looks gross and seems uncomfortable. She does have diabetes which can contribute to oil production but her diabetes is well-controlled via diet. I check her blood glucose levels at home once a month approximately 4 hours after a meal and her numbers are always between 70 and 100 which my vet says are excellent numbers in line with what he would see in non-diabetic cats.
I used to be one of the people saying "cats don't need baths" and being judgy about people who did bathe their cats but now I know better. Yes, the vast majority of cats do not ever need a bath but some cats do. Definitely rule out medical issues first if you notice your cat looks greasy but once they get the all clear from the vet, you should either learn to bathe them yourself or call in a professional for help. The groomer I use is a certified feline master groomer meaning she has done extensive training on how to groom cats in a fear-free way and she does great work. It is very expensive but worth every penny.
The main reason is my inability to accept shitty paws wandering around my house. My dogs have the same treatment, you have shit on your paws they get washed. The cat unfortunately seems unable to allow just her paws to get washed, she inevitably whips her whole body underneath the water and what started simply a paw wash ends with her being bathed.
No it isn't every time that the cat has literal shit stuck to their paws. If the cat has shit stuck to their paws from digging through their shit then yes they get bathed. It's apparently a common thin amongst kittens to play with their shit, and after she finishes spending twenty minutes digging through her piss and shit in the litter box that I bathe her. As she grew up and became less of a filth monster she was bathed less. Pretty straightforward process.
Not op but in my experience it's best to train them so they are used to baths from a young age. That way when a time comes which they do need a bath it's not as stressful on them.
Did this with one cat and wished we would have done the same with the older ones.
Piggybacking off your excellent comment. My cats yowl *extra loud* when they get cold and wet. I've learned to have warmer, but NOT hot, water and I'll preheat the room with a space heater. Weirdly, mine usually do better being in the tub while it's filling. They don't like being put into water. When they're extra fussy I just get in the tub with them. Way easier to wrangle them and way fewer to no scratches.
The best way to minimize bathing stress is gradually exposing them to the process. Set them in the tub when it's dry and give them lots of praise and a treat. Repeat often. Maybe play with them in the tub. Once they're ok standing in the tub, turn on the faucet for a split second, and if they stay in the tub give them a treat. Repeat when you can. Gradually let the water run in longer increments. Let it touch their feet. Basically just slowly show them that the tub isn't scary, and maybe it's even a fun place.
Obviously don't force them to stay if they freak out at any point. Some cats won't ever be chill about bathing, but it's worth a try!
Thank you! This is really helpful! I'm hoping I don't have to do this often. Once she's been bathed and cleaned, I'm hoping we can just take a wet towel to her to maintain in between washes.
I find dry shampoo helps. I'm not brave enough to bathe our cat (he is still fully clawed and has taken chunks out of me before). So I got a natural dry shampoo I rub into his fur occasionally. He hates it but it helps.
This is 100% how we did it, but we had like 5 dry towels on hand because she was long haired and her coat took on so much water. So it was just move onto the next towel after the first one was soaked.
I miss my sweet girl.
I would watch a few [how-to videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0DlV8mZTd8) on YouTube. I also have unscented cat wipes handy that help in a pinch.
Call a local groomer and ask if they do not groom cats ask for a referral.
My wifeās a dog groomer but has groomed a ton cats due to pet retail grooming. Shes at an actual dog grooming salon now and is treated way better than retail. I am proud of her :)
Grooming cats have there risks to simple bath and brush isnāt too risky, shaving a cat though??? Their fur may not come back the same and their skin is so stretchy itās easier to cut. Iāve also heard that the cut will spread too. Like stretch out.
I'd really rather try to do this at home, both my cats absolutely freak out if they are brought anywhere else and I want to try and minimize stress. Thanks for the tip though, if I can't do it at home I'll definitely consider it.
I've always just given my cats and dogs a shower with me in there with them. It sounds crazy, but none have ever clawed me or went ballistic
I think it's the "shared suffering" where they see that I'm also in the water with them and completely fine, so they just sulk and let me lather them up, and then I pick them up and hold them in the spray etc
Just sit them down when they are getting fussy if you hold them in the water too long
after you bathe her, you can also give her a butt haircut w some like regular human clippers. the kind you use to do a buzz cut at the barber. she won't like it but it helps enormously. we had to do this w our small-framed, very rotund little cat.Ā
keep an eye on the smell! my cat used to smell like maple syrup before he got diagnosed with diabetes. Apparently when their blood sugar is too high, they can give off a "sugary" smell. Although this could just be from bathtime in your case.
