I close the door behind me and draw a bath. The lights are dim and candles (which I do not recommend for beginners) are placed high on the shelf. I like to put something soothing on the stereo like Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.
The water is just slightly warmer than room temperature, a little cooler than I would personally prefer it but it is comfortable. I turn off the tap when the water starts to reach the overflow.
I set out towels, shampoo, a comb and a plastic cup within arms reach of the basin. Then I neatly fold a towel and put it on the floor so I have a comfortable place to kneel when the need arises. Dander and steam are a rough combination for us asthmatics, so I wear mask or a bandana if one is handy.
Mincho and I don’t keep many secrets from each other but sometimes, occasionally, it is good to catch him off guard. He is particularly receptive to new experiences if he is still groggy from a nap.
Scooping his little sleeping nugget shaped body up in my arms, I hug him and pet him and tell him how incredibly good looking he is (it’s great for his self esteem). Sometimes I sing to him or just ask him about his day as I gently lower him into the bath.
He’s been getting baths his entire life. When I first adopted him around 5 years ago, I was so allergic I literally had to wash him every other day. It got to be that we would just take baths together for a while. Occasionally, he will still get in the tub with me on his own accord but mostly he prefers to just sit on the side and lick water off my knees.
Today, this bath is just for him.
If he starts complaining or trying to escape, I gently grab him by the scruff and continue to lather and rinse. All the while reassuring him in a calm soothing voice that other cats will love the scent of his coconut shampoo and the females are going to think he is so sexy.
When I towel him off, I like to brush him in front of a space heater that looks like a fireplace. It adds to the ambiance and keeps up the facade of this being a therapeutic spa treatment. So far, I don’t think he has caught on.