Veterinarian Dr Ben Simpson-Vernon has issued a clear warning to cat owners: routine bathing is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Speaking on his TikTok account, Ben The Vet, he addressed a common question from new kitten owners about when to bathe their pets.
“You do not need to routinely bathe your cat,” Dr Simpson-Vernon said. “Cats are extremely good at keeping themselves clean and grooming themselves. They spend a lot of time every day cleaning and grooming themselves.” He emphasised that bathing should only be considered in exceptional circumstances, such as when a cat has faeces or vomit on its fur.
For those rare occasions when cleaning is necessary, the vet advises using a bowl of warm water to clean only the dirty area, rather than immersing the entire cat. “It’s very rare that a cat would be completely covered in poo or need to be immersed in water,” he added.
Many cat owners agreed with the advice. One follower commented that her 13-year-old cat has never been bathed and remains clean and smells like popcorn. Another questioned why anyone would voluntarily bathe a cat, given the stress it causes.
Dr Simpson-Vernon concluded with a simple message: “Don’t bath your cat routinely please. It’s not necessary.”
