How do I get my cat to clean herself?

I've had her for about four years... the first two years she was a small cat but kept herself clean... seemed happy... then she started not cleaning herself, and she would get really bad infections to where it was hard for her to breath... I would take her to the vet he would give me the meds for it... it would clear up for a couple months then come back... now they seem to have subsided a bit... but she still wont clean herself... I have to give her a bath every other day (which is a task in itself) and 12 hours later she is filthy... she is an inside outside cat... I have had her tested for everything from cat leukemia to the form of aids that cats get... all the test have come up negative... my vet says she must just be a weak cat... any suggestions?

Wow. Sounds like your kitty is depressed! No, really.

My friend's cat had to be put down last month because he just kinda 'gave up'. She spent a HUGE sum of money trying to figure out what was wrong with him, and the vet could not find any reason for him not eating. He just wasted away. Needless to say, she was devastated. She's a nurse so she hasn't been able to give him the attention he needed, I suppose. Try spending more time with her, brushing her, talking to her. Get her some toys. Make her feel loved :) Would she benefit from another companion animal?

Has her mouth been checked out? Maybe she has some sort of abscess or sore that bothers her when she cleans herself.

Or you can do what my mom does with our 17 year old Maine Coon (who has RIDICULOUSLY long, thick hair): she shaves him to look like a lion! He wears a sweater and boots in the winter :p

wow poor kitty. i guess you have to do the bathing for him and maybe stop the cat from going outside anymore. I had a persian I allowed outside a few times and she always came back in all full of leaves and sticks and tangles and it was a mess. Actually I think she preferred being all dirty. I think she rolled around in the dirt and grass. Maybe your cat prefers to be dirty too.

dont give her tooo bath or put her at a clean place and dont apply more more powder to her body just apply little bit of it and when ever utake her ffor a walk dont let any other any other cat to come near her or a dog and dont give her beafor chicken give her meet if she eat it

I bathe my cat, it makes him mad as heck at me, but then he has to clean himself up. He will lick himself dry, LOL!! If I call my cat" smelly cat" he runs!! Just throw your cat in the tub for a minute, she'll do the rest