Can you have a cat re-waterproofed?

All our cats appear to have been water repellent. They do have triple layer fur coats though which could help.

Now that you mention it when we had three cats, all moggies, one was a drip version like Oliver Sprout. Never thought about it before [embarassed]

Our last cat was a Turkish Van, he had a lovely silvery white coat with a spot of ginger on his back a ginger tail and a bit on his nose.But the other cat was a long haired tabby who used to have a wonderful coat, but after I gave him a soapy bath one day, oh dear, ever after he had a coat like the one you describe and needed towelling.Must have been because I used ordinary shampoo , baby shampoo and not special cat stuff!

I've never thought about it either but we had a long haired black and white cat who always looked like a drowned rat if she got caught out and a short hair tortoiseshell cat who just got a few drops on her coat and seemed to just shake it off like a dog.. how odd!!

I have never bathed Oliver Sprout, with any sort of shampoo, although of course I cannot vouch for what ablutionary procedures he may have undergone before coming to us.

I have had cats for all of my life, but have never known one get as sodden as him!

Saffron, my Bengal, comes in like a drowned rat, and they are a water-loving breed. She hates to be towelled and licks herself dry amazingly efficiently. Her fur is very fine and silky with a 'glitter'.
Bugsy, on the other hand, has a thick coarser coat and never gets wet. He will sit in the garden when it rains, and doesn't even seem to notice!
I had never given it thought before, but it is interesting!

Try 'Dubbin' (sp?) if it's still available

Anya it is, and as luck would have it, I have a tin of it in the cupboard under the sink..............................

If anyone has any tips on the best way to dubbin a cat, please do share them!

(Does one leave it to sink in, or buff to a shine?)

And what does it do to the inside of the cat, as well as the outside?

Maybe the cats diet could affect it [although I guess not, with some of you having several cats presumably on the same diet but with different degrees of waterproofing]. Thin, short haired cats probably originate from oriental breeds that live in countries where it might rain quite heavily but then be warm afterwards so the cat wouldn't catch a chill? We did have a tabby cat many years ago that we used to bath in perfumed shampoo; in retrospect he was a baby substitute but we didn't realise it at the time. He ran away from home and lived with someone else .

Not surprised tegan

I have, in my time, had two ginger cats neither of them waterproof. On the other hand, my long departed black cat, Sam, had a coat like sealskin - I saved the dubbin for my boots - and was never more than surface damp.

I have never bathed a cat, although the dear departed Lily was occasionally subjected to enforced tail washing

She was long haired, pure white with a plume of a tail. Unfortunately her washing regime left something to be desired, and her tail often seemed to have dark roots. Trial and error led to us adopting the following practice.
NB. For maximum efficiency, and minimum personal injury, it is recommended that this procedure is carried out by 2 people.

1) Wait until cat is sound asleep on the sofa or armchair.

2) Clear the draining board of all items, and run some warm water into the sink. Fill 2 large jugs with warm water and leave within easy reach.

3) Position a bottle of shampoo (John Frieda's "Born Blonde" seemed to be the best) by the side of the sink. Also have a towel ready, but this may not be always be needed, see point 6.

4) Double check that the cat is indeed fast asleep. Once sure, Person 1 should grasp the cat firmly and at maximum speed proceed to lay it flat on the draining board, with it's rear end pointing towards the sink. Two hands should be deployed, one holding the back of the neck, and the other placed on the cat's hips/pelvis. Person 2 should dunk the tail in the water, apply the shampoo and massage into the fur quickly and thoroughly.

5) Remove the plug, and as the water drains away pour the contents of the 2 jugs over the tail, working the water through as you go to remove any shampoo residue.

6) If all this has been achieved in a very short space of time, and the cat still seems slightly stunned by the events, excess water can be removed by rapid twirling of the tail, although of course this can mean a fair bit of wiping down of walls etc afterwards. If this in not the case, rub briskly with the towel mentioned in point 3.

7) Release the cat, heave a sigh of relief and internally apply wine to both Persons 1 & 2

Or, alternatively , have it dry cleaned?

Born Blonde? Very creative

just wondering if you have any ideas relating to bottom washing of a 4 stone Labrador that has dodgy hips and elbows and likes to scratch its bum on the carpet...anal glands are fine.she also likes the feel of swishing the conifer branchs around her nether regions...

But would he come back on wire hanger covered in polythene? (We tend to only have wooden hangers)

And I hate to think of the cost! I had a particularly vile silk tie of Mr P's dry cleaned a while back. £5.99! I would have happily paid that for them to ruin the damn thing!

Heehee Phoenix, poor Mr P, I'm sure he loves his tie.Well, I think Morrisons do a good deal on cat dry cleaning, but they do tend to be a bit on the flat side after all the pressing.

Maybe he's fishing in a neighbour's pond? Quick dart in to catch a fish and out again (with or without fish) will still leave him dripping wet!

DowntoEarth..... Poor dogs, no hands or wet cotton wool for relief!

A water pistol from 10 yards away!

It was you POGS was it?

Obviously to down to earth.

kerching ....light bulb moment ...steam cleaning...