The turmoils of kitty ownership.
 

Some of you know I found and then adopted a kitten. I also declared when I posted it intially that I really hate flea's yet at the time the kitten was apparently flea free. Well they have appeared, not sure how because my house did not have them. Now the kitty is maybe 8-10 weeks old and nearly every product out there says do not use on kittens under 12 weeks of age. Same with flea collers, the drops, and the stuff you feed em. Well I called the vet and asked and she told me of a shampoo that was pretty much ok for kittens. Off to the store I went.

Now to bring you up to speed I wanted the kitten to be ok with baths. So on the second night I placed her in the sink and let the water rise. She had a ball and actually played in it while I washed her off. After that every other day I would just bring her into the shower with me. She would run around by my feet while I washed and then would let me wash her off. This was great I figured.

I return home from the store with the flea shampoo. I get kitty's body all wet in the shower and then pick up the bottle. Now it says to start at the kittens head and work your way to the tail, massaging it into their fur. Then let it sit for 5 minutes. :Oh crap
It really should of said start with a bucket of warm water in the parking lot of an ER because your kitten is going to turn into a wet slippery tasminian devil with kruger gloves due to it having its head wet.

Needless to say I endured 5+ minutes of wild kitten claw wounds. So a little warning out to those that wash cats. They really REALLY do not like getting their heads wet.

Now onto the next question.
Is it mean and or cruel to put a bell on your kitten?

as far as a bell - does your cat go outside? Just means they wont be able to catch mice or birds as they can't be sneaky little bastards. Might be agravating to them.

Nah does not go outside. Maybe latter but for now no. I just know since it is solid black and super sneaky. It is damn hard to find her on occassion.
Either a bell or one of those clap to find your car keys things.

LOL I can relate to giving the cat a bath. I need some of those chain mail gloves meat cutters wear. My cat bit all thw way though the skin between my index finger and my thumb last time i tried to give her a bath. Just say no to giving your cat a bath! or take her to the vet and let them do it.

I'd say no to the bell as well unless you just like tormenting them.

awwww poor kitty! lol I remember I got my first cat when I was 16 and gave it a bath... well, holy hell... she was SCREAMING like I was killing her lol A 5 lb cat is awfully strong when they need to be... wow :eek7

Bells are ok but I think collars on cats suck lol

the first time I bathed a cat, I ended up being more wet than the cat. have not washed a cat ever since.

Fuck giving a cat a bath... Did with my little Chevy when she was 2 or 3 months old after a run in with our wolf in the backyard. She pulled a weasel act on me and left wounds from my hands to my neck. Cats are very good about keeping themselves clean... endure the fleas for another 4 weeks, and get them on frontline or advantage... you'll never have a problem again... Maybe try a flea comb in the mean time?

I no longer bathe my cat. I don't care how bad she smells or what gross thing is stuck in her fur. Last time I bathed her, she started flailing around trying to get away and managed to put a claw THROUGH my left nipple. There was screaming and yelling for my husband to come and detatch the cat and then some screaming and yelling when my husband saw what happened. :1orglaugh

years ago, i gave my kitten a bath, and she wasn't too awfully bad about it. then, like a complete IDIOT, i decided to blow dry her.

i still have the scars - really!

lol! i've got a fair share of sentiments when i bathe my cat..i always get scratches. that was when i decided to ask somebody else to bathe my cat. ;)

water + cat = suicide looking scars for life.

My cat hates getting washed.. but she never tries to claw me. She'll just sit there making the most pathetic sounding meows you've ever heard and keep trying to jump or climb her way out of the tub.

Its actually pretty funny because long haired cats look hilarious when they are wet.

I was never really a cat person myself, but I got this cat in the breakup with my last ex, since she was moving someplace where she couldn't have a cat. It's worked out alright so far. :)

:Oh crap :Oh crap

Actually they become better hunters. So if the cat is a killer - definitely don't d this. They learn to become more stealthy.

I have to dress up in gear to give my Devon a bath. 3 sweatshirts, jeans, even after I cut his claws he goes apeshit if I try to put him in water. The compromise is to put towels on the floor and pour water over him and just get everything wet cause he'll take out your eyes if you try to put him in a tub LOL There are also quickbath pet wipes that help spread the time out between baths

As for the bell, I could see why you'd want one to keep track of her in the house and maybe she can wear it part of the time and see how it does. Try training her to go after a laser pointer, she'll associate the noise of it (chain hitting side or other appendage that clinks) with fun and always come running when you need to find her.