As Simple As Giving A Cat A Bath....

This post is sponsored by Bayer® ExpertCareTM and the BlogPaws Influencer Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Bayer ExpertCare products but Time Out For Truffles only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Bayer ExpertCare is not responsible for the content of this article. Nothing contained below should be taken as expert veterinarian advice.

When I was a little girl we had a tuxedo kitten named Tippy. She had a thin strip of white running from her chin down her belly, little white 'mittens' and a white tipped tail (thus the name, clever, huh?) You see, this little girl was not so much sugar and spice, and everything nice. To that poor little kitten I was a terror. No, nothing criminal profiling needs to be alerted of, after all I was only 5 and a rambunctious young girl. But I recall tossing that poor kitten up in the air, and pulling it by it's tail much more than I'd care to admit. As a result, I have a great respect for domesticated cats. They have it rough, possibly even rougher than the feral cats which roam the neighborhood free and proud.

House kitties put up with a lot of bull, if you will. When you really stop to think all our pets endure without ever having a voice to vent, it's no wonder your favorite leather pumps were mistaken as a chew toy, or the cat 'accidentally' couldn't make anywhere other than your handbag when that fur ball hit. I don't think pets get enough credit, really- they see and hear it all within your 4 walls. If I had to pay Truffles for all of the hours of 'counseling' she's provided while enduring my emotional rants and aggravated grumbling I'd be living in the alley for sure. So, much to her dismay at times, I pay extra attention to her own health and personal care.

Thankfully, I can do so in the comfort of our own home with Bayer® ExpertCare™ home pet care and grooming products from PetSmart. If you've ever tried to place a cat in a pool of standing water, or under the flow of falling water you likely have a few scars to tell the story. Cats, by nature, are water reluctant creatures. And my car, who was (human) toilet trained at 4 months, and drinks from a moving water fountain, is no exception.She allows me to bathe her every few months under a contract we mutually signed and agreed too, but it's not without much resentment and attitude.

Bayer® ExpertCare™ Cat Coat Cleansing Foam (also available for dogs and in wipes) helps cut out some of the drama of regular grooming at home. If you have a 'traditional' cat then you likely avoid bathing your cat all together after that incident with the switchblade and the crazy eyes. (You don't mess then fluffy when those ears go sideways, am I right?) Bayer® ExpertCare™ Cleansing Foam offers a water free bathing method that refreshes feline coats while removing unwanted odors and restoring a natural sheen. Simply pump a few spritzes into the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, and work through your cat's coat. Then towel dry any residual moisture and brush as you normally would to groom.

I won't lie, Truffles isn't exactly brushing up against my legs when I grab the bottle- but she tolerates it much better than a full blown bath. The main thing, with her, is the strong natural oil based fragrance that reminds me of Eucalyptus. She scrunches her nose and eyes from even a foot away- as she should, she's worked hard to maintain that fragrance of cat saliva and dust bunnies. However the process of bathing one's cat with Bayer® ExpertCare™ Cat Cleansing Foam is significantly quicker and simpler for all involved than a traditional bath.

Bayer® ExpertCare™ Cat Cleansing Foam is entirely natural and soap free, which is great because Truffles insists on giving herself a second 'wipe' down as soon as she is 'free' from her special bath time. It never takes her long to come back around to her cheery disposition, but your cat may benefit from the coaxing of some extra play time or a special treat to diffuse any lingering ill feelings. Of course, if bathing your cat is entirely out of the question, you can still care for your pet's grooming and health needs at home with the wide range of other Bayer® ExpertCare™ products from PetSmart. Have you ever bathed a cat before? I'd love to hear how that went!