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Mucky cat

(33 Posts)
numberplease Thu 18-Aug-16 21:41:13

Has anybody got any tips on getting a white cat clean without actually bathing her, which she hates, and gets me a few scratches every time? The problem is usually oil from going under cars, but now she`s just looking plain grubby from rolling around in the dust during the hot weather, and although she washes herself, she`s just not coming up as white as usual.

numberplease Thu 18-Aug-16 21:42:44

Sorry everyone, I meant to put that on the pets thread!

DaphneBroon Thu 18-Aug-16 21:49:32

youtu.be/ApN73TUVMEU

You might try this?

Alima Thu 18-Aug-16 21:51:09

Does she mind being brushed? Our three love it, gets rid of loads of loose hair and dust etc. Not too sure how to deal with the oil though.

Pollengran Thu 18-Aug-16 22:02:57

Pure white cats should not be outdoors. They get cancer and need to be kept out of the sun. This is why after 50 years of living with cats I would never have a white one. I hope the colour dies out. It is not natural for cats to be white.

She will scratch you if you try to bathe her for not coming up as white as you would like. Cats do not like water. My advice would be to keep the cat indoors.

phoenix Thu 18-Aug-16 22:04:26

Can you get some sort of dry shampoo or grooming spray for cats? If so, you could try that with either a brush, as suggested byAlima or a grooming glove.

numberplease Thu 18-Aug-16 22:11:28

Thanks Phoenix, I never thought of dry shampoo, she doesn`t mind being brushed at all Alima.
Pollengran, Mia was a rescue cat, and she was used to going outdoors. I do smother her ears and nose with sun lotion before she goes out in the sun, but she then calmly sits down and licks it off once she`s outside. Trying to keep her in would be an impossibility. The vet recommends bathing her with Swarfega,to get rid of oil, I`ve done it in the past, but don`t like doing it to her if I can avoid it.
DaphneB, very funny, I love Simon`s cat, but it doesn`t solve my problem.

SueDonim Thu 18-Aug-16 22:19:51

Our mainly-white Colourpoint Persian fell into an oil drain once and was covered in oil from nose to tail. The vet used vegetable oil to clean her. It was the hot summer of 1976 and she stunk like a chippy for weeks whenever she lay in the sun!

You can buy wipes for cats in pet stores or use corn starch on the grubby areas and then brush it out, like a dry shampoo, really.

phoenix Thu 18-Aug-16 22:43:08

Our late Lily was also pure white, and would occasionally come home looking like she'd done a days work experience as an apprentice mechanic!

But her worst thing was having dark (for that read dirty) roots to her fluffy tail.

We would wait until she was fast asleep, clear the draining board, put some warm water in the sink, and have the John Frieda "Born Blonde" shampoo at the ready.

MrP would grab her, and before she knew what was going on, she was flat out on the draining board with her tail dangling in the sink!

Quick wash, quick rinse, quick rub with a towel then, voilà! She was free to hurtle off and sulk under the table!

DaphneBroon Thu 18-Aug-16 22:44:53

First catch your cat, Phoenix? grin

Marelli Thu 18-Aug-16 22:53:25

number, as you know, our Daisy is also a pure white, longhaired moggie! She came in the other day absolutely filthy. I think she'd been rootling about under the shed or somewhere like that. She did wash it all off, eventually..... though a lot of it probably ended up on the carpets (or my chair, which she seems to favour just now)!
Pollengran, it's not necessary to keep white cats inside. Tips of ears and nose should have a pet sunscreen applied. Daisy tends to stay inside on warm days, though.

phoenix Thu 18-Aug-16 23:00:09

A bit like that Daphne , hence the waiting until she was asleep! The place we were renting at the time had an open plan living/kitchen area, so only a couple of steps from the sofa to the sink.

Plus she was always a cat that took her time to properly wake up!

numberplease Thu 18-Aug-16 23:08:35

Thanks for all the hints ladies!

Lisalou Fri 19-Aug-16 11:33:31

We have a white cat which is always mucky and does go out in the sun in Spain. Having said that, he doesnt really sit in the sun much, tends to find a shady spot - he's no fool! Luckily, he doesnt go for getting oily. My chihuahua (cream colour, long hair) on the other hand, delights in hiding under Dear Mother's car and comes out with an oily rear end. He spends a lot of time having baths!!!

rosesarered Fri 19-Aug-16 14:01:05

Try baby wipes, they get pretty much everything off a cat.

whitewave Fri 19-Aug-16 14:21:29

We had a white cat named "snowy toes" by my daughter. DS painted him once. I used to put big pieces of cardboard up in the conservatory and supply powder paint and brush - cat was asleep and too tempting I think!

Deedaa Fri 19-Aug-16 20:49:07

My white and grey cat often comes in with big black patches when he's been rolling in the dust. I've found that baby wipes are quite good for getting the worst of it off.

numberplease Fri 19-Aug-16 21:40:10

Right, that settles it, I`m buying baby wipes tomorrow!

Craftycat Sat 20-Aug-16 10:03:27

I have 3 'special needs' cats-2 are just a bit stupid but one is a long haired ginger & white & he never washed himself so got really grubby. He was found in a gutter on a country road beside the body of his mother at about 5 weeks old so I assume she never got the chance to show him how to look after himself. We think he may have had a glancing blow from the car that hit his mum.After another of our cats who used to wash him died I had to take over & wash him- especially his bottom! Lovely job as he is long haired. He hated it but it had to be done. I got a special cat shampoo & we managed very well for about 5 years when all of a sudden he got the message that he was actually a CAT & started washing himself. He is rubbish at it but he does show willing & I trim his fur round his nether regions to help him keep clean. I still have to brush him every day as he can't get the knots out of his fur but he is much easier to look after now. I used to wash him in the sink in cloakroom so I could contain him easily. I've had him from the day he was found when CPL brought him to me (I was fostering kittens for them anyway) & he is a very special member of our clan.I love him to pieces.

Flowerofthewest Sat 20-Aug-16 10:09:16

My longhaired year old had a case of poorly tummy after a change of food . Twice I have put warm water with drop of shampoo in an old bowl. I talk reassuringly to him while lowering his rear end into the water. My DH is in charge of tail end. Holding it high while I wash away with a washing up sponge. After I wrap him in warm towel and snuggle him on my lap. He then nods off. I'm seriously considering a hygiene trim.

Flowerofthewest Sat 20-Aug-16 10:10:05

Oh and aloe Vera animal wipes are great as are baby wipes.

Kitspurr Sat 20-Aug-16 10:17:33

I asked the very same thing about my pure white puss, and was told to comb her regularly. She doesn't go out very much, but when she does, it's only for a few minutes, and I go with her. So, really, she doesn't get that dirty, apart from her rear end, which she can't reach, as she's a little rotund around the middle, so yours truly has to take care of that!

wot Sat 20-Aug-16 10:46:57

My dog's white with a bit of black. People often ask if she's had a bath, but she never has! I just brush her and she stays clean. Mind you, that's easier with dogs!

annifrance Sat 20-Aug-16 11:38:38

Think a white cat's bad news. Try a white (grey) horse! Stuff of nightmares.

numberplease Sat 20-Aug-16 18:26:41

Well, I`ve bought the baby wipes, all I have to do now is wait for her to come in, haven`t seen her since 8.30am.