Dirty Little Biscuit

[Mominis]

Last week at the show, we found a kitten we have named Biscuit. Biscuit was teeny-tiny, filthy, and skinny. We made attempts to find his mother because it looked to us as though he was too young t be off of her, but no luck. So we brought little Biscuit home. He is eating and drinking water just fine, though it was touch and go for a couple of days. He's getting IAMS for kittens and wet food, just about a TBSP three times a day. He was pukey and diarrhea-ey the first couple of days, but now he's good. He is using the potty pan, hubby had to make Biscuit a stepladder to get into it, but it is working fine.

The trouble with Biscuit is that he has to be the filthiest kitten I've ever seen in my life. He doesn't seem to understand how to groom himself. I've taken a warm, damp cloth to try and clean him up some, but whatever he got into on the showgrounds is still stuck to his coat on the top of his head and on his sides a little. He also has a filthy nose and cheeks almost all of the time. My older cat has quit hissing at Biscuit, but he won't help groom him. I don't want to give little Biscuit a bath, I just think it will be too traumatic for him. The little guy has been through enough.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get Biscuit grooming himself? Is it something that he will learn from watching my older cat and eventually do himself, or am I stuck with a kitty slob forever? Also, any advice on how to get him clean? The damp towel just isn't cutting it and the poor little guy is just gross. Thanks.

 

[Sue_C.]

Strange, you little guy is...most cats are clean fanatics. I would put something on his fur, perhaps tuna juice, or sardine oil. I know it does sound gross, but he will like it enough to lick it off of himself, with any luck. If not, you will have to bath him anyways...which might not be that traumatic if you do it slowly, I have had a lot of cats that actually liked bath time.

 

[ErikaS.]

I have heard of this a few times from other folks who have rescued kittens, especially very young kittens. They ended up having to bathe their cats on a regular basis. Sue C's idea seems like a good one, otherwise I found a "waterless" foaming cat bath/cleaner at WalMart that I used on one of my cats. He didn't mind it.

 

[Mominis]

If I were to bathe him, what is the procedure for bathing a cat? I've never done it. Is there a specific type of shampoo that is safe for kitties as young as Biscuit?

I like the idea of the waterless cleaner. I wonder if it would be enough to get the goo off of Biscuit's head. It's really gross. Do you happen to have the name of the product that you mentioned, ErikaS.?

I'd like to avoid covering him with tuna oil or anything, but it's a good suggestion if nothing else works. He is really a little ragamuffin.

 

[penny]

If I were to bathe him, what is the procedure for bathing a cat? I've never done it. Is there a specific type of shampoo that is safe for kitties as young as Biscuit?

I like the idea of the waterless cleaner. I wonder if it would be enough to get the goo off of Biscuit's head. It's really gross. Do you happen to have the name of the product that you mentioned, ErikaS.?

I'd like to avoid covering him with tuna oil or anything, but it's a good suggestion if nothing else works. He is really a little ragamuffin.

Maybe if you put the tuna iol on him your other cat will lick it?

Penny

 

[Barbie]

I would put him in the kitchen sink and bathe him. Dawn dish detergent is really good, followed by a people shampoo. If whatever is stuck to him is greasy, you might want to put some Goop or GoJo hand cleaner on him first. Rinse real good and then use the dawn or whatever shampoo. I used to show Persians and this was what I'd do.

Good luck!!!

 

[candycar]

You could try baby wipes, add extra water to them. They seem to take off alot of stuff. Follow up with warm damp washcloth.

He should start to clean himself when he gets a little older. I got a very young one too and she doesn't have any problem now with keeping clean.

If you do decide to bath him just do it in the kitchen sink. Lay a bunch of towels around! Fill one side about 1/2 full with warm, not hot water and some baby shampoo or cat champoo. Fill the other side 1/2 full of plain water and use that to help rinse. Use your sprayer a dipping cup or the faucet on low to rinse. Just remember to rinse very well. That's how I wash my chicken!

In my experience giving cats baths, they usually settle down after the first shock. Just hold him well at first dip and try not to get it in his ears and nose.

Good luck!

 

[Minimor]

I'm sure that Biscuit will start bathing himself once he is a bit older. Young kittens don't clean themselves, that is mama cat's job!

