Dirty cat.?

Question

My cat is pure white and very dirty. He is 11 and seems to have stopped caring for himself. He looks so scruffy, any suggestions on how to clean him safely? I am not even going to attempt to bath him.

I would like to mention that he had regular checks by the vet, he is perfectly healthy and very happy. I have had him since he was a tiny kitten and he has travelled halfway across the world with me. If anything happened to him I don't know what I would do. So you see Catherine, I am a very responsible cat owner, and I did think your comment as a little uncalled for. It looks like he has been in someone's BBQ, he has greasy black marks mostly on his paws, legs and face which seams really diffuclt to remove. But thank you all for your excellent advice. I am going to clean him now and then give him a big bowl of chicken.

Answer 1

The older an animal gets, the less it takes care of itself. This is especially prevalent in aging cats because there's a very noticable difference in their personal hygiene when they stop grooming as often as they did before.

That said, a bath would be the cheapest and easiest way, but it's often painful for the human because of those delightful claws. Second option is, as most of the other people said, a groomer. But groomers are expensive and the cat will be traumatized by being bathed by strangers in a strange environment. Considering the cat's age, that might not be a good idea.

There are products on the market aimed at painless, convenient cleaning of your pets. There are a number of sprays and moistened wipes you can use for cats and dogs to basically give them waterless baths. Your cat might need several goings-over before he's shiny and clean again, but it will probably be the least stressful on both of you, and considerably less expensive than a professional groomer.

Just make sure you check the instructions and make sure your cat doesn't have a history of skin allergies or acute chemical sensitivity.

Answer 2

I agree with Malak and others who say your cat needs a workup by the vet to see if he is in the best of health. Not grooming and having a scruffy coat are most likely signs of illness. Many of the problems cats develop after ten years of age are treatable so don't delay about it.

I have a 17 yr old all-white cat who grooms himself very well and has a lovely coat. He also has cancer. Another cat stopped grooming herself at about 18 yrs. of age and went to a groomer every month for a bath and comb out. She did have arthritis and was treated for that. I have a 15 yr old cat who has a good, shiny coat and he is taking medication for hyperthyroidism. So at 11 I would not suspect arthritis as contributing to the poor quality of your cat's coat.

Answer 3

It's more than likely age that is causing kitty to not groom himself.
First thing you should do is take him to the Vet just to make sure there's not something physcially wrong with him.

I don't blame you for not wanting to bath him and I'm not sure a groomer is the best idea either...a lot of strange people and strange smells...it may just stress the poor old guy out to much.

As your Vet of recommedations on this...but at our local pet store they sell kitty bath wipes...like the ones used for a baby, but these are made for cats they have nothing toxic in them.

We adopted a stray male cat back in November...he also happens to be white...he was and is grooming himself...but when we had him neutered the poor little guy peed all over himself while he was still out...I ask my Vet and he told me to get the kitty wipes and they worked like a charm.

Good luck, I hope kitty is in good health and he's just not grooming because of his age!

Answer 4

So, taking your mom's common sense, if she couldn't discover someone who may guard then you definately she may positioned you down. correct? Your mom's reasoning would not make any experience. She acts like killing the cat is doing the cat a favour. i don't know what is going on at your position, in spite of the undeniable fact that the reason the cat is likely behaving this manner is because of how that's being dealt with. Or no longer being dealt with. likely she is being overlooked and/or her muddle field isn't being kept clean, so she is going elsewhere. Your mom is cruel. EDIT: Then basically make the cat an outdoors cat. a minimum of for awhile. save it outdoors for the most section every time plausible, making particular to target to save it corporation once you may, too. this can a minimum of provide it a chance to get used to being with you without feeling boxed in, and gives you it a chance at existence.you may slowly introduce it to being interior more beneficial oftentimes until eventually it receives used to it.

Answer 5

I used to have a white cat and she would clean herself we got to the point where we were fighting with her to bathe her. In the end we took her to the vets and he said that the cat had either had a shock while cleaning herself or that she couldnt get in the positions to clean herself. So in the end we had to pay for her to get groomed xx

Answer 6

I started using a waterless, foam pet cleanser on my 15-year old cat. He's also psycho, so not gonna traumatize him with a real bath nor get myself torn to shreds. You also need to get him to the vet, it could be a simple vitamen deficiency that can be easily corrected or maybe simply changing his food to a senior variety. Older cats also are more suseptible to certain cat diseases, hypothyroidism and diabetes for example, both treatable.

Answer 7

Maybe you should take your baby to the vet for a check up. If he has stopped grooming himself, there might be a physical reason. The vet can give you some advice on how to care for him.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

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Answer 10

Older cats sometimes have trouble grooming themselves properly, e.g. because of arthritis which doesn't allow them to bend as much as they used to. And long-haired cats (if yours is) often can't take care of their own fur anymore once it starts matting.

Take him to the vet to have him checked out. They might also be able to take care of his fur for you, maybe under light sedation. If you vet doesn't do that, a pet groomer will take care of it for you.

Good luck! :)