Cats are very good at taking care of themselves by licking their bodies. However, you may have to help if the results are not good. If your cat soils her bottom with urine or feces, walks through a petrochemical spill, or comes into contact with a sticky substance, you should step in to clean the cat's fur. Determine the cause of the dirty cat's coat, clean it well, and enjoy your cat's shiny clean coat.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Stool Stains
Step 1. Look for stool stains
Check the fur around the cat's anus for any remaining feces. You may notice balls of dry feces getting stuck, especially if your cat has long hair. Or, you see a stain around the cat's anus.
Stool stains can be caused by a cat having diarrhea or an upset stomach. That's why cats have a hard time cleaning up on their own
Step 2. Remove the fecal particles from the cat's fur
Comb the area around the cat's anus to remove some of the tiny faeces from the fur. If it still remains, trim the cat's fur with scissors. Make sure the blades of the scissors do not touch the cat's skin.
Do not trim wet hair. The bristles must be dry so that the scissors can clean the faeces
Step 3. Remove light stool stains
If you see only a small part of the fur that is soiled with feces, please clean it thoroughly. Prepare a bowl of warm water, cat shampoo, and a cloth. Dip a cloth in a bowl of water and wet the dirty area on the cat's fur. Rub the shampoo on the dirty area until it lathers and rinse with a damp cloth. Continue wetting and wringing the cloth until the rinse water is clear.
You may find it easier to do this by sticking the cat's bottom in the sink. This will allow you to thoroughly clean the cat's bottom if the stain is difficult to remove with just a cloth
Step 4. Clean the dirt all over the cat's fur
A cat's coat may be completely soiled if it has diarrhea or an upset stomach. Wipe off the biggest dirt with disposable paper towels. When most of the litter has been removed, wash the cat's bottom with a mild cat shampoo. Rub the area around the cat's anus until it foams, and be careful if the area is sensitive to cats. Ask someone to hold the cat while you rinse out the shampoo.
- Do not use human shampoo. The pH balance in human shampoos is not suitable for cats and can irritate the cat's skin.
- If you can, use a cat shampoo that contains oatmeal, as it can help moisturize your cat's sensitive skin.
Step 5. Dry the cat's fur
Use a clean dry towel and gently rub it over the wet cat's fur. The towel will dry the fur quickly if you partially clean the fur area. If all the cat's fur is cleaned, we recommend using a hairdryer on a medium setting. Comb the cat's fur while it is drying to prevent tangles.
It's a good idea to ask someone to dry your hair if you use a hairdryer. One person holds the cat steady and gently, while the other person blows dry with a hairdryer
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Lily Powder from Feathers
Step 1. Remove pollen from dry fur
Take a tissue and wipe off the pollen that has stuck to the cat's fur. Try to clean as much as possible while the fur is still dry. Each time you wipe, use the clean side of the tissue so that the pollen doesn't spread. Keep cleaning until there is no pollen on the fur or tissue.
Try to pick up as much pollen as you can see from the cat's fur. This will reduce the chances of the cat licking itself and accidentally ingesting poison. If you're not sure you've removed all the pollen, put a funnel collar on the cat to keep it from licking itself and go to the vet
Step 2. Make sure the pollen is completely clean
Take a damp washcloth and wet the cat's fur. Rub the cloth over the cat's fur to remove any remaining pollen. If you feel that the pollen has not been completely removed, rinse the cat's coat with water to rinse out any remaining pollen particles. Pat the cat's fur with a towel until it is dry.
Don't panic if the cat starts licking itself after you take care of. You only need to prevent the cat from licking its body while it's still dusted with pollen.
Step 3. Call the vet
If you think your cat is licking its fur before you have time to clean it, remove any remaining pollen and contact your vet immediately. Although the cat should be taken to the doctor immediately, the pollen should be removed from the cat's fur first so that more is not ingested.
The vet may order a blood test to check your cat's kidneys. Cats may need to be treated with IVs to support kidney function
Step 4. Understand the dangers of lily pollen to cats
Avoid placing lilies in the house. If it comes in contact with the lily, the cat will lick its body to remove pollen from the fur. Lily pollen is a serious contaminant for cats and can cause kidney failure and poisoning. Other plants that are also harmful to cats include:
- Daffodils (Daffodils)
- Tulips
- Amaryllis
- Crocuses
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning Petrochemicals from Cat Hair
Step 1. Determine if the cat's fur is contaminated with petrochemicals
Cat hair can be contaminated with petrochemicals. This chemical is toxic and irritates the cat's coat. The cat's irritated or inflamed skin can become infected and if the poison is ingested, the cat may develop diarrhea, vomit, or develop organ damage. Common petrochemicals found in cats include:
- Ter
- Turpentine
- Candle
- Glue
- varnish
- Paint
- Furniture cleaner (can contain benzalkonium chloride which causes sharp burns on the tongue. Cats will stop eating if exposed to this chemical).
- Antifreeze
Step 2. Prevent the cat from licking its body
If the petrochemical-contaminated area is not large, clean it immediately. However, if you still have to get your cleaning kit ready, and you're worried that your cat will lick itself, try to prevent this first. The best way to prevent cats from licking their bodies is to put a plastic Buster or Elizabethan collar around the cat's neck. Thus, the cat cannot lick its body and paws. If you don't have one, wrap the cat in a towel and have someone hold it while you pick up the cleaning kit.
- If you don't have a collar, find the location of the contamination and do something about it. For example, if the substance is on the cat's body, make a body wrap with a small baby blanket, or make four holes for the cat's paws in a sock or stocking.
- If the contamination is on the cat's paws, try wrapping it in a bandage or putting on baby socks and securing it with a bandage.
Step 3. Trim the contaminated cat's fur
If the chemical has dried and hardened, the cat's fur should be carefully trimmed. Be careful not to injure the cat's skin, especially if the chemical has dried to stick to the cat's skin.
If the tips of your cat's fur come into contact with these chemicals, slide the comb between the skin and the contaminated area. This will allow you to trim the hair on the top of the comb and prevent accidental skin injury
Step 4. Soften and clean the dirty area
If the chemical is still soft or too close to the skin, you will need to soften the chemical and wash off the contamination. Use a hand sanitizer that is used by a mechanic that works to dissolve grease and oil. Or, give a vegetable oil such as sunflower, vegetable, or olive oil. Rub the oil on the soiled area until it softens, then wipe the contamination with a dry cloth.
- Repeat softening and wiping off contamination until most of the petrochemical has been removed.
- Avoid softening the area with tea tree, eucalyptus, or citrus oils as they are toxic to cats.
Step 5. Wash and rinse the contaminated area
If you have trimmed or softened the soiled area, wash the fur. Wet the cat's fur with warm water and apply cat shampoo. Rub the shampoo into a lather and rinse with warm water until the color of the water is clear. The contamination area should be completely clean of petrochemicals and oil (if used to soften chemicals). Dry the cat's fur with a towel or use a hairdryer on a low setting.
