[Sebring]

The injection is stocked at every clinic/hospital, not a big deal. I was bitten 9 months back, while trying to help a stray, ran to the nearest clinic and got those shots. You have to stick to the time-line on those, else it's dangerous

[AnandB]

Coco and Cookie after their Sunday bath

[Red Liner]

Beauties.

Not sure if cats are meant to have baths regularly if at home all the time. They have a lot of body oils which need to be on them.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Beauties.

Not sure if cats are meant to have baths regularly if at home all the time. They have a lot of body oils which need to be on them.

Short hair cats definitely don't need a bath. I haven't tried to bathe mine for 3+ years now. He smells better than me. No idea about long hairs.

[AnandB]

This bath was after almost 2 months mainly because it has been so cold. Coco (the 2nd one) has long hair which get dirty quickly, especially in our home too many places they can get to. Cookie on the other hand has short hair due to skin infection when he not even 2 months old, his hair now don't get dirty at all as nothing sticks on it.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by AnandB

This bath was after almost 2 months mainly because it has been so cold

Frankly, I believe every pet owner knows his pet best. So take this with a pinch of salt!

But I'll have to repeat what the others have mentioned above; even from a long hair cat's perspective! Considering I own one; or rather he owns us

To give context; my cats - one of them being an American Long Hair (looks almost like a persian wrt to hair levels) never have agreed to/required a bath over the last 3+ years; and this has been vetted/validated with vets in the US and India as a good approach except for very specific / less scenarios that bode a need for a bath for the cat(s).

He has parts of his body hair that's white in color (rest is grey) and that turns slight brown visibly as soon as it gets 'dirty'; but he generally grooms himself enough and for the rest of the time expects us to groom him with our brushes. That generally takes care of the 'dirt' on the hair 99% of the time.

I'd suggest getting more opinions from the larger veterinary community apart from the ones you are already in touch (if you wish to).

[blackasta]

We have never bathed any of our cats ever, except one that got a dipping in an open drain once. The idea of of water is repulsive to them, as is dry shampoo from a spray bottle (which we unsuccessfully tried once).
All of our cats have been free moving, meaning it's on their will they stay outdoors or indoors.
They have never smelled, and generally know quite well to groom themselves.

[AnandB]

I agree. I observed the same this time. Coco the one that gets dirty easily stayed relatively clean even though he started to look dirty early on but looked better afterwards as they groom themselves. On top of that the younger one Cookie likes to groom Coco and he enjoys it having not to do it himself

We let them out in the garden where it's muddy. So Coco needs a bath sometimes as some parts of his hair he can't clean himself and as such look more dirtier since he is white.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Beauties.

Not sure if cats are meant to have baths regularly if at home all the time. They have a lot of body oils which need to be on them.

Yes, they are magnificent.

I am sure that cats never need bathing. Unless, as above, they fall in a ditch, or get covered in oil, or similar. A good brushing will help them keep themselves clean, and will reduce the amount of fur they ingest (leading to furballs, which they vomit) when grooming.

Confession: I'm lazy about the brushing. My wife grumbles about the amount of fur from our long-hair which gets on everything, and she is right to do so.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

A good brushing will help them keep themselves clean, and will reduce the amount of fur they ingest (leading to furballs, which they vomit) when grooming.

Confession: I'm lazy about the brushing. My wife grumbles about the amount of fur from our long-hair which gets on everything, and she is right to do so.

Is Brushing required only for long hairs or also for short hairs?

[AnandB]

Both. They knot less but still shed a lot like my other one. So brushing helps proper removal otherwise like Thad said its all over the house (same case for me haha)

[pyrodrive]

Bathing a cat which does not want to get wet can be a big task and downright dangerous too.
I had a DSH who absolutely hated water, once he got out and had a fight with another cat, both ended up in the drain. So I had to brave his claws and bath him, not without getting a few scratches on my arm.
But with my current bengals, they love water and do not mind getting wet. If I happen to keep the bathroom door open when I bath, at least one would come in under the shower. But they seldom require a proper bath.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by pyrodrive

But with my current bengals, they love water

A distant cell in my brain seems to remember that Bengal cats swim? By choice, that is!

Yes, it is best to brush all cats. Even the short-haird ones have the fine undercoat. Again, do as I say rather than as I do (or rather, don't <Blush>) on this!

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Yes, it is best to brush all cats. Even the short-haird ones have the fine undercoat. Again, do as I say rather than as I do (or rather, don't <Blush>) on this!

What kind of brush do you use (or are supposed to user) for shorthairs?

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by carboy

What kind of brush do you use (or are supposed to user) for shorthairs?

You get these glove based brushes. You wear them on and then groom the cat. Works like a massage as well and doesn't hurt the cat because the brush is basically silicone.

Works well. Look it up on the "heads up for tails"website .