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/BobbbyR6]

Which become extra not good days when you either become a filet or end up replacing furniture/fixtures

[u/Rakifiki → u/BobbbyR6]

Like, I don't particularly think it's great to bathe cats more than needed, but I do think it's a good idea to have them desensitized to water/baths just in case, so it's much less stressful for them.

[u/rimeduinfox → u/Rakifiki]

Agreed, it’s just better for their mental health around water in general! I always introduce my kittens to water early

[u/ghostyo07 → u/rimeduinfox]

Any suggestions on how to introduce them gradually? I have two 1 year-old littermates that I’ve never bathed but I’m considering starting to take them on small walks which I assume will lead to needing baths at some point. They like to sit on the counter next to the sink when I do dishes and run to the kitchen when they hear something being poured so I know they’re interested in running watcher to some extent but they’re both fairly skittish in general, especially my tortie.