Conquering Bathtime: Unlike dogs, cats rarely need a bath because they do so much self-grooming. But if yours gets into something sticky or smelly, or has a skin condition that requires bathing, you’ll want to help Kitty cope with the watery experience. If you begin bathing a cat when he’s young, he will grow accustomed to the feeling of water. Place him in an empty tub or sink, speak reassuringly, and run a washcloth wet with room-temperature water over his fur — just enough to get him damp. If he’s calm enough, start filling the bath or use a tumbler or pitcher of warm water — never hot — and slowly pour this over his fur. You can also try a hose attached to the faucet to saturate his coat. Working from head to tail, apply a small amount of diluted feline shampoo and work up the suds, cleaning the cat’s fur and skin. Be sure to rinse more than once to prevent shampoo residue from irritating his skin, or getting into his mouth when he tries to lick himself dry. Dry him with a clean, fluffy towel, praising him for braving bathtime. Source: AnimalPlanet