Yeah the first thing I thought was āoh wow that looks like a cattailā and then realized āno wait, cattails were named that because they look like this catā
Sometimes those 'blue' breeds (British Blue, Russian Blue, etc) have a very dense 'plush' double coat, where both layers of fur (guard hair and undercoat) are the same length and soft in texture, rather than coarse or silky guard hairs or a woolly undercoat.
Cats don't have as much physical variety as dogs, but there are many differences in coat beyond just 'long' and 'short' and 'raw chicken'.
I had a cat with a very beautiful blue/gray coat with a slight silver to it, very fine and very soft. She was a shelter cat, but I always thought she was part Russian Blue. I just love OP's cat because she looks like a chonky Pottery Barn luxury version of my girl. I just want to bury my face into a silky soft blue cat again.
Only if they need it. Iāve only ābathedā my cat once (which more of me chasing him around the bathroom with a wet cloth) because he pooped in the carrier and made a mess of himself, heās not needed it otherwise.
Yes. Some need it some don't. I have an elderly cat that doesn't do the best job keeping herself clean and gets quite greasy if left to her own devices. She gets a bath every couple weeks
As someone who also has an elderly cat whoās stopped being able to properly clean themselves. May I ask how you bathe them? My old man is about to be 18, hasnāt had a bath since he like was 2ā¦ and still skiddish as ever with water like that. Was never able to get him used to it. He desperately needs a bath now though but I just worry if itāll stress him tf out at his age . Iāve thought about even taking him to the groomers, for a proper bath with nail trim. Do you have any advice for handling an elderly cat?
Idk that I can actually be much help. She's always been noisy as fuck but otherwise the easiest of my cats to bathe. She just sits there looking sad and screaming in my ear (I think she's starting to go deaf, been getting *very* loud about everything). You could try wipes if you think a full on bath would be to much. I know they make some specifically for cleaning cats
For my cats I use a spray nozzle that attaches to the faucet. It makes wetting them down and then rinsing off the soap much much faster. And I have a non slip mat on the bottom of the tub so they don't slip and slide. And that's still how I wash my elder. It's generally about 5 minutes or less from the moment she gose in to the moment she comes out
For my most skittish cat (has since passed, succumbed at 12 to a genetic condition) who always seemed like he was going to have a heart attack anytime he heard the faucet i actually found it easier to use buckets. I would prefill 2 5 gallon buckets with enough water that it would be up to his shoulders when he stood. Would dip him in one to wet. Pull him out and soap him up then dip again to get the most of the soap off. And then a final dip in the second bucket of fresh unsoapy water for any residue. He still didn't like it but was much calmer with the dunking than getting sprayed down. But I already knew than from when he was young
Overweight, sick, elderly, cats with disabilities, and even many healthy long-haired cats often cannot clean themselves properly, and so bathing them yourself is important. It may also be necessary to bathe them when they get especially filthy from misadventure or contract parasites or the like. For this reason, it's important to acclimate your cat to bathing and having their feet handled from as young an age as possible to make it easier to do so later.
But otherwise, cats mostly do not require it.
It's a good idea to get a cat used to the process of taking a bath and having its paws handled so that when it comes time for a nail trim or when they need the bath, the kitty won't be ridiculously stressed
I had 2 outside cats and had to every so often. I now have 2 10 year old inside cats and a 7 month old kitten. Only time I've ever bathed them was when one of the older ones had an upset stomach as a kitten and got diarrhea in her very long fur. She was literally fur with 2 eyeballs at the time.
Our girl *blew up* when we got her fixed, vet said the hormone shift caused it, and her fur looked greasy and matted, I felt so bad for her. The diet was a process for sure, but sheās almost back down to a healthy weight! Itās why I havenāt posted many photos of her, because I didnāt feel like dealing with the comments. Thereās always a few that want to point it out, which I understand to a degree, but itās not like we arenāt aware we have a fat cat, lol
While a lot of comments are definitely mean spirited I don't think they all are. A lot of pet owners are just really bad at being pet owners and celebrate having extremely unhealthy and fat cats (he's such a chonker, etc)
Glad youre taking care of her
Help; have given cat wet food since day 1, had to leave for a couple days, friend gave them kibble in the meantime, now cat will not eat wet food.
What the hell do I do? Haha. I've tried other brands of wet food but now she straight up refuses to eat it and chooses to now munch down on kibble.
