Please help. My cat has gasoline on his fur. What to use to clean it off

[KittyWampus]

Any good suggestions?

He came in and his hind legs are soaked and stink like gasoline or turpentine.

I don't want him to lick his fur.

He is pissed when I touch his legs or pick him up but not apparently injured.

No limp.

What can I use to clean him?

[LeftyMom]

1. I would call the vet,

because of the high risk of poisoning.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I've heard Avon Skin So Soft works to get gunk out of cat fur

and it's not toxic to the cat. Best bet is to call your vet, though; and be sure the cat doesn't try to wash himself before you can get him cleaned up. Can you get him in the bathtub with some water and shampoo, for starters?

[KittyWampus]

9. I found some Hemp shampoo. nothing toxic in it. tried my best to wash him in the sink.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Not funny.

[Goblinmonger]

6. Yeah, man, SO not funny. n/t

[Merrick]

19. Please. n/t

[Goblinmonger]

21. I like to point fingers at other to take the heat off myself n/t

:shrug:

[Shine]

10. LOL!

:rofl:

[JVS]

40. PM me about what was so funny please

[Goblinmonger]

5. A match

:hide:

It had to be said. I would call a vet; there must be some type of "oil-based" soap that would get it out but don't know if it is cat safe.

[snailly]

7. Please call your vet

[Omphaloskepsis]

8. Soap and water...

I wouldn't worry that much about the cat licking it. My cat drinks out of the toilet. But it refuses to if I forget to flush. They can tell that it is bad.

I would give it a nice long bath.




edit :: and by bath I mean shower. Open the drain and keep pumping in clean water.

[johnnie]

11. If he takes one lick, he won't lick any more

You should be fine if you get him in a bath.

[Karenca]

12. wash him with a mild soap and baking

soda.
Rinse and repeat a few times.

[RedG1]

13. DAWN dish washing detergent...

Since 1979, the International Bird Rescue Research Center has used Dawn on all U.S. oil spills to clean oiled wildlife because of its effective non-irritating qualities.

[Flaxbee]

15. yup - my sister does wildlife rescue after oil spills, and they

use Dawn. Go grab some...

[KittyWampus]

17. Thanks that is very good to know.

[Jamastiene]

31. We have a winner.

Believe it or not, 1 part Dawn mixed with 3 parts water has the same PH as most cat and dog shampoos and works much better in these types of cases. I used to work at a dog grooming salon. We had concoctions for everything: Oil, gas, skunk, burs, hot spots, you name it. I don't miss that job.

[SPKrazy]

14. heck i'd just use soap and water, whatever shampoo

and it should come off, he may still smell and i'd call the vet too to make sure, but the gas should both evaporate and the majority of it come off with soap and water

[KittyWampus]

16. I think you are right!

[Omphaloskepsis]

18. My sister has really insane health care coverage for her pets. (better than I have)

I had her call her vet and he suggested giving it a bath (shower) for about ten minutes. He didn't think it was something to worry about.

[KittyWampus]

22. I washed him in a big bowl in the bathroom sink. Felix wasn't too happy about it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

33. Washing cats is always a lot of fun

Too bad you can't attach an odor to a post, we could probably identify what was on the cat. Gasoline smells like gasoline. Turpentine smells like pine trees. Kerosene smells like a commercial airport (jet fuel is just "better" kerosene).

I'd take the cat to a vet if it's gasoline or kerosene. Probably not if it's turpentine, that's usually less of an irritant.

Anyway, all those chemicals smell better than skunk, which calls for multiple baths and "jail time" in the basement, to not stink up the furniture.

Congratulations on surviving the cat-wash. There are a lot of claws involved in that activity.
:hi:

[DS1]

20. anything

get off DU and get that shit out of his fur

[KittyWampus]

23. I did. His feet are already drying off.

[piesRsquare]

25. Even though you washed him

contact the vet. That hair/fur might need to come off.

I'm a vet tech, and urge you to double-check with the vet this evening.

If your vet is not available, look in your yellow pages for the emergency veterinary clinic in your area and give them a call.

Take care...

[KittyWampus]

26. Just called the emergency number for vet. His feet ARE swollen. :-(

[piesRsquare]

27. Oh dear...

Good luck tonight...he should be okay. Please keep us posted.

[flvegan]

24. You can't wash gasoline out of fur.

My first question is how in the hell did poor kitty get one of these liquids on his fur?

My next question is how far away is your vet? Gasoline absorbs into fur/skin. It has to wear out. You need to make sure kitty didn't get any of this shit in his system.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

28. I'm guessing you've taken him to the emergency vet...

Please let us know how he's doing. :hug: Poor kitty!

[KittyWampus]

37. Felix is okay. His foot swelling went down a lot and a few small patches of fur "burned off"

I called the vet last night and she asked a few questions and we both thought he'd be okay til morning. He could walk on his hind legs with no limp and seemed in decent spirits the whole time.

Now he's spent the day in a harness outside in the shade sleeping.

He mews to be let go, but I want him to rest for a few days. To make sure the skin keeps clean and doesn't get ripped.

[alphafemale]

29. Keep your eyes and ears open to be sure some budding sociopath

Didn't deliberately pour gas on your cat and was about to set it on fire, and your cat was just lucky or quick enough to get away. That's a really strange thing for a cat to get into "accidentally."

[cwydro]

34. That is what I was thinking.

Poor thing was lucky to get away if that is the case. Any children live near you that might do such a thing?

[leftofthedial]

30. kerosene

[scarpa43]

32. How about calling a vet instead of asking random people online? (nt)

[Connonym]

35. there's no reason to be so harsh

chill out and welcome to DU

[Connonym]

36. How's the cat today?

What did you end up doing? I hope he's ok, I've been worrying about him.

[KittyWampus]

38. Felix is doing okay. The vet and I discussed his condition and we both thought it'd be fine

to just keep observing him.

He was always able to walk without limping. And seemed in good spirits.

Some spots of fur have burned off. Foot still a little swollen. But skin looks healthy.

I kept him on a harness all day and will do so til next Monday to keep his feet clean.

Thanks for caring.

[cwydro]

39. I've been worried too.

Someone threw one of mine in the ocean years ago, or maybe he fell...but that was unlikely. THat was one salty cat.

Maybe a little detective work and you can figure out if someone was trying to deliberately harm the little critter. I sure hope not. I would be a basket case.

[piesRsquare]

41. Thanks for the update...

Glad Felix is doing okay...

[Blue Diadem]

42. I'm glad Felix is ok.

I'm having a rough time with how he was able to get gas on himself. I sure hope no one did it intentionally. Some people can be really mean to cats.