An animal charity is warning house owners to not wash their cats unnecessarily after noticing an uplift in cat bathing movies on social media websites.
Cats Safety is anxious that inexperienced cat lovers are being inspired to wash their cats which, it says, is never wanted and infrequently distressing.
The welfare charity warns that washing a cat can strip their coat of important oils that are wanted for his or her pores and skin so as to add a layer of waterproofing and also can take away flea management therapies.
To lift consciousness, Cats Safety has launched a video on Instagram Reels and TikTok, which might be discovered www.instagram.com/catsprotection or www.tiktok.com/@cats_protection
“It’s no delusion that cats don’t like water and, so long as they’re grooming themselves, they need to keep clear,” mentioned Elin Williams, Cats Safety’s Regional Behaviour Officer. “If actually vital, utilizing a gentle fabric soaked in heat water might be sufficient to take away most grime.”
Elin factors out that home cats are advanced from the African wildcat, whose pure habitats have been deserts, so being immersed in water is unnatural to them.
“It will probably additionally have an effect on your cat’s pheromones which they use to scent mark their territory,” says Elin.”
The charity advises solely bathing a cat if beneficial by a vet and, in these instances, it ought to solely be with water or a small quantity of fragrance-free cat shampoo.
“Cats have a unique pores and skin PH to us so even a light shampoo usually too harsh for cats,” says Elin. Lengthy-haired cats often want further assist grooming, with day by day brushing, to maintain their fur in tip high form.
“In case your cat stops grooming themselves for no matter cause then we’d at all times counsel chatting with your vet first as any adjustments in behaviour might point out there’s one thing unsuitable.”
Extra recommendations on grooming cats and different cat care movies can be found on Cats Safety’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@catsprotection
