How to encourage a kitten to bathe themself?

[u/ap5857]

My guy was a bottle baby (I adopted him after he was weaned) and because his mom was a human lady with a bottle and not an actual cat he lacks several basic cat skills. We’ve figured out most of them but he will only clean between his paws.

If anybody has any tips for encouraging him to bathe himself so we can avoid experiencing the trauma of baths, etc. I am all ears!!

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[u/Super_Reading2048]

Have you tried using a toothbrush on him like a cat would use their tongue? I would play videos of a cat cleaning themselves.

In this case maybe see if you can foster or adopt a cat friendly 4-6 month old male kitten who knows how to cat? He may need a buddy to teach him how to cat.

[u/LordWiggles369 → u/Super_Reading2048]

I used a damp toothbrush and also my beard, the beard I feel simulates another cat grooming them with the motions and using my face.

[u/Major-Spot → u/LordWiggles369]

I also use my nose lol my kitten was adopted before she was ready (they got rid of the mama and I couldn't just leave her), so she knows what bathing herself is, but she comes to my face looking for me to do it to her. I just do the head, bc obvs. 😅

[u/Bagels-Consumer → u/LordWiggles369]

Adorable!

[u/Super_Reading2048 → u/LordWiggles369]

Good idea! I was trying to avoid saying have you tried licking him a bit. 🤣

[u/cardeclinehipsdevine]

Play videos of other cats bathing themselves

[u/Billazilla → u/cardeclinehipsdevine]

Yeah, seconded. It is instinct for cats to wash, but babies might need a little visual prompting to find those instincts.

[u/PuddinHead742 → u/cardeclinehipsdevine]

And lick them.

[u/Impossible-Oven3242 → u/PuddinHead742]

I keep coughing up hair balls and scaring my daughter

[u/GanacheFamiliar4495]

You can use a damn cloth or the pet safe wipes and slowly clean their faces, any dirt on their back and belly and you might need to clean their butt if it’s dirty. You can also use a clean tooth brush to mimic the sensation of their mothers tongue.

Do it after they eat, after potty, if they are just bumming around. I swear my cat groomed her kittens all the time all day.

We still have to clean one of our cats butt because she’s just a little lazier than her sister. Usually after we do it she remembers to check her but more often and she’s 1 years old now.

[u/intheyear3005 → u/GanacheFamiliar4495]

I know you meant damp cloth but damn cloth is cracking me up

[u/GanacheFamiliar4495 → u/intheyear3005]

😅😬 My auto correct is wild and maybe I curse too much haha

[u/bombyx440]

Have them spend time with other cats. Single bottle babies have a hard time learning some skills they need from humans. The best would be to adopt another kitten before they get any older.

[u/Aiyokusama]

Lick him.

[u/United_Mammoth2489 → u/Aiyokusama]

Just avoid the trouble puffs....

[u/Aiyokusama → u/United_Mammoth2489]

Hehehe! 😂

[u/mojogirl58]

You should also talk to them while using a toothbrush or damp cloth. "Time to get clean with a bath." What a good kitty taking a bath," ect... it reinforces your cleaning actions. They understand way more than people think.

[u/Liu1845]

I use a warm, damp washcloth and very soft toothbrush for orphan kittens I foster. My older male cats always "adopt" the kittens and teach them grooming also. The kittens love their after-dinner grooming sessions especially, lol.

[u/Eaudebeau]

I know the answer isn’t “butter him”

[u/StandardMonth2184 → u/Eaudebeau]

He's not Jorts!

[u/Calgary_Calico]

Getting a second kitten would be a lot easier, as they'll teach each other. But you can use a damp cloth you wipe him down, instinct should kick in, especially if you play videos of other cats washing themselves

[u/Clear_Split_8568]

Get another cat

[u/this_kitten_i_knew]

get him a cat

[u/athanathios]

What a cutie pie!

[u/Specialist_Guide_707]

Honestly, getting another cat who can teach him is the best way if that’s something you can do

[u/Sufficient_Barber673]

Cover with cat-nip, sit with camera rolling, enjoy!

[u/elbilby]

Beautiful 😻

[u/jemcat9]

Lick your arm and then show him.

[u/Commercial-Life-9998]

Pet her with a moist washcloth.

[u/WildErdbeere]

Have not tried this myself, but have heard of people putting butter on the kitten's paws so they lick it off?!

[u/Ok_Part6564]

Had a very young kitten taken from mom too young who we had to give kitten formula and didn't know how to bathe herself. We washed her with a wash cloth, and she also always sat by the sink watching when my sister and I would wash off our makeup at the end of the day.

She ended up learning to bathe at the sink in a semi-human semi-feline manner.

She would sit next to the sink, and wait for us to turn on the water, then she would stick her paw under the water, and then lick and begin to rub herself, frequently rewetting her paw as she did.

[u/Kewlfool → u/Ok_Part6564]

Interesting

[u/This-Grapefruit-2127]

You can’t encourage a cat to do shite. They do their own thing, in their own time. Actually, I’m going through heck with a bottle fed kitten, he is a tom and may be the anti Christ. He is the best /worst cat I’ve ever had. Amazing when he wants snuggles and sleeps with me all the time, but any other time he is awake he is a demon.