Yesterday we kicked the weekend off by giving The Boys a bath, which seemed like a good idea until Snapdragon got wet. Things pretty much went down hill after that.
Epiphany #1
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When giving a cat a bath, shut the bathroom door. And have lots of towels handy.
Above: A half-wet Dragon.
After three or four tries, I gave up on the Dragon and put Lickity in the tub. Lickity may be the troublemaker, but he's the very model of mild mannered resignation on the grooming front, most of the time.
Above: a none-too-happy Lickity.
And when Dragon sees Lickity endure some routine hygiene chore, he calms down because he knows he's not being singled out, and maybe he figures that if Lickity can survive the indignity, then so can he.
Epiphany #2
- If you have multiple cats, lock all in the bathroom together and give the tamest one a bath first.
I was then able to catch the Dragon and put him back in the tub. Having regained my composure, I remembered to comfort him with slow blinks and to praise him for his bravery, which he responded to by leaning into my hand trustfully. We quickly finished off his bath with a minimum of fierce and terrifying growls.
Epiphany #3
- Baths are scary. You are the trusted guardian of your fur baby and it's up to you to guide him or her through frightening and unfamiliar experiences. Compassion trumps impatience every time.
Above: Fluffy, dry, and clean. Good Dragon!