In the doghouse with the cats

Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at 9:12 AM

Kismet - not a happy camper

Whoever came up with the expression "madder than a wet hen" never saw a wet cat. Nothing is madder -- nothing is more evil, murderous and unhappy.

I spent an hour last night giving my cats flea baths and have the scars to prove it. It only took seconds to lather up and rinse off, but the rest of that time was spent wrestling with 7 pounds of angry, animated barbed wire. Times 2.

After I got them dried off (as much as possible) and combed out, they stalked me from room to room and called me unpleasant names in cat speech, but they wouldn't let me touch them again. I was afraid they'd never forgive me.

Then, this morning, they snuggled up more than they have in weeks, purring and kneading and cuddling with me. I could just hear the thoughts rattling around in their tiny feline skulls.

"Pleases, Mom, we'll be good. Please don't drown us again!"

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When my husband and I still lived in Philly, we used to bathe our 3 cats about once a month - not because we hated them, but because they would spend so much time in the dank basement, they smelled musty. It really was a two person job, but one of our cats, a stray we found shortly after moving to Philly, never minded the water - she still doesn't mind water.

-- Posted by cfrich on Wed, May 6, 2009, at 10:58 AM

I used to bathe my first cat monthly and he actually liked it. Go figure. Our youngest cat had a bladder infection back in January. He spent 5 days at the vet and when he came home, he was a totally different cat. He used to come to you "when he wanted", but now he's the most loveable cat in the house! Now when he's bad, I just threaten him with the vet! He still blows me off, but "he remembers" and then comes back to cuddle. And he's NEVER cuddled before! :p

-- Posted by neighborhood mom on Wed, May 6, 2009, at 11:45 AM

Cats are neat people.

Other species have their merits but cats seem to be loved (and hated) because they are bossy,predatory and independent.

They choose to step outside the natural order and love us.

Some have even suggested that cats domesticated humans.

(Did they take pity on us,find us amusing or think we'd make good staff?)

If they helped us form communities and bond with those unlike ourselves,then we owe them the respect and affection they covet.

One of my roommates seems to be part Turkish Van.

(She loves water and has suggestions of golden "coins" on her feet.)

She is needy and aloof,cuddles,grooms and attacks.

She guards us as intently when we bathe as any of the eye-candy found on Baywatch.

She's not fond of soap but thinks warm water feels good and is useful for removing grime and drowning fleas.

Cats seem to need their space but they need the security of being home and with those they care about.

Whether they're ferals or lap-warmers,they have a human tendency to insist that love is about belonging WITH someone rather than TO them.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Wed, May 6, 2009, at 12:47 PM

Ha that is so funny, my cat Joe loves the water and will get in the shower with you with a little persuasion.

Teddie likes to play in water that is standing, no showers please.

I never give my cats baths. They stay clean, i use frontline plus on them for the fleas and they always smell good and have a good coat. I feed them good quality food.

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Wed, May 6, 2009, at 4:26 PM

My son and I used to try to give our cat a bath occasionally but thankfully he was de-clawed or we would have both been shredded.

We had to shut the bathroom door and the poor thing would jump up there and try and try to turn the door handle while soping wet and hollerin'. It made us so upset, we quit trying to bathe him. My son would say, "momma, I think he's sayin' bad words".

-- Posted by mmp84 on Wed, May 6, 2009, at 5:46 PM

Here is a parallel experience as seen by an old sage.

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way." Mark Twain

-- Posted by kyosaku on Sat, Aug 8, 2009, at 8:38 AM

Here is a parallel experience as seen by an old sage.

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way." Mark Twain

-- Posted by kyosaku on Sat, Aug 8, 2009, at 8:42 AM