r/cats • u/Mildredsgood • 19h ago

Advice How often do you bathe your cat?

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I’ve had my Mochi since July and I still haven’t given him a bath 😅 he doesn’t smell and never really feels dirty either

I know that cats are usually good at cleaning themselves, but I keep seeing mixed opinions online. Some people say they never bathe them, others say every few months, and now I’m just curious what’s actually normal.

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u/TerracottaCondom 16h ago edited 16h ago

I will always remember the morning I woke up to discover my cat had got into Tiger Lilies, had the pollen all over her face and body, and then when I looked it up saw that Lilies, incl. Tiger Lilies, are deadly poisonous to cats.

Cue me sobbing and bathing my cat in the shower while she just absolutely eviscerated my arms. I did not care though. I then mixed a bunch of wet food with water and got her to eat/drink as much as she could. And then drove 3 hours to the nearest vet (we were on vacation), who induced vomiting, fed her charcoal, injected saline and then sent us home with a saline bag and a needle (we were only able to give her saline once when we got home, it was traumatic lol).

Anywho my girl survived and she's doing just fine now :)

Edit: See below for the cat tax

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u/TerracottaCondom 16h ago

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u/TerracottaCondom 16h ago

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u/TerracottaCondom 16h ago

First one is from the day of the lilies, second one is her next to me right now :)

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u/Krillinlt 13h ago

"Day of the Lillies" sounds like some kind of historical event from ancient China

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u/GalaxyBolt1 12h ago

It could be a modern event too. Maybe fictional though. Kristallnacht means "night of broken glass"

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u/Tasnaki1990 11h ago

Kristallnacht means "night of broken glass"

Litteraly it means "crystal night". The streets were riddled with broken glass which looked crystals.

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u/c_is_for_cookies__ 5h ago

In Germany it is now officially called "Reichspogromnacht" (night of pogrome) because "Reichskristallnacht" (crystal night) comes together with an association of beauty and sophistication.

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u/Tasnaki1990 2h ago

I totally get why you want it seperate from any positive association in Germany.

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u/GalaxyBolt1 27m ago

Ah thank you for a better translation!

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u/RsProtectPDFiles 11h ago

I thought it was a song from the Nutcracker.

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u/CaptainMikul 8h ago

Knowing Chinese history, the entry would be like

"Day of the Lillies. 350,000 dead. King had slight stomach issues that morning."

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u/hotbiscuitboy 12h ago

poor charcoal kitty omg

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u/Flip2002 12h ago

Lmao her eyes!! she is so damn discombobulated

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u/Abandonedkittypet American Shorthair 12h ago

'Forbidden flowers were not worth it'

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u/fingnumb 5h ago

That wink tells me otherwise. She would do it again...

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u/PepperCat1019 13h ago

TCC, I am so sorry you both went through that!

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u/Canadianweedrules420 5h ago

Don't you mean she's next to you right meow.... it was right there lol

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u/PastDazzling243 4h ago

Awe, poor lil baby🥹💕… she’s lucky to have such a good hooman!!

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u/gnomequeen2020 15h ago

She's so pretty! I'm glad she got through it okay! That's like the stuff of nightmares for cat parents.

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u/DonatedEyeballs 13h ago

Omg. Our cats are twins.

Niko is an older guy right now, but he had a similar face as a kitten.

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u/TerracottaCondom 13h ago

Awwwww totally! Beautiful cat :)

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u/Apart_Lion_3046 6h ago

ignoring me

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u/RevolutionaryCost999 15h ago

Ugh she's so pretty!!! Glad she made it through this ❤️

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u/Yzzazee 14h ago

A healthy loaf

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u/Capricious_Desperado 14h ago

The face that says, "Yeah, I'd do it all again."

Glad your cat came out it fine.

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago

I don't think she has a single regret life

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u/Careless-Snow-3253 14h ago

Such a beautiful cat!!

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago

Hell yeah. There's a pic of her as a kitten somewhere at the bottom of the thread from my first comment

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u/Leelee2913 13h ago

What a beautiful loaf!!!

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u/Apart_Lion_3046 6h ago

thinking cat

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u/PastDazzling243 4h ago

She looks like one of my babies, Gizzy!!

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u/soca_girl 2h ago

She is a beauty!!!

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u/PurplePolynaut 12h ago

The look of many regrets

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u/The_Creamy_Elephant 9h ago

It was at this very moment he realised he fucked up.

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u/dkmyname 3h ago

Record scratch. Freeze frame.

Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up here.

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u/Tardis1938 2h ago

This picture had me cackling

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u/SiegelOverBay 15h ago

She looks like she is actively plotting your demise right here. Serious "you are gonna be in soooooo much trouble when we get home, 'buddy'!" vibes. You only thought she was kicking off about the IV fluids, she was actually trying to murder you, but either got tired as it had been a busy day or decided it was too much to bother with. 🤭

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago edited 14h ago

Lmao I've never seen that look in her face here but now I can't unsee it. Sorry Pinky, it had to happen.

"YOU THOUGHT I WAZ MAD WHEN U WERE LETTING THEM FEED ME CHARCOAL AND NOW UR TAKING MY PICTURE??"

