'I'm a vet - you shouldn't wash your cat as often as you might think' (2025)

A vet has shared his views on how often you should wash your cat (stock photo) (Image: Getty)

A vet has shed some light on how often you should wash your cat.

It’s common knowledge that you have to wash your pet from time to time or in certain situations but how often you need to do this varies on the type of animal you have. Cats are thought to clean themselves as they often lick their fur out of habit.

Amir Anwary is a veterinarian who regularly shares pet care advice on social media. He posted a video on TikTok about how often you should wash your cat.

In the clip, he explained that unlike dogs, cats “don’t need regular baths.” The animal expert added: “Bathing them 1-2 times per year is sufficient.”

He warned not to bathe cats too often because this “strips oils from the skin.” However, he mentioned that although cats don’t have to be washed often, they do need to be “brushed regularly” to take care of their fur.

Read more How to properly bathe a cat: Do you NEED to bathe cats?

Cats Protection, the UK’s leading cat welfare charity, has answered the question ‘should I bathe my cat?’ On its website it states: “The good news is there usually isn’t any need to bathe a cat. Cats are very clean creatures and are good at grooming themselves.

“They lick their fur with their tongue to remove any dirt, debris and excess hair. This keeps their coat in good condition. Some cats may need a bit of help with grooming, especially if they have long hair.

“Long-haired cats should be brushed daily. Short-haired cats should ideally be brushed once a week.”

The charity also said that regular bathing “can be harmful for a cat” because it can “strip their coat of natural oils which are needed to promote skin health and a layer of waterproofing.” It further noted that bathing is a “stressful experience for most cats” as they “don’t like water or having certain areas of their body rubbed or touched.”

Cats Protection spoke to registered veterinary surgeon Sarah Elliott who answered common questions about shampooing felines. According to Sarah, you should only bathe your cat if your vet has recommended it and a vet will be able to advise you on how often you should wash your cat.

The feline charity has provided a step by step guide on how to wash your cat safely. Firstly, fill a sink or bath tub with warm water, making sure not to fill it to higher than the top of your cat’s legs and do not “submerge” your cat in water.

Next, the cat welfare source says to place a towel at the bottom of the sink or tub to prevent slipping, which will make your cat “feel more stable.” Cats Protection then instructs to stand your cat in the water and place a cat-specific shampoo on a soft, wet cloth and “gently sponge the fur until they are clean.”

Amir’s TikTok video, uploaded on Friday, April 11, has garnered more than 100 comments, many of which are from cat owners. One admitted: “I didn’t think you were ever supposed to bath them.” Another user replied to this comment: “There are situations where you have to i.e diarrhoea.”