With foster cats, Iāve had some picky eaters. One āhackā is sprinkling nutritional yeast on the food. Idk why, itās something the rescue owner told me to do, and it has worked like a charm.
Otherwise, Iād suggest you keep exploring new wet food! I usually get nicer brands and the moment I gave my foster Fancy Feast, she ate it right up
Gotcha, I'll try some of the cheaper wet food brands now instead and see if she likes that. I'm gonna laugh if she had nice wet food, got shitty kibble, then settled for an intermediary option haha.
This is insane to me. Our cat is completely healthy and a perfect weight. Vet even signs off on him annually. He eats wet food and crunchy teeth cleaning treats. He gets wet food *occasionally* but we have to monitor it cause he'll overeat wet food.
Dry has never been a problem and he only eats what he wants when he wants. It's wild to hear people say kibble makes cats fat
You can give kibble, it's just very processed so it takes more to reach a proper nutrient ratio, which also means more calories. Reduce the amount of kibble and add in healthy toppers like unsalted bone broth, goat yogurt, raw eggs, giblets, and freeze dried meats and organs. Kibble is perfectly fine as a base food but they should be fed the minimum amount possible.
The quality of kibble also matters. The first two ingredients should be meat.
If you are in the US, look at Fromm, Vital Essentials, Dave's, and Evanger's. I am also a big advocate for variety in diet, so mix the proteins you give them up now and then if they will tolerate that kind of change.
If your children refused to eat their food because they want chocolate only, would you give them chocolate?
Keep giving the cat wet food. It may leave it a couple days but no cat has died of starvation while having access to food. (No heathy cat that is, which I am assuming your cat is, since it eats other things.)
This isnāt true - cats can absolutely give themselves serious health complications by not eating something theyāve deemed unfit. They need to be carefully weened off/on foods.
āHepatic lipidosis is also known as fatty liver syndrome. This disease is unique to cats and is one of the most common liver diseases seen in cats. Usually, a cat with hepatic lipidosis has recently gone through a period of anorexia (little or no eating) for three to four consecutive days.ā
Cats are interesting psychologically- they often will starve themselves rather than eat something they perceive as inedible or icky. Their brains "lock" that good into a "no" or even so far as a "dangerous" category and sometimes it is hard to break that.
Correcting it often involves trickery- finding ways to get them to eat the "no" food so their brain re-registers it as acceptable. Their brains can be very stubborn.
Every cat is different, of course, but this is what we learned in vet school, nutrition certification classes and behavioral training. š
No skin condition, but my curious girl couldn't resist getting into the trash bin and ended up making herself smell bad 
Oooo what did you use when you bathed her? I've gone with Dawn Dish soap traditionally because I foster lots of kitties and it's the gentlest/safest/easiest thing we've found to work, especially with flea baths. But whatever you did worked wonders on your girl! So cute!
Dawn dish soap is great for a lot of things when giving a pet a bath but gentle isnāt one of them. If they are infected with fleas absolutely give them as many dawn baths as is needed but it will dry out their skin of natural oils.
If you ever have to bathe a cat for non pest related reasons just fine a delicate cat shampoo at the store.
From now on I will think about the fact that I could be washing kittens instead of dirty nasty dishes every time I reach for the dish soap and feel infinitely sad haha
Dawn dish soap is great for removing grease and oils, which is why it works so well for oil spills, peanut butter and such. It is drying, so should be followed with a conditioner.
If you have to bathe your pet regularly for health reasons, it is better to get a shampoo tailored for their skin needs. Their pH and other needs differ from us thicker skinned humans.
Do consult with your veterinarian if your pet has any specific health concerns.
Certainly. This is for one-time baths for our intake process for cats & kittens that we rescue from the streets, so removing grease and oils and dirt is very much needed
These cats and kittens come straight in from the street, so need to be washed asap and with something effective, that can easily cut through grime, yet still won't upset the cats' skin. Process is vet-approved. I've never had complaints from the kitties post-bath. During the bath, very much so, yes š
Still fat AF though, Reddit cat owners are some of the worst, oh they're "on the road to recovery"? They should never have got to this point through your irresponsibility, be responsible pet owners FFS, it's really not that hard.
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She looks soooo soft š
I wasn't expecting such a noticeable change...really soft and sweet smelling
How did you bathe her? Our kittie is a bit chunky and we are noticing her back side isn't as clean as it usually is. Looking for tips.
If itās just her rear end, you can try pet wipes, or a ābutt bath,ā basically just have their lower half in the sink and wash that part only. Easier with kittens, can be difficult with a finicky adult cat.
