OM!
I have an elderly, incontinent cat who only wets her bed. I can't give her a bath every day. She only needs her rear end and sometimes side cleaned. Are there any homemade concoctions I can use?
Thank you.
Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
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Phoebe's human
- Posts: 248
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:09 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
Warm water (not hot) works well. You could use a sponge or a cloth soaked in the warm water but not dripping wet. Then towel her off since she won't appreciate getting wet.
No soap is needed though there are cat shampoos on the market.
You could try a spray bottle with warm water in it too, but it might scare her too much. Again, you'll want to towel her off afterwards.
No soap is needed though there are cat shampoos on the market.
You could try a spray bottle with warm water in it too, but it might scare her too much. Again, you'll want to towel her off afterwards.
Re: Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
Have you had her to the vet recently to make sure there is not other physical reason she is wetting herself? Is she overweight?
Re: Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
How old exactly is she? I agree, incontinence shouldn't go unaddressed by your vet, see the vet right away and get a full health checkup and blood profile done for her.
..........Traci
Re: Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
OM!
Thanks everyone. In October my cat, E.T., will be 18. Last November she was diagnosed with diabetes and gets two shots of insulin every day. I bring her in frequently to see how her blood sugar is doing. She recently had a bladder infection which, according to the veterninarian, is something that diabetic cats tend to get. E.T.'s vet recommended either bathing her or using a special spray that doesn't need water: you wipe off excess urine, spray, then dry. But that's expensive. My main concern is germs. When she is dry she loves being combed.
E.T. sometimes gets in the litter box to poop. Otherwise the only time she uses the litter box to uriniate is when I put her in and she has to go. She has two beds. She only wets her favorite bed when she is in a deep sleep. But if she wakes up in time she will go to her second bed to urinate. She does have some major arthiritis in her spine.
Thanks again, everyone!
Thanks everyone. In October my cat, E.T., will be 18. Last November she was diagnosed with diabetes and gets two shots of insulin every day. I bring her in frequently to see how her blood sugar is doing. She recently had a bladder infection which, according to the veterninarian, is something that diabetic cats tend to get. E.T.'s vet recommended either bathing her or using a special spray that doesn't need water: you wipe off excess urine, spray, then dry. But that's expensive. My main concern is germs. When she is dry she loves being combed.
E.T. sometimes gets in the litter box to poop. Otherwise the only time she uses the litter box to uriniate is when I put her in and she has to go. She has two beds. She only wets her favorite bed when she is in a deep sleep. But if she wakes up in time she will go to her second bed to urinate. She does have some major arthiritis in her spine.
Thanks again, everyone!
Diabetic cats are more predisposed to urinary tract infections, but if they are being properly regulated with insulin, and there is no excess/frequent water-drinking, the tendency for UTI's are lower. If there is high glucose in her urine, her insulin might not be regulated properly. Are her blood glucose levels always normal, and have you ever had a fructosamine level done? This is a test that measures a median range for glucose control over the last two or three months, it is wise to get this done about every 6 months providing she is regulated properly, otherwise, every two-three months.
Is she holding her urine because she can't make it to the litterbox, or the litterbox is too high for her due pain from arthritis? Perhaps add another litterbox with smaller sides, closer to the area she lounges in most, like a large rubbermaid box or tote you can cut out in front for her to step in the box.
Also ask your vet about Cosequin for Cats, it's a neutraceutical that might help her arthritis...you have to expect up to 6-8 weeks to note any improvement if it works, but if it does, it would be worth it. Be sure and ask your vet first so he can determine if it is ok to give a diabetic cat (I believe it is fine to do so but ask your vet first).
You can try "pet wipes", they are like wet-wipes for humans but for pets. Only thing is, you want to read the ingredients and stay away from any that contain aloe or any citrus or "natural" ingredients since these are often toxic to cats. Or, a safer approach, you can ask your vet for a small vial of Novalsan (liquid) to dilute with warm water....Novalsan is a surgical scrub we use for pets that is gentle on skin but is also a good cleanser for fur (it's concentrated, so must mix with water to dilute). Your vet might even give you a small bottle for free if you ask.
Is she holding her urine because she can't make it to the litterbox, or the litterbox is too high for her due pain from arthritis? Perhaps add another litterbox with smaller sides, closer to the area she lounges in most, like a large rubbermaid box or tote you can cut out in front for her to step in the box.
Also ask your vet about Cosequin for Cats, it's a neutraceutical that might help her arthritis...you have to expect up to 6-8 weeks to note any improvement if it works, but if it does, it would be worth it. Be sure and ask your vet first so he can determine if it is ok to give a diabetic cat (I believe it is fine to do so but ask your vet first).
