Mr. Kitten Takes a Bath!

Originally posted June 1, 2006

Quick lesson: Young kittens are not so great at cleaning themselves. They're kind of like guys...they sit, they poop, they get up and go. Moral of the story: Kitten smells like poop.

How to remedy this? Why, give kitten a bath, of course! Get 'im used to the water while he's young, I say. How hard could it be to bathe a 13-week-old kitten?

So on Friday night, I went to Safeway and, after having a small heart attack over the $12 price of cat shampoo, opted for a $3 bottle of no-tears baby shampoo and lightheartedly made my way back home.

"OK, kitty, you're going to have a bath soon! Better get ready!" I told him. He answered by crazily running all over the bedspread and attacking my shoelaces. "I mean it! We're tired of you smelling like poop!" (I may not have actually used the word poop, but something naughtily similar.)

I changed into a T-shirt and sweats, and ran some warm (not hot) water into the kitchen sink. "Here we go, bud!" He was none the wiser and attempted to eat my hair (again). I think he believes it's some sort of nest.

I gently plopped him (if one may actually "plop" something "gently") into the partly filled sink and watched with amusement while this adorable creature regarded the water as if it were hot coals. Well, on with the bath...he wasn't clawing me too badly yet.

"It's OK, buddy!" I wetted him down with the dish sprayer as he meowled with displeasure. "Meowrrrrr! MEOWRRRR!!!" Oh, dear Lord, the neighbors must be thinking I'm making Chinese food up here, I thought. "MEOWWWRRRRRR!!" he continued as I started to massage in some of the shampoo.

"What are you murdering in here?!" Ryan wandered in to ask. Toulouse took this as his opportunity to escape and grabbed on to the front of my shirt like it was a ladder, soaking me in the process. I quickly returned him to his temporary hell and began to wash off the shampoo. "MEOWRRRRR!!! MEOWRRRRR!!!"

At this point, our other cat, Ever -- who so far is really not a big fan of her little brother -- pawed at my leg and let out an inquisitive meow when I looked down, as if to say, "Is he OK? What's happening?" Of course, she went right back to hating him as soon as I dried him off, but hey, it's the thought that counts, right? She'll learn to love him as soon as he stops chasing her and trying to jump on her.

Wondering what all this cuteness looked like? Well wonder no more.




"AGH! That was terrifying!!"

"Yeah, I'm wet, you wanna make something of it?"

"This is my better side."





Ever regards the newly cleaned Toulouse with her usual extreme caution.





"I bow to you, O big sister."





"Pitiful, ain't I?!"





I just love this photo because he shook his head right when I took it, so if you look closely, he has two noses!

And guess what...yep, he smells like poop again.

Jodie commented: Awwww! Kitty! I love the second one the best, it is too cute! Ah, the joys of being a parent! I love hearing we're not the only ones going through this! Thanks for sharing!

Mrs. Duhamel commented: Ah this sounds vaguely familiar to the baths I give Hunter every so often. LMAO!!!

Julz commented: Awww, all clean little man He is so cute....I love how Ever wants nothing to do with him and just wants to watch him!