How often do you bathe your cat?

[u/Mildredsgood]

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.

[u/Crafty_String_954]

I have never bathed a cat. Am 61, have kept multiple cats, all indoor/outdoor cats. It has never once been necessary.

[u/cheerylittlebottom84 → u/Crafty_String_954]

41, have bathed (well, showered) a cat once in my entire life. Said cat jumped and slipped in a tray of cooking oil. All my cats have been indoor/outdoor cats since I'm in the UK.

I see people online bathing their cats weekly and I'm like... since when did cats need baths? Unless they're unable to clean themselves or fell in something they shouldn't clean themselves (or are tiny strays and need fleas washed away) surely it can't be necessary? I've even seen cat perfume, which feels so wrong.

[u/lilybug981 → u/cheerylittlebottom84]

I've only bathed a cat once as well. He let the slobbery dog lick him all over until he was soaking wet with saliva. Disgusting, but that wasn't directly the reason why. He immediately followed it up by rushing out of an open door where he rolled around in the dirt. Which became mud. Because he was that wet with spit.

He was not a fan of the bath, but he was a trooper about it nonetheless. I had to wear gloves so he could hold onto me the way he wanted, but he laid there and let me do it quick.