16 No-Vacuum Ways to Get Cat Hair Off Furniture, Clothing, Carpets, and More

Cat hair in the carpet, fur on the furniture, a wardrobe embellished with feline fuzz ... it's all an old story for cat owners. Most of us count on the heavy artillery (the vacuum cleaner) as our main tool in the war on cat-hair-covered everything, but there are other options.

Start with prevention. Brushing your cat can make a major difference in the amount of hair that winds up on your surfaces, and grooming can actually be a lovely way to show affection to your feline friends. But predictably, cats don't share a single opinion on being groomed: some love it and will purr like an electric motor at the first stroke, and others will hate it so much the very sight of the brush will inspire them to hide under the bed for a week. It's a cat thing .... so be realistic about it. If you and your cat enjoy the experience, go for it. But don't over-groom, and be aware that since a certain amount of shedding is inevitable, you're never going to win the battle with grooming alone.

Kittens Cats

Here are 16 ways to get cat hair off of floors, furniture, clothing, and more, without getting out the vacuum:

16 No-Vacuum Ways to Get Cat Hair Off Furniture, Clothing, Carpets, and More

* Wipe with a barely-dampened sponge or washcloth
* Go over area with a lint roller
* Go over area with a rubber shower squeegee
* Go over area with a chamois cloth
* Put on a rubber or latex glove and wipe down the area
* Brush with a rubber-bristle broom
* Sprinkle area with baking soda before vacuuming. The baking soda will help loosen the hair from the fabric.
* Inflate a balloon and run across the fabric. Loose hairs will stick to the balloon.
* Mist area with fabric softener, then wipe or vacuum. The fabric softener will loosen the hairs from the fabric.
* Pat the area with the sticky side of a broad tape, like duct tape or packing tape
* Wipe the area with a fabric-softener sheet.
* Wipe area with a nylon bath puff.
* Wipe area with a lint mitt (available in grocery and discount store cleaning sections).
* If the item can be put into the washing machine, add a cup of white vinegar to the water and the hair will wash off.
* If the item can be dried in the clothes drier, put it in for about 15 minutes with a damp washcloth
* To get cat hair out of a computer keyboard, go around, between, and under the keys with a cheap, fairly stiff small paint brush (the ones sold in multiple packs for children or crafts are perfect).

16 No-Vacuum Ways to Get Cat Hair Off Furniture, Clothing, Carpets, and More

Tips For Giving Your Cat a Bath

If you are a cat owner, you are probably fully aware of the fact that most cats absolutely hate water. Nonetheless, there may be times when bathing your cat is necessary. Not only do baths keep your cat clean, they may also be needed to remove fleas from your furry friend. While bathing a cat isn't always easy, it is possible with most cats if you follow these tips.

Tip #1: Start Young

Kittens Cats

If you got your cat while it was still a kitten, you should start giving it baths on a regular basis. Ideally, you should bathe your kitten about once per week. By starting when your cat is young, it will be more accustomed to the water. In addition, a younger cat is much easier to handle than an adult. So, by starting young, you can make bath time much simpler after your cat grows and becomes stronger.

Tips For Giving Your Cat a Bath

Tip #2: Remain Calm

Cats can usually sense when their owners are nervous or anxious. So, remain calm when picking up your cat and throughout the bathing process. The more calm you are, the less anxiety your cat will experience. You can also get your cat relaxed and prep it for its bath by coming through its fur before heading to the bathroom.

Tip #3: Get Items Prepared Ahead of Time

Even if you started getting baths to your cat when it was still a kitten, it still probably will not enjoy taking a bath. Therefore, you should try to get the bath over as quickly as possible. One way to do this is to make certain you have your kitty shampoo, towels, and any other items you will need gathered beforehand. You should also make certain the temperature in the bathroom is at a comfortable level so your feline friend doesn't get too cold.

Tip #4: Prepare the Cat and The Water

You can keep your kitty more comfortable by applying eye ointment before putting it in the water. This will help keep soap out of its eyes. If your cat is particularly problematic during bath time, you might also want to consider trimming its claws first. This way, you won't have to worry as much about getting scratched in the process.

You can also expedite the bathing process by adding a non-toxic wetting agent such as Shaklee's Basic H to the water beforehand. With this agent, the water will soak into the coat more quickly, which means you can work up a lather sooner and complete the bathing process as quickly as possible.

Tip #5: Try Again Later if Necessary

With your cat and the bathroom properly prepared, you can now submerge your cat, get its fur wet, and lather the shampoo. You may need to hold your cat down firmly in order to prevent it from jumping away if this is its first bath. If your cat seems to be extremely upset by the process, however, it is best to stop the bath and try again later. By slowly introducing the bathing process and by speaking in a gentle way throughout the entire process, however, you should ultimately be able to get your cat to accept bath time without much trouble.

Tips For Giving Your Cat a Bath