An animal charity is warning homeowners to not wash their cats unnecessarily after noticing an uplift in cat bathing movies on social media websites.

Cats Safety is anxious that inexperienced cat lovers are being inspired to wash their cats which, it says, isn’t wanted and sometimes distressing.

The welfare charity warns that washing a cat can strip their coat of important oils that are wanted for his or her pores and skin so as to add a layer of waterproofing and also can take away flea management remedies.

To lift consciousness, Cats Safety has launched a video on Instagram Reels and TikTok, which will be discovered www.instagram.com/catsprotection or www.tiktok.com/@cats_protection

“It’s no fantasy that cats don’t like water and, so long as they’re grooming themselves, they need to keep clear,” mentioned Elin Williams, Cats Safety’s Regional Behaviour Officer. “If actually crucial, utilizing a tender fabric soaked in heat water shall be sufficient to take away most grime.”

Elin factors out that home cats are developed from the African wildcat, whose pure habitats have been deserts, so being immersed in water is unnatural to them.

“It may additionally have an effect on your cat’s pheromones which they use to scent mark their territory,” says Elin.”

The charity advises solely bathing a cat if really helpful by a vet and, in these circumstances, it ought to solely be with water or a small quantity of fragrance-free cat shampoo.

“Cats have a special pores and skin PH to us so even a light shampoo typically too harsh for cats,” says Elin. Lengthy-haired cats normally want further assist grooming, with each day brushing, to maintain their fur in tip prime form.

“In case your cat stops grooming themselves for no matter cause then we’d all the time counsel talking to your vet first as any modifications in behaviour might point out there’s one thing fallacious.”

Extra recommendations on grooming cats and different cat care movies can be found on Cats Safety’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@catsprotection