Making your feline's flea bath a successful experience.

Thanks to a mild winter, a damp spring and scorching summer temperatures, this year's flea season is one of the worst in recent memory. If your feline is allowed to go outside and you don't stay on top of your flea and tick prevention, your pet could get into a heap of trouble very quickly. Of course, one of the best methods to break a potential flea problem from the get-go is to use a quality flea shampoo like Hartz® UltraGuard® Rid Flea & Tick® Cat Shampoo. Unfortunately, getting your feline to take a bath could be a tricky proposition, so use the following tips to help make the process go smoothly.

1. Get your supplies together first. Since you'll want your feline's bath to be as quick as possible, start by getting together items like rubber gloves, towels, a water pitcher for rinsing and cotton balls to clean out your feline's ears, reports Catster.com. Additionally, it may be easier for you to give your feline a bath in the sink, rather than the bathtub. This will put a lot less strain on your back and you can also use the handheld sprayer attachment to rinse off the shampoo quickly.

2. Water level. Lukewarm water is the best choice for your cat's bath, so whether your furry friend is in a bathtub or a sink, fill it up with only two to three inches of water. After you've placed your cat in the water, start by wetting his shoulders and continue back to the tail, then apply the flea shampoo and rub it in vigorously. These anti-flea products work best when they are allowed to sit on the skin for about five minutes, so keep your cat in a comfortable position until it's time to rinse off.

3. Towel dry. Since your feline's coat will take a good amount of time to dry, wrap your cat up in a towel and hold him for about 20 minutes, reports the ASPCA. Alternatively, if your feline doesn't mind the sound of a hair dryer, put it on its lowest temperature setting to expedite the drying process. This will give a calming end to what can be a very stressful period for your cat, and it will be a major step toward clearing up his flea infestation and returning to normalcy.