'Do you think she could trust us again?' New pawrents worry after recently adopted shelter cat's bath leaves her traumatized

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
May 28, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

This newly adopted shelter kitty sounds like a real sweetheart. Full of energy, curiosity, and ready to pounce on backyard adventures. She's trusting and cuddly, always eager to watch the world through the glass door and explore whenever given the chance. But after a little escape and an unexpected bath, her behavior has taken a dramatic turn.

Bath time, as many cat pawrents know, is often a dreaded ordeal. When she made a break for the litterbox and jumped right in, it was clear she was trying to find some comfort in a stressful moment. Now, nearly 20 hours later, she's acting skittish and cautious, startled by every noise and hesitant to move around. She's still taking treats and occasionally playing, but it's clear she's not quite herself.

Her new pawrents are understandably nervous they may have traumatized her. The once confident and playful feline has become wary and distant, leaving them worried about whether she'll ever fully trust and feel safe with them again. It's a tough spot, filled with lots of hope that their furry friend will soon bounce back to her happy, loving self.

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    'The cat is acting very different then before'
    via Visual Content / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Me and my wife adopted a a 3 years old cat from the shelter 10 days ago, she is a real sweetheart! We had no problems with her at all she was very trusting and cuddly from the beginning. She loves playing all day and very energetic and fun, she loves sitting by the glass door to see our backyard, and
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    she really wants to go out everytime we open the door. So what happend yesterday we opened the door and she decided to outsmart us and jump out, nothing bad happend she was really calm and she did not try to run away she was just exploring a bit. Suddenly a small chipmunk
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    Cheezburger Image 10510435072
    via Martin Hackl / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    joind us and she tried to hunt him fir a bit without leaving the back yard and all but she got a bit dirty so my wife wanted to wash her before she could keep on climbing furniture.
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    That brings us to our problem, my wife started bathing her gently and suddenly she jumped out of the bathtub and ran straight to the litterbox that was located in the bathroom with them and just laid down in the litterbox all wet getting her extremely dirty. So my wife.
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    Cheezburger Image 10510435328
    via Oleg Troino's Images / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    picked her up and proceeds to wash her again with a bit of resistance, nothing crazy she just wanted out of there. She showd big signs of stress after the bath and we thought that it's normal for them to be a little scared after a bath. So we gave her her own space and she wanted nothing to
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    do with us. Now we're almost 20h after the bath and the cat is acting very different then before, she is very scared and very cautious with every step she's taking and jumpy by every noise she hears. She lets us pet her a bit sometimes but she steps away quickly after She still takes
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    treats from our hands and plays sometimes but she really does not want to. she still have not walked to her litterbox to /pee since then, when should I start to worry? Do you think she could trust us again?
    via u/Salty-Animal4904
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    Jessirose32 Just give her lots of gentle loving and affection and she will slowly regain trust. Cats are finicky and hate water, but they also can forgive with time. Be patient and she will come around.
    via u/Jessirose32

  • Nothing’s ruined. She just needs a little time and space to feel safe again. Trust takes patience, but with love (and treats), she’ll come back around.

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    Calgary_Calico I would not recommend bathing a cat within the first month of bringing them home. Was she muddy? If not dirt vacuums out of furniture just fine. She'll probably get over it but she might not. She's probably not going to trust your wife for a long time after this and I wish you luck with the litterbox problem. My god
    via u/Calgary_Calico
  • 13
    jazbaby25 Might need to replace the litter box. That one has a negative association with it now
    via u/jazbaby25
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    trashcanman1987 For next time, don't bath her unless she desperately needs it, just brush her if she isn't a long haired cat.
    via u/trashcanman1987
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    Horror_Turnip9005 Hopefully the cat will recover,,, so long as you dont keep going mental about your furniture or whatever else and bathing the poor cat.
    via u/Horror_Turnip9005
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    passiveObserver Why did you bathe her, you can just wipe her feet off with a wet towel in the future
    via u/passiveObserver

  • We can do this the easy way. No need for a full bath every time she comes inside. A quick wipe down is all it takes to keep her clean and keep the peace.

     

     

  • 17
    IminLoveWithMyCa... Cats don't need baths, generally speaking. Maybe if they get really dirty, but I have only one of my cats 6, maybe 7, times in my life. I'm almost 60 and have had lots of cats, many have just found me as a stray or came from a shelter and had fleas.
    via u/IminLoveWithMyCar3
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    Significant_Fun99... Brush her and wipe off her feet with either a damp, warm washcloth, paper towel, a wipe, or something, but the poor cat didn't need a bath. Since she's new to the household, she was trying to learn the lay of the land. Don't worry, my cats need sedatives to be bathed. It turns into a
    via u/Significant_Fun9993
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    bloodletting sport and I have to wear armor if I need to bathe them. I think the cat associated "going in the litter pan equals bath". Close the bath curtain or doors to your bathtub to hide it from her. Don't follow her into the bathroom if she goes in there. Praise her for being brace if she goes into the room all by herself or to use
    via u/Significant_Fun9993
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    the pan. Giving her some privacy, she'll feel less anxious. If she uses the litter pan praise her and give her a treat. She'll get back to her old self. I was going to suggest moving the litter pan somewhere else in the house but you don't want her to think the bathroom is a scary, bad place. Also when a cat is new to a
    via u/Significant_Fun9993
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    household, letting them outside is too much too soon. If your wife doesn't want the cat to get dirty outside then it's simple- don't let her outside! She needs time to adapt to the household, to figure out where her safe spaces are, and to better know the two of you. Give her cuddles so she knows she's loved and a
    via u/Significant_Fun9993
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    good girl. It's especially important that your wife hold her and tell her that she's a good girl. Don't worry, you didn't break your cat.
    via u/Significant_Fun9993
  • 23
    miti3144 Pet wipes - unscented - are your friend.
    via u/miti3144

  • Time to stock up! Pet wipes are about to become your new best friend. Way easier than bath time, and way less drama. Everyone wins, especially the cat.

  • 24
    WildLove17 Cats can hold grudges for a while but they tend to come around, just give her time, space, LOTS of treats, and love on her terms. I'd recommend investing in pet wipes or waterless shampoo for the future, now that yall know.
    via u/WildLove17

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pets bath adopted advice feline pawrents animal shelter Cats rescue
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