The Lesson of Cat "Cleaning"

 I hope Gracie-cat forgives me. I hope that I forgive me! 

Last week our kitty cozied up a little too close to the wood pile for too long (next to our warm woodstove), and ended up with an impossible amount of tree sap stuck in unfortunate areas: the base of her tail near her poop zone and up top, caked into the paw pad and up her back right leg, and her belly fur. 

When we saw her in the mornng she was hopping about like a peg leg pirate, and trying to shake it off her back leg. I looked up how to clean this off and found many ideas suggested, from peanut butter, to Dawn, to coconut oil, olive oil and so on. Opting for olive oil, I locked her in the bathroom with me, all tools in hand, and prepared to clean her up. Pitch gone, but...new problem: the oil was still on.

Oily cat. It looked and felt much worse IRL.

She behaved so well, and of course hated every second of it. After towel drying her the best I could, she spent hours cleaning herself nonstop. As she dried, she had spread the olive oil residuals all over her coat. Ugh, she still needed washing again. The local pet care store suggested Dawn, so I rewashed my little Exxon Valdez kitty again that day. Gracie continued grooming. I could tell she was upset. Her fur looked clumply and still slightly oily. The local pet groomer couldn't take her on the spot (he is booked for months out! See? It's just like trying to get into a dr. or a vet for your pets!), but he had another solution--use his professional Goop for pets! He uses the stuff on Himalayan cats and such. He said to bring back the big jar when I was done. 

Still oily and Dawn-filmy. She's mad.

David joined me with Gracie in the bathroom and we washed her for her third go in 36 hours, but this time, she was better. The Goop pulled the oils and residual Dawn, and she smelled better, too. 

It's been four days and she is acting like herself again. And looking much more like her normal coat each day (the groomer said it could be weeks, so I'm pleased with how quickly she is getting her regular luster back). This kitty is my little happy sprite and the last thing I want is to shake her trust. I think she knew I was just trying to help! 

When I returned the Goop to the groomer, he said if she ever gets into pitch again to try using plain old butter in just the affected areas: she'll lick it away and it won't be off-putting. Good to know!

Much fluffier. On our way!