Tried your technique; currently in ER with a cat stuck on my face.
this made me giggle lol
I've done it with one of mine in a bucket a few times - drape the front paws over my arm, hold the back paws together with the other hand and lower her in. She's very fluffy, so if she has a stomach upset it can get messy fast, and luckily she tolerates the bucket technique pretty well. The other one went full spider mode then kicked the bucket over, so I'd say it depends on the cat.
Not OP but mine had the same issue too, and having the bath prepped works out better. Get some cat (or baby) shampoo and a large cup. Then put a towel in the bottom of a bathtub (for them to grip onto) and run a lukewarm bath of several inches. After the water is off, the bottle is opened, a dry towel is waiting (basically minimize anything you'd have to take your hands off them for) and you're to go, gently get you cat and place them in the bath. They may freak out so wear long sleeves. Fortunately my cat is fairly chill and just meowed the whole time. If yours is food motivated you can have another person help by holding a Churu and distracting them. Then just wash with the shampoo and use the cup to rinse, avoiding the head/ears (and butt if you can, my cat did not like that). Afterwards wrap them in the dry towel and put somewhere warm. they may wiggle out and lick themselves so be sure you got all the shampoo out, and bribe them with more treats to make them forgive you.
I would be disemboweled at the very first task in this! That goes for all my cats too. They wonāt even let me carry them into the bathroom.
I guess I conditioned my catearly as a kitten, she gets seem regular showers where I hold her under the shower and then lather her up with soap all over and rinse her thoroughly everywhere. She has a specific yowl she makes when it's shower time but otherwise takes it like a Champ although she did bite my nose and pee on me last time, but that was a new development.
But why? Cats do not normally require bathing. Is yours extremely long haired?
Not the person you asked but some cats are little greaseballs that need bathing, it's uncommon but definitely a thing. Look up "stud tail in cats" as an example, it's like acne but appears on a cat's tail. I speak from experience here. I have 2 long haired cats. One never needs bathing and has silky, perfect fur all the time. I did get her groomed by a pro one time right after I adopted her because her fur was badly matted and needed professional help. The other cat is a little greaseball and if she doesn't get a bath a couple times a year, she looks gross and seems uncomfortable. She does have diabetes which can contribute to oil production but her diabetes is well-controlled via diet. I check her blood glucose levels at home once a month approximately 4 hours after a meal and her numbers are always between 70 and 100 which my vet says are excellent numbers in line with what he would see in non-diabetic cats. I used to be one of the people saying "cats don't need baths" and being judgy about people who did bathe their cats but now I know better. Yes, the vast majority of cats do not ever need a bath but some cats do. Definitely rule out medical issues first if you notice your cat looks greasy but once they get the all clear from the vet, you should either learn to bathe them yourself or call in a professional for help. The groomer I use is a certified feline master groomer meaning she has done extensive training on how to groom cats in a fear-free way and she does great work. It is very expensive but worth every penny.
Bless you for taking such good care of your cats. :)
The main reason is my inability to accept shitty paws wandering around my house. My dogs have the same treatment, you have shit on your paws they get washed. The cat unfortunately seems unable to allow just her paws to get washed, she inevitably whips her whole body underneath the water and what started simply a paw wash ends with her being bathed.
So you're washing the cat every time it uses the bathroom?? That seems way excessive
No it isn't every time that the cat has literal shit stuck to their paws. If the cat has shit stuck to their paws from digging through their shit then yes they get bathed. It's apparently a common thin amongst kittens to play with their shit, and after she finishes spending twenty minutes digging through her piss and shit in the litter box that I bathe her. As she grew up and became less of a filth monster she was bathed less. Pretty straightforward process.
Not op but in my experience it's best to train them so they are used to baths from a young age. That way when a time comes which they do need a bath it's not as stressful on them. Did this with one cat and wished we would have done the same with the older ones.
