Cat has come in smelling of petrol

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My 10 year old torty white cat has come in today smelling of petrol. She is also dyed a dirty brown. She seems happy enough but is the sort of cat that is always getting into scrapes!

How has she got like this? People don't usually leave petrol lying around. Is it possible that someone has squirted her with fuel??

Will this have an effect on her or should I try to wash her?? Can't imagine that this is possible tbh as she won't even set foot in the bathroom.

Get a bowl of warm water, pref with some cat shampoo in it if you have any and wipe her down with a damp cloth. It's important that you get it off her before she licks it all off, it could poison her.

I'd guess that she has been sitting under someone's car and they have a leak.

Thanks, I will do that if she will let me.

In the surgery we use washing up liquid to clean cats in similar situations as it breaks down the hydrocarbons. It is really important to get every last bit off as petrol, diesil and motor oil can cause severe gastrointestinal ulceration. You need to check really carefully between the pads of her feet. We often put these cats on gastroprotective drugs as well.

I rang the vet who advised I bring her in for a good clean and check up. Hope she doesn't do this too often! I had to leave her there, so will see what they say later.