Cats and motor oil

Vegetable oil. We had colourpoint Persians and one of them fell into an oil dump. I tied baby shampoo & washing up liquid but ended up taking her to the vet because she was covered head to toe and it's dangerous for them to ingest.

They bathed her in vegetable oil which got out the worst, but it was summer 1976 and for weeks after she stunk like a fish and chip shop whenever she lay in the sun.

Sue, I took her to the vets a few years ago, they said they`d give her a special bath. It was February, and bitter cold, when they rang to say she was ready, we found her soaking wet, I thought they`d have dried her first. Because they had to put her to sleep whilst they bathed her, altogether the bath cost £53! On the way out, I asked what we could do in future, as we couldn`t be paying that sort of money on a regular basis, she said "Oh, we use Swarfega!" Why couldn`t she have told me that in the first place? Anyway, thank you for your suggestion, I`ll put vegetable oil on my Tesco list this week.
Summer 1976 was long and hot, wasn`t it, just like we`re having now.

Yes, it was hot and nowhere had AC back then! I recall wandering round the refrigerated areas in M&S with my baby in his pram trying to cool down.

I guess swarfega is a solvent, while I think veg oil dilutes the engine oil. It's quite a job to remove, I do remember that!

A good rinsing in lukewarm water? Or is more than that required?

Mia didn`t seem quite herself today, so have been to the vets for advice about the oil. He combed her through with a fine toothed comb, after checking that the oil hadn`t gone through to her skin, then gave her a quick check over and recommended washing up liquid or talcum powder to remove the oil. That cost me the princely sum of £19, plus £5 each way for taxis, an expensive afternoon.

Oh dear! I hope she's perked up now.

She seems OK now, thank you. She`s gone outside for the first time today, just hope she doesn`t get any extra oil helpings!

I once got paraffin and soot caused from it off a ginger kitten using cold water and a floor cloth wrung out hard.

It wasn't easy, but preferable to trying to bath her. I was moving flats and some bright lad opened the tiled stove that had had a paraffin burner installed and before you could say "Jack Robinson" the kitten was inside this nice dark hole! There was no hot water on tap, as the water heater turned out to be on the blink!

Hope Mia comes home well and oil-free!

When I saw this thread the other day I thought, why not suggest Fairy liquid, (other makes are available) as I am sure that works. That’s what they use on seabirds caught in oil slicks and I am sure my Mum used it on our cat George when she sat under a moped getting covered in oil. Would never have thought of vegetable oil, more oil? Would have been wary of using Swarfega too. Should have mentioned it. Hope Mia is all oil free now callgirl.

Our white cat persists in doing this as well, I've given up trying to get it all off as he does it more than once in a day.

Alima, I would have thought that about Swarfega as well, but it was a vet who said they used it. Today I`ve tried the talcum powder, but it`s had no results apart from making her smell lovely, so tomorrow it`s washing up liquid. It would be much easier with someone to help hold her whilst I do these things, but there`s only me here to do it.

PS Sodapop, I `d try to ignore it as well, but at the moment she looks more like a flipping Dalmatian than a white cat, lol!

Alima the vegetable oil is used to dilute and loosen the engine oil. Vegetable oil is (obviously!) edible while engine oil can be toxic to cats if they lick it.

My white/tabby patch boy is a mucky little devil and is often covered in what could be oil or dirt from under the car - there's no way he'd let me bath him though or even brush his coat. I've only bathed a cat once years ago when she came back from a cattery covered in fleas. I put her in a pillowcase (up to her neck) to avoid the claws which worked. Never had one since that would have allowed such an indignity

My current silver tabby who's recently been through so much now only has her 4 little bottom incisors left and her coat is very fluffy and a bit matted. I can only assume it's because she has no teeth to 'comb' it with

Willow, will she allow you to help by combing the matted fur? If so, do remember how much having tangles combed out of our hair hurt when we were children, and try not to tug her fur.

My old cat did allow a little help with the most obstinate tangles. Present cat tells me when he needs to be brushed by getting into bed beside me in the morning and combing my hair with his front claws. He worked that one out as a kitten, sitting watching me combing my hair in the mornings!

I shall remember your pillowcase as bathrobe, if we are inundated with fleas later this year. I have taken a bath towel to the vet's on more than one occasion, when I suspected he would be clawed to bits, trying to attend to gumboils and the like. Said vet has obviously never read any James Herriot, so he was suitable impressed when I wrapped a large indignant cat with a gumboil up in a bath towel.

in 1989 when the valdez oil spill happened we were in turmoil trying to find a way to clean the seabirds,otters etc.someone came up with a dish washing liquid that was known for its ability to break up grease on dishes.called dawn.it was and still is a lifesaver.we used it most recently on the victims of the bp gulf spill.
the company supplies it for free.
works great on cats and kittens too.had a couple kittens get into an automotive yard and fell into a vat of used motor oil.used veg oil to dilute it then the dish soap .
.i believe fairy is the sister to dawn.same company.p&g
Note-do not use too many days in a row as it will
dry out cats skin.

have seen mayo used to help break it up too.

Vanish for whites and a good rinse?

vanish no
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