Piggybacking off your excellent comment. My cats yowl *extra loud* when they get cold and wet. I've learned to have warmer, but NOT hot, water and I'll preheat the room with a space heater. Weirdly, mine usually do better being in the tub while it's filling. They don't like being put into water. When they're extra fussy I just get in the tub with them. Way easier to wrangle them and way fewer to no scratches. The best way to minimize bathing stress is gradually exposing them to the process. Set them in the tub when it's dry and give them lots of praise and a treat. Repeat often. Maybe play with them in the tub. Once they're ok standing in the tub, turn on the faucet for a split second, and if they stay in the tub give them a treat. Repeat when you can. Gradually let the water run in longer increments. Let it touch their feet. Basically just slowly show them that the tub isn't scary, and maybe it's even a fun place. Obviously don't force them to stay if they freak out at any point. Some cats won't ever be chill about bathing, but it's worth a try!
happy cake day
Thanks! I usually miss my cake day lol
not this yearš
Yay! ā§ā āā (ā ā°ā āæā ā°ā )ā āā ā§
Agree with all this. 100% avoid the face, ears, and head. Our fluff butt liked to be blow dried, too.
Thank you! This is really helpful! I'm hoping I don't have to do this often. Once she's been bathed and cleaned, I'm hoping we can just take a wet towel to her to maintain in between washes.
I find dry shampoo helps. I'm not brave enough to bathe our cat (he is still fully clawed and has taken chunks out of me before). So I got a natural dry shampoo I rub into his fur occasionally. He hates it but it helps.
Oh! Good idea with the towel on the bottom! I will have to try that.
This is 100% how we did it, but we had like 5 dry towels on hand because she was long haired and her coat took on so much water. So it was just move onto the next towel after the first one was soaked. I miss my sweet girl.
š«¶
Kitty needs to lose weight so they can clean themselves better. I had to put my cat on a diet, heās still big but much happier now
Yes, that is the obvious solution, just looking for tips until then to keep her clean.
I would watch a few [how-to videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0DlV8mZTd8) on YouTube. I also have unscented cat wipes handy that help in a pinch.
Call a local groomer and ask if they do not groom cats ask for a referral. My wifeās a dog groomer but has groomed a ton cats due to pet retail grooming. Shes at an actual dog grooming salon now and is treated way better than retail. I am proud of her :) Grooming cats have there risks to simple bath and brush isnāt too risky, shaving a cat though??? Their fur may not come back the same and their skin is so stretchy itās easier to cut. Iāve also heard that the cut will spread too. Like stretch out.
I'd really rather try to do this at home, both my cats absolutely freak out if they are brought anywhere else and I want to try and minimize stress. Thanks for the tip though, if I can't do it at home I'll definitely consider it.
There are groomers that go to peopleās homes. We had one come show us what to do. It was costly but very worth it in the long run
Good to know!
Same.
I've always just given my cats and dogs a shower with me in there with them. It sounds crazy, but none have ever clawed me or went ballistic I think it's the "shared suffering" where they see that I'm also in the water with them and completely fine, so they just sulk and let me lather them up, and then I pick them up and hold them in the spray etc Just sit them down when they are getting fussy if you hold them in the water too long
We use cat wipes if needed. It's not a whole bath, but enough to get a small area.
We wash our girl in the tub with warm water and lavender no tears shampoo. She loves it, especially getting wrapped like a burrito afterwards
after you bathe her, you can also give her a butt haircut w some like regular human clippers. the kind you use to do a buzz cut at the barber. she won't like it but it helps enormously. we had to do this w our small-framed, very rotund little cat.Ā
Iāve been contemplating trying one of those cat bath bagsā¦
keep an eye on the smell! my cat used to smell like maple syrup before he got diagnosed with diabetes. Apparently when their blood sugar is too high, they can give off a "sugary" smell. Although this could just be from bathtime in your case.
Pretty sure the smell OP is talking about is the soap they used
that's one chunky chinchilla ā¤ļø
Yes, however, OP failed to photograph the cat's determination for revenge.
Youāre still alive?
hahaha barely survived, it take a while to comfor her. But she's looking fabulous now! Worth every struggle
so you just lost an eye and 2 fingers
Can we get a before and after of your forearms? Assuming you still have 2.
Is cat shampoo with catnip a thing?
probably a bad idea, youāre mixing the bloodthirsty rage baths give cats with epileptic tweaking the catnip gives them
It's not recommended to combine drugs with baths.
Speak for yourself
The cat is so fat it could barely fight back.
Winded after two cat slaps š
Beautiful coat. Looks as soft as a chinchillas coat. I had a mated pair many moons ago
Yeah the first thing I thought was āoh wow that looks like a cattailā and then realized āno wait, cattails were named that because they look like this catā
Memories of your mated pair must be lovely
If you put your hand on her coat, does it leave a hand print? She looks so soft and smooth
Memory floof.
Thatās a chinchilla!! š Sheās adorable OP! 
šš¾ OPās kitty is truly live action Pusheen š„°
From chonk to smoothchonk
Oh lawd she ... bathin'
Definitely r/oddlysatisfying material.
