How Do You Treat Your Cat If It Gets Skunk Spray? Skunks are native to both North and South America and are linked to animals like badgers and otters. Many closely related animals have smell glands that can produce their own distinct, strong, musky odors, but only skunks have the capacity to aggressively spray them to a distance of fifteen feet.
Sadly, cat owners may learn about the discomfort or inconvenience caused by a skunk spray incident. Some people might be surprised to learn that skunks occasionally spray cats as well. So I won't go into the specific advantages and disadvantages of each side in this post because the discussion over whether and how cats ought to be allowed to wander outside can get rather heated in some circles.
However, if you let your cat go outside, you need to be cautious of things like skunks that might come across it indoors.
Skunk Spray: What Is It?
The skunk's anal glands create skunk spray, which is employed for self-defense. It is a kind of yellow oil made up of many substances, including thiols. Thiols give off a "rotten egg" odor and can bind fast and powerfully to skin proteins. They can also irritate the eyes or lungs. Skunks frequently spray this substance straight at anything pursuing them when they become frightened.
Potential effects of skunk spray on your feline companion
In addition to the unpleasant odor, skunk spray can harm the pet, particularly if it ingests it or gets hit on the eye. Unfortunately, a skunk will typically spray your pet in the face. While the fragrance alone will be enough to make a pet queasy, ingesting the substance can cause vomiting and excessive drooling due to its chemical composition. Additionally, the spray has a small chance of harming red blood cells, which could result in anemia. If the substance touches your cat's open eye, it will behave like pepper spray. Redness, swelling, or brief blindness can all occur in pets. Your pet can rub its eyes excessively due to the irritation, which could harm the cornea.
Avoid bathing your cat.
Most cats dislike being near water, although those that do may become less receptive following a skunk attack. Finding a method to bathe cats without submerging them in water is frequently the ideal option. Actually, one of the most dangerous things you can give your pet after skunk spray is water. Water makes the stench of skunk spray harsher because some thiols in it deteriorate in the presence of water. A de-skunking product sold in stores is the most effective way to get rid of skunk spray. A DIY mixture made from 2 cups of 3% peroxide of hydrogen, an eighth of a cup of baking soda, and half a teaspoon of dish soap in liquid form is the next-best option if you lack a source of such a product. Apply the mixture to your cat's skunk-sprayed areas of fur. A three- to five-minute period should be given for the mixture to sit. You may clean off the mix using a moist cloth after letting it sit for a while. Using hydrogen peroxide on the cat's skin on a frequent basis is not advised because it is too abrasive. Only in dire circumstances and as a temporary substitute for superior over-the-counter remedies should this combo be used.
Avoiding a conflict
Keep your cat inside if you want to avoid a skunk spraying it. Due to their curiosity, cats and dogs often cause difficulties by misinterpreting a skunk's defensive postures or gestures. As an alternative, you can hire a humane skunk cleanup service to get rid of the animal if you know it is on or near your property. Are there skunks hiding out on your land somewhere? Do you fear that your pet will fall victim?
Can You Skunk-Proof Your Yard in Any Way?
You can take steps to make your garden less appealing to skunks. Put a tight closure on your outdoor trash can to keep skunks out of your trash. Pick up your cat's meals and water containers at night if you feed it outside. A skunk might consider the space beneath your porch or shed to be a suitable location for a den. By placing bricks all around or covering the area with chicken wire, you can limit access.
Knowing what to do in the event that the cat has less than pleasant contact with one can make the difference between someone you can chuckle about in the future and something that can seriously ruin your day.
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