My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Most cats do not need to be bathed unless they have a skin problem such as fleas, ticks, miliary dermatitis, seborrhea, and in some cases hot spots etc. But if you have a cat that will cooperate and you wish to give it a try, (assuming your cat has the conditions I mentioned), here are a few tips to follow:

- Be sure to use a shampoo made for cats. Their skin’s pH is different from ours, so even the mildest of human shampoos can cause them to dry out. This is very important!

- Brush them before AND after you bathe them. Brushing beforehand makes the brushing after much easier.

- If your cat has any mats, please see your veterinarian or a professional groomer for advice on how to remove them. Sometimes they can be teased out with a comb, sometimes they need to be clipped out. If they need to be clipped let a professional show you how the first time so you do not cut their skin.

- Clip their toenails, front and back, before you start. This may save you some wear and tear on your own skin.

- Be careful around their eyes and ears. If your cat will let you, place a cotton ball in each ear before the bath (remember to remove these when the bath is over). There also are bland eye ointments (Duratears or others that you can buy at most pet stores) you can use to protect their eyes from soap or detergents.

- If your cat does not like the bathing routine, don’t push your luck. An angry cat can be very dangerous.

- Most cats do not have an odor from not being bathed. If you think your cat smells abnormal, don’t jump to a bath. Have a check up with your veterinarian. Most of the time the odor is NOT skin related, but has some other cause, and you may go through an unnecessary bath, which may not be much fun for you or your cat.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

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My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Is your dog or cat itching at the spot above its tail? Is your cat scratching around its neck? Even if you do not see fleas, if you find flea dirt, the pin-prick-sized residue of these pests, your pet has a problem. Do not take fleas lightly. Beyond their itchy bites, flea infestations can lead to skin infections, spread diseases, and even suck enough blood to cause a life-threatening anemia. Pets can catch tapeworms as they groom themselves and eat the fleas. The scariest aspect of the flea however, is its ability to survive and reproduce.

After mating, a female flea can lay up to 45 eggs a day, which hatch in four to 10 days. A flea can live up to 18 months, potentially producing 18000 offspring. If all of these fleas were to reproduce, the succeeding generation could total over 130 million (the next generation would be 9 million billion, or 2 million fleas for every person on earth). It is easy to see why a flea infestation can be such a difficult problem to eliminate.

Fortunately, recent advancements hold the key to solving this problem. Flea control medications like Frontline and Revolution have virtually eliminated this aggravation. Which medication is best for your pet depends on your individual situation. The amount of time they spend indoors or outdoors, the amount they swim or are bathed, and other parasite problems will contribute to the decision.

Revolution and Frontline are a topical spot-on that are used once per month. Both these products kill fleas that come in contact with your pet, so it is a very good product for animals with flea allergies in which one bite can cause great discomfort. Make sure you test your dog at the vet for heartworm before using Revolution.

In warm climates, it is recommended that you use flea products for all 12 months of the year. Although the cost may seem expensive initially, it is much less than the combined cost of repeated sprays, flea bombs, baths and dips. You may obtain these medications at your local vet. It is recommended that you talk to your veterinarian before using any new medication with your pet because, as with people, all drugs are not suitable for all pets. Inappropriate uses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause major problems.

Fleas are not the only cause of itching. Allergies (to food, pollens, or bedding,) skin infections (by bacteria, yeast or fungi), parasites, and other metabolic problems can all cause dogs and cats to itch without fleas. If you have doubts about the cause of your pet’s scratching, it is best to have your pet checked by your local vet.

If you have any questions about fleas and flea bite allergies, please add your comment/questions below and I will do my best to help answer them.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

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