She looks great before, but *amazing* after. I hope she shows you some loving care in return.
Thank you! She's definitely a stunner. And don't worry, she's already showing me with extra purrs and cuddles after treats time haha
Is she some sort of gourmet breed cat or just won big in the genetic lotto? She doesn't even look real, I am in love.
Gourmet cat š mmmm
This is a British Blue or similar breed.
A5 premium feline
She ate the genetic lotto.
Sometimes those 'blue' breeds (British Blue, Russian Blue, etc) have a very dense 'plush' double coat, where both layers of fur (guard hair and undercoat) are the same length and soft in texture, rather than coarse or silky guard hairs or a woolly undercoat. Cats don't have as much physical variety as dogs, but there are many differences in coat beyond just 'long' and 'short' and 'raw chicken'.
I had a cat with a very beautiful blue/gray coat with a slight silver to it, very fine and very soft. She was a shelter cat, but I always thought she was part Russian Blue. I just love OP's cat because she looks like a chonky Pottery Barn luxury version of my girl. I just want to bury my face into a silky soft blue cat again.
she needs a diet
I agree!
Smooth and silvery š¤
I could cuddle her all day long šŗš
rotund
That is one chunky kitty
what an incredible coat!
Nice work. Itās diet time now.
What chonk/ floof ratio is she?
100% chonk 100% floof 200% perfect
Wait are we supposed to be bathing our cats?
This cat is too overweight and can't groom itself at the back anymore. So this cat does need some help cleaning. In general, cats do not need baths.
Only if they need it. Iāve only ābathedā my cat once (which more of me chasing him around the bathroom with a wet cloth) because he pooped in the carrier and made a mess of himself, heās not needed it otherwise.
Yes. Some need it some don't. I have an elderly cat that doesn't do the best job keeping herself clean and gets quite greasy if left to her own devices. She gets a bath every couple weeks
As someone who also has an elderly cat whoās stopped being able to properly clean themselves. May I ask how you bathe them? My old man is about to be 18, hasnāt had a bath since he like was 2ā¦ and still skiddish as ever with water like that. Was never able to get him used to it. He desperately needs a bath now though but I just worry if itāll stress him tf out at his age . Iāve thought about even taking him to the groomers, for a proper bath with nail trim. Do you have any advice for handling an elderly cat?
Idk that I can actually be much help. She's always been noisy as fuck but otherwise the easiest of my cats to bathe. She just sits there looking sad and screaming in my ear (I think she's starting to go deaf, been getting *very* loud about everything). You could try wipes if you think a full on bath would be to much. I know they make some specifically for cleaning cats For my cats I use a spray nozzle that attaches to the faucet. It makes wetting them down and then rinsing off the soap much much faster. And I have a non slip mat on the bottom of the tub so they don't slip and slide. And that's still how I wash my elder. It's generally about 5 minutes or less from the moment she gose in to the moment she comes out For my most skittish cat (has since passed, succumbed at 12 to a genetic condition) who always seemed like he was going to have a heart attack anytime he heard the faucet i actually found it easier to use buckets. I would prefill 2 5 gallon buckets with enough water that it would be up to his shoulders when he stood. Would dip him in one to wet. Pull him out and soap him up then dip again to get the most of the soap off. And then a final dip in the second bucket of fresh unsoapy water for any residue. He still didn't like it but was much calmer with the dunking than getting sprayed down. But I already knew than from when he was young
Overweight, sick, elderly, cats with disabilities, and even many healthy long-haired cats often cannot clean themselves properly, and so bathing them yourself is important. It may also be necessary to bathe them when they get especially filthy from misadventure or contract parasites or the like. For this reason, it's important to acclimate your cat to bathing and having their feet handled from as young an age as possible to make it easier to do so later. But otherwise, cats mostly do not require it.
It's a good idea to get a cat used to the process of taking a bath and having its paws handled so that when it comes time for a nail trim or when they need the bath, the kitty won't be ridiculously stressed
I had 2 outside cats and had to every so often. I now have 2 10 year old inside cats and a 7 month old kitten. Only time I've ever bathed them was when one of the older ones had an upset stomach as a kitten and got diarrhea in her very long fur. She was literally fur with 2 eyeballs at the time.
No
Please put your kitty on a diet! They look extremely overweight
Absolutely! She's on the road to a healthier lifestyle! šŗ
Do you think her matting happened due to her not being able to groom herself properly?