You can try "pet wipes", they are like wet-wipes for humans but for pets. Only thing is, you want to read the ingredients and stay away from any that contain aloe or any citrus or "natural" ingredients since these are often toxic to cats. Or, a safer approach, you can ask your vet for a small vial of Novalsan (liquid) to dilute with warm water....Novalsan is a surgical scrub we use for pets that is gentle on skin but is also a good cleanser for fur (it's concentrated, so must mix with water to dilute). Your vet might even give you a small bottle for free if you ask.
..........Traci
Re: Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
OM!
Thank you, Traci.
E.T. has had a fructosamine level done several times. For the first few months after her diagnosis it was hard to keep her sugar level somewhat normal, especially since she gets tired of one food and goes for another. But she's doing pretty well now. Several times she began to lose interest in food and water, so I get a "smorgasbord" of food for her and so far her appetite has always snapped back. The vet warned me that at E.T.'s age cats often become anorexic.
E.T. has slightly improved the use of the litterbox but only in the sense that I often get her in there when she needs to use it. I got her a smaller one but it made no difference. She seems to have no difficulty getting in or out. I put a brick next to it to make it easier for her but she would step over the brick (!) so I eventually removed it. She hardly ever wets her bed in her sleep anymore. What she does do is walk over to her secondary bed and uses that as a litterbox! She is now sometimes signaling me with a funny look or even a "meow" to tell me to put her in her litterbox. Since I make no effort to persuade her to use the litterbox rather than using her secondary bed, she MAYBE just now has a preference for it (like sometimes she will develope a preference for her food to be placed elsewhere). I have no problem with it, and cleaning her up is much less a problem now because she urinates standing most of the time now: before she often did it asleep and got herself all wet.
I know some people might think I should scold her a bit when she wets her bed but I am extremely opposed to that especially because of her age. I once worked in a nursing home and we never scolded them! Once in a while E.T. is slightly disoriented when she wakes from a long, deep sleep. So I regard her behavior as what some cats simply go through when they get old. She is a happy kitty cat who gets lots of love and attention and gets cozy and playful when there is a nice breeze from an open window. And she even gets playful! She is having a happy, golden retirement!
Thank you, Traci.
E.T. has had a fructosamine level done several times. For the first few months after her diagnosis it was hard to keep her sugar level somewhat normal, especially since she gets tired of one food and goes for another. But she's doing pretty well now. Several times she began to lose interest in food and water, so I get a "smorgasbord" of food for her and so far her appetite has always snapped back. The vet warned me that at E.T.'s age cats often become anorexic.
E.T. has slightly improved the use of the litterbox but only in the sense that I often get her in there when she needs to use it. I got her a smaller one but it made no difference. She seems to have no difficulty getting in or out. I put a brick next to it to make it easier for her but she would step over the brick (!) so I eventually removed it. She hardly ever wets her bed in her sleep anymore. What she does do is walk over to her secondary bed and uses that as a litterbox! She is now sometimes signaling me with a funny look or even a "meow" to tell me to put her in her litterbox. Since I make no effort to persuade her to use the litterbox rather than using her secondary bed, she MAYBE just now has a preference for it (like sometimes she will develope a preference for her food to be placed elsewhere). I have no problem with it, and cleaning her up is much less a problem now because she urinates standing most of the time now: before she often did it asleep and got herself all wet.
I know some people might think I should scold her a bit when she wets her bed but I am extremely opposed to that especially because of her age. I once worked in a nursing home and we never scolded them! Once in a while E.T. is slightly disoriented when she wakes from a long, deep sleep. So I regard her behavior as what some cats simply go through when they get old. She is a happy kitty cat who gets lots of love and attention and gets cozy and playful when there is a nice breeze from an open window. And she even gets playful! She is having a happy, golden retirement!
Re: Ways To Clean Urine Off Cat?
Again, I would suggest placing the litterbox closer to her sleeping area, but not so close it offends her. You might also try just using paper towels folded over in the box as opposed to cat litter, she may be developing an aversion to cat litter for some reason.
I assume the vet puts her on a short course of antibiotics when she has urinary tract infections? If not, those infections can get really nasty and interfere with her insulin regulation!
As for the food, try to have Hill's M/D canned and Purina veterinary D/M canned on hand, these are usually palatable for most diabetic cats.
No, we would never suggest scolding, and as a matter of fact, we try hard to help owners to avoid scolding at all costs, since it is never the solution and only makes kitty fearful of his/her owner!
Also, again, did you ask your vet about Cosequin for Cats, for the arthritis?
I assume the vet puts her on a short course of antibiotics when she has urinary tract infections? If not, those infections can get really nasty and interfere with her insulin regulation!
As for the food, try to have Hill's M/D canned and Purina veterinary D/M canned on hand, these are usually palatable for most diabetic cats.
No, we would never suggest scolding, and as a matter of fact, we try hard to help owners to avoid scolding at all costs, since it is never the solution and only makes kitty fearful of his/her owner!
Also, again, did you ask your vet about Cosequin for Cats, for the arthritis?
..........Traci