This is not a joke post, though the best answer is “don’t try to bathe the cat.” So, somehow Lily the Indoor Cat has picked up fleas and of course can’t tolerate the flea drops. So along with vac and wash and vac and wash – a flea bath was in order. I use the Wondercide Geranium bar shampoo for her – it works very well.

First, take every towel you have in the house, set aside a couple for drying time, and line the floor of your bathroom with the rest of them, You basically want a big, thick towel mat, for two reasons – one for the water that will be spilled, and so kitty has a secure/stable place to be sitting during the process.

You’ll also need a big container for water – I just grabbed our stock pot, and a small container with a spout, like a measuring cup, for pouring water over the cat.

Fill the big container with warm water. Grab the cat and get them in the bathroom on the big towel mat.

Get some water in the measuring cup, and start at the head/neck and slowly pour a small amount on the cat. You don’t have to get the cat all wet at once. Just small amounts at a time.

Then massage in the shampoo, and move on to the next section and repeat all the way to the tail. The tummy is a little challenging – if you can tip the cat up on its back legs and pour, great, otherwise you may have to cup the water in your hands and splash it up on the tummy.

For rinsing – same thing from head to tail – small amounts at a time, gently squeeze the excess water off the section, move to the next. Then go to town with the dry towels you set aside earlier. You won’t get the kitty totally dry, but certainly good enough.

I’ve only had to bathe Lily a couple times in 14 years, but this is SO much easier on both of us vs trying to get her in the bathtub, even if I line it with towels.

She didn’t love it, but she was very, very good and she smells lovely and this should keep the damn fleas off her while we continue to wash and vac and wash and vac…