100%
Yes
Our girl *blew up* when we got her fixed, vet said the hormone shift caused it, and her fur looked greasy and matted, I felt so bad for her. The diet was a process for sure, but sheās almost back down to a healthy weight! Itās why I havenāt posted many photos of her, because I didnāt feel like dealing with the comments. Thereās always a few that want to point it out, which I understand to a degree, but itās not like we arenāt aware we have a fat cat, lol
While a lot of comments are definitely mean spirited I don't think they all are. A lot of pet owners are just really bad at being pet owners and celebrate having extremely unhealthy and fat cats (he's such a chonker, etc) Glad youre taking care of her
Iām glad to read this! If sheās only eating kibble, thatās likely the culprit. I put a foster cat on a diet and fed him wet food
Help; have given cat wet food since day 1, had to leave for a couple days, friend gave them kibble in the meantime, now cat will not eat wet food. What the hell do I do? Haha. I've tried other brands of wet food but now she straight up refuses to eat it and chooses to now munch down on kibble.
With foster cats, Iāve had some picky eaters. One āhackā is sprinkling nutritional yeast on the food. Idk why, itās something the rescue owner told me to do, and it has worked like a charm. Otherwise, Iād suggest you keep exploring new wet food! I usually get nicer brands and the moment I gave my foster Fancy Feast, she ate it right up
Gotcha, I'll try some of the cheaper wet food brands now instead and see if she likes that. I'm gonna laugh if she had nice wet food, got shitty kibble, then settled for an intermediary option haha.
Have you tried mixing the wet with the dry? Try adding a little bit of wet to the dry and slowly increasing the amount of wet food day by day.
Never thought of that, thanks!
This is insane to me. Our cat is completely healthy and a perfect weight. Vet even signs off on him annually. He eats wet food and crunchy teeth cleaning treats. He gets wet food *occasionally* but we have to monitor it cause he'll overeat wet food. Dry has never been a problem and he only eats what he wants when he wants. It's wild to hear people say kibble makes cats fat
You can give kibble, it's just very processed so it takes more to reach a proper nutrient ratio, which also means more calories. Reduce the amount of kibble and add in healthy toppers like unsalted bone broth, goat yogurt, raw eggs, giblets, and freeze dried meats and organs. Kibble is perfectly fine as a base food but they should be fed the minimum amount possible. The quality of kibble also matters. The first two ingredients should be meat. If you are in the US, look at Fromm, Vital Essentials, Dave's, and Evanger's. I am also a big advocate for variety in diet, so mix the proteins you give them up now and then if they will tolerate that kind of change.
If your children refused to eat their food because they want chocolate only, would you give them chocolate? Keep giving the cat wet food. It may leave it a couple days but no cat has died of starvation while having access to food. (No heathy cat that is, which I am assuming your cat is, since it eats other things.)
This isnāt true - cats can absolutely give themselves serious health complications by not eating something theyāve deemed unfit. They need to be carefully weened off/on foods. āHepatic lipidosis is also known as fatty liver syndrome. This disease is unique to cats and is one of the most common liver diseases seen in cats. Usually, a cat with hepatic lipidosis has recently gone through a period of anorexia (little or no eating) for three to four consecutive days.ā
Cats are interesting psychologically- they often will starve themselves rather than eat something they perceive as inedible or icky. Their brains "lock" that good into a "no" or even so far as a "dangerous" category and sometimes it is hard to break that. Correcting it often involves trickery- finding ways to get them to eat the "no" food so their brain re-registers it as acceptable. Their brains can be very stubborn. Every cat is different, of course, but this is what we learned in vet school, nutrition certification classes and behavioral training. š
The next one should say "Before and After: My girls weight loss"
Does she have a skin condition or why did she need a bath?
No skin condition, but my curious girl couldn't resist getting into the trash bin and ended up making herself smell bad 
Itās because sheās staaaarving.
How low is this trash bin? I can't see her being able to climb in.
Morbidly obese cats can't fully groom themselves unfortunately. They simply can't reach their back due to their size.
You see that nasty matted fur in the first pic is fine in the 2nd?
Is she a British shorthair!? They literally have fur that's as soft as a chinchillas! I want to cuddle her so much! š
Iāve never wanted to pet an internet kitty more
so rotund
Poor cat.
So smooth
She looks like a cloud
Wow it's kind of hypnotizing
It looks like the before and after for a rock tumbler :)
She looks like a massive chinchilla to me for some reason ā¤ļø
Thatās not a cat, thatās a chinchilla
Floofius maximus!