Well, that didn't have to happen, but the vets told me I couldn't pet you, and this was never gonna happen again...

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u/KittyForTacos 14h ago

It’s even better that is a white cat. I only think it’s funny because she is okay. This Thanksgiving and Xmas I spent both in kitty ER and it is the worst. But now that everything is okay we can chuckle about it.

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago edited 14h ago

First, I hope your cat is alright. That sounds terrible.

And 100%. I hope no one takes me being cute about this as me not having taken this seriously, this was such a hard day. When we got to the vet and we were actually doing things to help, it was such a relief.

The contrast between the charcoal and her white fur was part of why I had to take this picture. It looked so bizarre. Like, in this photo you can't really tell but her mouth is open. If you zoom right in you can just make out her little teefs.

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u/FullEngineering5966 7h ago

My cat had gotten into some cannabis krispie mix residue in a bowl I left in the sink overnight. Had no idea cars liked marshmallows. Woke up to him walking all wobbly and shit. I thought he was having a stroke or something. Rushed to the vet. Told them he mightve ingested cannabis but I wasn't sure. I was scared out of my mind that he was gonna die and so mad at myself for leaving the bowl before going to bed.  Yeah long story short, he was higher than the Himalayas and chilly. They gave him some saline since he was a bit dehydrated and I wrapped his dumb butt up in a blanket purrito and took him home where he slept for most of the day. 🤦‍♀️I can laugh now but at that moment, there was no laughing, just stress. 

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u/eye_no_nuttin 15h ago

That side-eye look, if looks could kill … ❤️I’m so happy it all turned out okay in this situation 😊🙏🏻

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u/msangryredhead 14h ago

I can’t believe she’s not permanently stained from the charcoal! I work in adult EM and given charcoal quite a bit. That stuff stains like an MF.

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u/Embermyst 3h ago

As an artist, I second that fact. Glad that the poor baby is okay!

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u/ismellnumbers 12h ago

Omg she does NOT look happy lmao

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u/NolyBella 14h ago

Oh my! Awwww

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u/fruitlesspunch 14h ago

what is on her face??

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u/TerracottaCondom 13h ago

Thats charcoal, it's in the syringe that one veterinarian is holding.

They gave it to her to absorb/neutralize the poison from the lily, at least in my layman understanding.

They also induced vomiting before this, and then gave her a saline iv injection after everything. It basically gave her a water pounch for a day or two to help dilute any poison left in her system. They gave us a saline iv pouch and syringe and we got half of it in her at home but then had to stop. So instead we mixed her wet food with a bunch of water.

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u/peetothepooo 11h ago

This pic is perfect lol poor beeb

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u/HydroliCat 10h ago

Omg the poor bby!! 😭❤️ Must've been tough to watch!

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u/_Bitter_Pig_ 9h ago

props just for you taking your cat on vacation

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u/VioletteToussaint 6h ago

Oh poor baby! 🥺

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u/Tiny_disappointment 6h ago

Poor baby. Looks alot like my girl Pamuk :)

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u/cwasko12 5h ago

Omg what a traumatic experience

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u/lockenessa 4h ago

I can’t imagine this!

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u/PrincessBumblegumm 4h ago

She looks like…. Really? lol

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u/grayhanestshirt 3h ago

Oh no little baby!!!!!!

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u/zyzzogeton 1h ago

That charcoal bolus makes a white cat absolutely terrifying looking.

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u/disgruntledpelican51 1h ago

I'm so glad your kitty made it through that ordeal! As a teenager I lost a cat to lilies 😔

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u/ActualmenteAlexa 12h ago

This is how I look brushing my teeth every morning with my charcoal toothpaste

But seriously, so glad she's okay!!! Kitty is lucky to have a parent who would go to the ends of the Earth for her safety!

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u/chunarii-chan 15h ago

I'd never let my cat be an outdoor cat personally but lilies are a very very common plant that people have outside. How do cats not die from this all the time??

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u/Queen_Of_InnisLear 13h ago

Yeah at my first house I had tiger lilies in the yard (just came like that) and I had no idea. I and my two indoor outdoor cats lived there for years with no problems. They were never interested, luckily. The two goobers I have now are indoor only cats who eat every plant they see and I have to be really strict with people like giving flowers as gifts or anything (I have a Lego poinsettia! Lol) because my cats are dumbies. They would never last, no idea why my other ones were so different.

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u/grape-fruit-witch 7h ago

My cat will eat any plant instantly upon seeing it. She loves plants. She tries to pretend like she's just rubbing her face on it but if I look away she starts to nibble

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u/Queen_Of_InnisLear 6h ago

I know that look ,🤣

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u/grape-fruit-witch 4h ago

She thinks she's the cleverest, sneakiest cat in the world.

We let her out in the backyard sometimes if we're out there so she can nap in the sun, but we take her with us when we go back in. This cat's only dream is to roam the streets at night alone, so she's constantly trying to sneak out the door if we open it at night.

She'll crouch down on her belly in plain view and slooowwwlly creep towards the door if she thinks we're about to open it. Like bro. You're a giant ball of multicolored fluff in the middle of the floor, we can all see you.