Whatever is on Biscuit's head and back--could it perhaps be motor oil, or some other fluid out of a vehicle--stray/lost cats often seem to have oil or antifreeze or brake fluid or whatever on them, likely because they've often spent some time hiding out under parked cars. I'd buy some cat shampoo or use Dawn if that is safe for cats--and apparently it is--and at least try to clean off the gooey stuff, whatever it is. Don't wait for the kitten to try and clean it off himself--and I wouldn't try to encourage him or the other cat to lick it off by adding tuna juice on top of it!--because whatever it is may be toxic to cats. It it's oily or greasy the dawn should take it off quite well. I once had a kitten get into some tar--she had it on her head & back--and I ended up clipping off the hair to get rid of the tar. She was a short haired cat so there wasn't a lot to clip off, but it worked, and her funky hairdo soon grew back in!

 

[Matt73]

That's great advice from Minimor. Also, try offering him some kitten formula; great for his tummy, especially if he would still be nursing. Poor little guy. I would deworm him, too. We use Revolution (selamectin) on kittens when they're 6 weeks old; treats and prevents roundworms, hookworms, fleas, ear mites, and ticks. But if he's really young, you may want to use something else orally (ask your vet). Probably a good idea to wait a bit anyway if he's sickly.

 

[Katiean]

I bought a persian that was discouraged from cleaning herself with the stuff they kept on her coat. It has taken her 10 years to figure out how to clean herself. I do not think I would give this little guy a bath for a couple more weeks with the condition it sounds like he is in. I use tearless baby shampoo on my cats when it is very nessicery to give a bath. I also have a shower in my tub that can also be hand held. I would wet this guys head and soap it up. Then do the rest of him. I would not stand him in water. I would use the hand heald shower head so you can get all of the soap off of him.

 

[Mominis]

This is just great information to have! Thanks! I'll ask the vet about the wormer and I'll try the baby wipe thing. I hadn't thought about whatever the gunk is on Biscuit getting my adult cat sick...good thing to point out. If the baby wipes don't work, I'll get some Dawn and give him a very gentle shampooing. I don't think I can do his cheeks and nose without it being uncomfortable for him, so I guess baby wipes are going to have to do for those areas.

This may sound a little nutty, but should I worm my adult cat again also, since they share a kitty box? I don't know if they get worms in the same fashion as horses, but it would seem to me that it may be that way.

 

[ErikaS.]

Here's the name of the stuff I found: OUT!Natural No Rinse Cat& Kitten Shampoo. Directions are to brush the kitty, dispense foam into your hand and work into a lather, massage into fur from tail to head, towel dry.

 

[Matt73]

This is just great information to have! Thanks! I'll ask the vet about the wormer and I'll try the baby wipe thing. I hadn't thought about whatever the gunk is on Biscuit getting my adult cat sick...good thing to point out. If the baby wipes don't work, I'll get some Dawn and give him a very gentle shampooing. I don't think I can do his cheeks and nose without it being uncomfortable for him, so I guess baby wipes are going to have to do for those areas.

This may sound a little nutty, but should I worm my adult cat again also, since they share a kitty box? I don't know if they get worms in the same fashion as horses, but it would seem to me that it may be that way.

Definitely worm your adult. Do you have Revolution? Or Advantage Multi (plain Advantage only gets fleas)? Great products! If you can get those in the U.S. give your adult that now...

 

[~Lisa~]

If you get him used to bathing now as a kitten he will not hate it as an adult well he might but he will tolerate it anyway. I would use baby shampoo I use it on all my household pets it rinses pretty easy and if gentle enough for a baby then should be more then gentle enough for a cat or dog. I also do not have to worry about shampoo burning eyes.

Good luck with him he may just need to get a bit older if he is really young

 

[Dontworrybeappy]

I fostered a litter of kittens starting about 10 days old - they got a bath in Dawn first thing to get rid of the fleas trying to suck the life out of them.... I've still got 3 of them here at 11 or 12 weeks old, waiting for them all to get to 2 pounds (one just has an ounce or two to go) so the shelter can neuter them. I'm adopting 2 of them, although everyone is trying to talk me into taking the 3rd as well! <grin>

This house can only hold so many before we become the crazy cat people!