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A smiling woman in denim gently washes a wet, bedraggled blue point Ragdoll cat standing in a round metal tub in the yard. 19 / 31

Bluebell Hates Baths, and Nell Brought the Old Tin Tub Anyway

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Bluebell stands in a round metal tub with her usually fluffy coat plastered flat and her ears slightly back. Her face has a look of dignified suffering. Grandma Nell leans over her with a patient, amused smile, her silver braid dangling and her sleeves rolled, one hand steady under the cat's chest. A fence and some yard clutter sit behind them, and a towel waits nearby on the grass. Drops of water cling to her whiskers, and a few soap bubbles float on the surface around her, while Nell murmurs reassurance in a low, gentle voice.

Most cats are good at grooming themselves and do not need frequent baths. Some long-haired cats, though, get matted or dirty and do benefit from an occasional wash. If you do it, use lukewarm water, a shampoo made for cats, and a calm voice. Support her body, keep water away from her ears and eyes, and have towels ready right away because wet cats chill quickly. Brushing before the bath helps with tangles. If your cat panics or has skin issues, ask your vet or a professional groomer for help.

Bath day is not a favorite event for most cats, and Bluebell is clearly no exception. Still, with a warm towel and a gentle friend, it will pass quickly. By evening she will be fluffy again and suitably offended.

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A woman with a gray braid sips lemonade through a straw on a porch while a blue point Ragdoll cat rests across her lap.Grandma Nell Poured a Lemonade. Bluebell Poured Herself Into Her Lap.A smiling woman holds a half-eaten sandwich on a wooden bench while a blue point Ragdoll cat sits beside her gazing upward.Grandma Nell Sat Down for Lunch. Bluebell Sat Down for Something Else.
A woman in denim tucks a cream blanket around a blue point Ragdoll cat resting in a large round cushion bed.Nell Gave Bluebell a Little Bed and a Blanket. The Cat's Reaction Says It All.A woman in denim reads a folded newspaper while a blue point Ragdoll cat sleeps curled across her lap.Grandma Nell Opened the Paper. Bluebell Opened Her Own Plans.A smiling woman with a gray braid sits at the wheel of an old pickup truck with a fluffy Ragdoll cat upright beside her.Grandma Nell Climbed Into the Old Pickup. Bluebell Took the Passenger Seat.A woman in denim crouches by a pond holding a handful of feed while a fluffy Ragdoll cat watches ducks from the edge.The Ducks Swam Closer. Bluebell Sat Frozen at the Edge of the Pond.