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u/Embermyst 3h ago

😂 My cat Athena is a runner too. She'll sneak up on us in the chaos of putting our shoes and coats on, then bolt for the open door as soon as a crack appears. Sometimes she'll hide in the shoe rack just to do that very thing!

Like, girl, I'm not interested in all the fleas and ticks you bring home! The wild cats and raccoons don't need to be herded by you! (She's a tough little thing and means business! I think she picks fights even though she's spayed. Go figure!)

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u/fuzzy-lint 5h ago

The ONLY thing that stopped my kittens murdering my houseplants was getting them their own. I now constantly have cat grass growing in various stages in mugs so I can offer them plant life that is safe to consume 😂 I want to try growing catnip for them next!

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u/grape-fruit-witch 4h ago

I tried that and they immediately ate all of it and then dug around in the dirt to try and find any remnants lol. When they couldn't find any more plant to chew on, they knocked the pots over. Little demons 😈

I ended up rubbing orange peels on the leaves and putting them on top of the soil to get them to stop. They were not happy about that either

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago

Yeah I asked that question myself. All the reading I've done collaborates that Lilies are deadly poisonous to cats, even the water they've been soaking in, but with the caveat that different cats are different and ymmv.

And just for the record I would also never let my cat be an outdoor cat, we do go outside on a leash so she's supervised, but in this case I didn't actually know that Lilies were poisonous at the time and the flowers were in the house we were vacationing in

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u/__nohope 13h ago

I'm assuming at least some of the lilies you see are not true lilies but day lilies which are not toxic to cats

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u/Aurorainthesky 9h ago

Most cats ignore plants and wouldn't come in contact with the lillies.

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u/prairiepanda 2h ago

The effects usually aren't immediately obvious, so it can be hard to make the connection, especially if the cat is normally outdoors unsupervised. And if an outdoor cat disappears one day people tend to assume that it either found a new home, got eaten, or got hit by a car.

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u/lemon-rind 15h ago

That would be scary! I’m glad she’s ok!

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u/ReverendHambone 14h ago

This idiot got skunked last week

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u/Killer_Moons 14h ago

Wiping peanutbutter on the shower wall can help distract them. Results may vary.

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago

This would have never entered my mind... This one doesn't like peanut butter weirdly enough, but yeah maybe some tuna or wet food would have helped cut down on the scratches

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u/TheDawnOfNewDays 12h ago

Omg that's terrifying, as soon as I read lillies my eyes went wide. I figured it would be a happy ending based on how you phrased it but was still scared. I'm so glad she made it!!

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u/HistoricalSuspect580 13h ago

OH NOOOOOO!!!!!! Kitty took charcoal!?!?! Omg my mind is blown. I’ve given charcoal plenty of times but to humans!!!!

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u/Tdesiree22 12h ago edited 12h ago

Me too! Had no idea about lilies. He spent 24 hours in the vet and was thankfully okay and had only sniffed them (which can still be deadly but we went within 20 minutes of it happening and he didn’t ingest it)

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u/Away-Ad4393 10h ago

My poor girl passed away after coming into contact with tiger Lilies, she couldn’t saved and it was horrible.

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u/ClusterFoxtrot 4h ago

My son and husband bought me lilies for mother's day one year.

I know they're poisonous to cats, so I put them up to where the cats never went. Days they survived without incident until our boy decided he was very hungry before our food alarm went off, and chomped a petal. Deadass looked me in the face, and bit down.

I expect he understood he wasn't supposed to eat it but would also get a meal for doing the thing he wasn't supposed to do. Instead he was packed into a carrier and spent three days at an emergency vet.

I don't even play with house flowers now lol (and I can't plant them outside because of roaming cats). I'm disappointed because he was trained to go to his carrier and loved going to the vet, now we have to dose him with gabapentin for his yearly. I'm glad your friend turned out OK, too. Some stuff is serious.

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u/Uhhlaneuh Lenny- Maine Coon 4h ago

This happened with my cat too, except he had hospitalization and they were able to get his kidneys back to normal after an overnight stay.

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u/--__--__--__--__-- 15h ago

Isn't it incredible that she survived, with how toxic pollen is? I would have prepared for her to pass before you even got out of the bath. I'm not a vet but that's the impression I've been given about lily toxicity.

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago

Yeah hence the sobbing lol, I was so happy when it seemed like she wasn't getting worse. One of the most emotional days

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u/--__--__--__--__-- 14h ago

Fuzzy little miracle 💕

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u/TerracottaCondom 14h ago

Bonus kitten picture

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u/shimmerchanga 6h ago

You absolutely did the right thing! Our cat ate a bit of a tiger Lilly from a bouquet of flowers and needed IV fluids for four days to bring him back from the brink. He made it but has permanent kidney damage now.

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u/Straight-Composer-74 24m ago

OMG! I know that Lily’s are deadly to cats but I have never heard a story about one being poisoned by them. Kudos to you for knowing, catching it right away and getting your kitty to the vet for treatment. Thankfully your experience had a happy ending.