krakblog

Natasha Gets A Bath!

Every few months, the time comes for our little princess to step down from her throne (okay, get unceremoniously pitched from it) and endure kitty hell: BATHTIME.

For those who have never had to bathe a cat, it can be a real adventure. After our very first attempt with baby Tasha involving the kitchen sink and 11-inch-long scratch marks, we devised our own system for bathtime.

After luring the little girl into the bathroom with food, treats, or hide-and-seek (seriously, it's our favorite game, and she's a fantastic seeker), we grab both the ivory soap and the cat, whose fur is flying furiously the second she's picked up as she knows exactly how the next 5 minutes will proceed. With claws facing away from us, we step into the shower and close the glass doors (these are key - no shower curtain to shred).

Three good swipes under the shower spray later, she's meowing pathetically and making desperate grabbing motions while we hold her at full arm's length. Once we start soaping her up, however, she pretty much gives up and only elicits the occasional "mom, I think I'm dying" meow.

Then. Rinse time. The most tenuous step in the cat-washing process, as it requires being in close proximity to a cat being doused by a constant stream of water. With much care (and being sure to protect our lady or man parts from claws), we make sure the little lady is soap-free and soaked ear to tail, then give her a gentle wringing before setting her on a towel on the floor outside of the shower. Within two minutes, she usually finds a sunny spot to start licking herself dry. Awwwwwww.

We're allowed within a three foot radius of her only once she's almost completely dry again, but it takes a good five or six hours before she's fully friendly again. And it takes another two or three weeks before she stops avoiding the bathroom when we're in it. Did I mention that's where her food, water, and litterbox are? She's stubborn enough to truly be a Sinnokrak.

Here's the wee one once she's dry (but still not a happy camper):

Two months until we do it all over again! Start searching for a good hiding spot, dearie ...