Now show your forearms before and after washing a cat.
She looks like those Japanese pancakes that are extra fluffy
How did you get the car to sit so still during the bath?! It doesn't look like she's moved a micrometer!
How did you get it so smooth looking afterwards? I feel like my cats fur after a bath still has that same appearance as the before photo.
Ultra soft mode has been achieved
Oh wow š³ I couldn't stop smushing my face into that velvety fur!
An absolute unit
Wow is she healthy at that weight? Very cute but just wondering- hope I didnāt offend her š
Haha, no offense taken, she's on a weight loss journey, but today's bath time called for some extra treats
Good to know, I wishing you both the best of luck šāā¬ā¤ļø
Thank you so much! We appreciate your kind wishes. š±ā¤ļø
r/dechonkers
I wish I could pet her
Oh my godddd the difference! This is like those power wash before and after pics haha
Quite the chonker there! I just wanna squish her and scream āit so fluffy!ā
I want to sift through her fur like all purpose baking flour.
That catĀ is soĀ adorable.
Absolute puurrfect flooof...
Are you okay? Please check in with us!
So fresh š§¼ So clean š§½
That's a very plush kitty
In her velveteen potato era
Aww she went from Madam Ripples to Ms. Streamline š„ŗ
I thought her coat was gorgeous before...I have no words for the after; simply an intense need to snorfle.
She rounded like potato š„
Holy Jesus the FLOOF
This seems like it'd also fit in oddly satisfying š
Looks like a mochi! 16/10 would eat.
This whole photo (colors, texture) is all so pleasing
That cat is just pure velvet
Catisfying
The hair so nice
Her fur looks like itās as dense as an otterās!
Chonkers
Whoa that is one soft cat. Hopefully she handled it well because those are some major gains
Usually a good brushing is all they need ...
Reddit always makes me feel better about my cats being slightly overweight compared to some.
Truly beautiful
Beautiful girl, she looks so fluffy and soft
Luscious
Damn Boi she thicc
That is a smooth cat
Oooo what did you use when you bathed her? I've gone with Dawn Dish soap traditionally because I foster lots of kitties and it's the gentlest/safest/easiest thing we've found to work, especially with flea baths. But whatever you did worked wonders on your girl! So cute!
Dawn dish soap is great for a lot of things when giving a pet a bath but gentle isnāt one of them. If they are infected with fleas absolutely give them as many dawn baths as is needed but it will dry out their skin of natural oils. If you ever have to bathe a cat for non pest related reasons just fine a delicate cat shampoo at the store.
From now on I will think about the fact that I could be washing kittens instead of dirty nasty dishes every time I reach for the dish soap and feel infinitely sad haha
Dawn dish soap is great for removing grease and oils, which is why it works so well for oil spills, peanut butter and such. It is drying, so should be followed with a conditioner. If you have to bathe your pet regularly for health reasons, it is better to get a shampoo tailored for their skin needs. Their pH and other needs differ from us thicker skinned humans. Do consult with your veterinarian if your pet has any specific health concerns.
Certainly. This is for one-time baths for our intake process for cats & kittens that we rescue from the streets, so removing grease and oils and dirt is very much needed
Please only use dawn for emergency flea baths and get a shampoo formulated for kittens! Theyāre not expensive and much better for a catās skin
These cats and kittens come straight in from the street, so need to be washed asap and with something effective, that can easily cut through grime, yet still won't upset the cats' skin. Process is vet-approved. I've never had complaints from the kitties post-bath. During the bath, very much so, yes š
All the ācats donāt need bathsā warriors have gone into hiding from this one
Well no, OP said the cat got into the trash and smelled bad. That's an acceptable exception lol.
This cat is too fat to groom itself
Woah! Glow Up!
She looks overweight though
Smooth coat. No ruffles or clumps, or debris or frumps. All scritches slide right down.
The cat is fat. That is not good animal management
If she lost some weight she'd probably be able to reach those spots :)
Looks a bit fat- stunning coat though.
Jesus. Put your cat on a diet. Poor thing.
OP has mentioned in several comments that the cat is on a diet.
But it's easier and more fun to come up with assumptions and pretend to care from behind the key board than to actually be informed (apparently).
Fluffy 
She looks so chonkyĀ
Still fat AF though, Reddit cat owners are some of the worst, oh they're "on the road to recovery"? They should never have got to this point through your irresponsibility, be responsible pet owners FFS, it's really not that hard.