My cat is completely covered in ash!

[mrsconfuseddotcom]

My cat came in a little while ago covered from head to tail in ash. He was white but is more a grey-ish colour as it's really quite ground into his fur.

I've wiped him over with a damp cloth which has helped a little bit. He's sleeping now but seems very depressed about it. He's a very clean cat.

Have always had cats and never seen this before! Anyone have any suggestions?

TIA

I think bathing is your only option here.

WTF did he do to get covered in ash?

I would guess he had an accident and fell into a pile of stuff - or into an open dustbin or something. That could account for part of his depression. Getting a fright as well as being dirty.

Personally, I'd go for bathing although it's a frightening prospect - for you as well as him. (Done it only once myself and I still carry the mental and physical scars.) It's just that ash is pretty nasty stuff and you really want to get as much out of his coat as you can before he attempts to lick it.

Good luck.

I have a vague memory of ash being used in soap making in the olden days, in place of where we would use caustic soda now, so it must have some sodium hydroxide in it?

Or am I talking bobbins?

Do you live near a volcano?

Start packing NOW!

Uhmmm - wood ash was used, I think - they used to put water through it to get lye. Gawd knows what kind the OP's cat has got themselves covered with though. I just would get it out as fast as possible.

LOL at the living near a volcano!

If you don't like the thought of bathing him, maybe a good combing with with a fine toothed flea comb would get the worst of it out.

Cats quite regularly rub themselves in dust/dirt, something to do with their coats I believe.

Perhaps he came across the cold remains of a bonfire and did that?

My white cat is never pure white for long.

My guess is remains of a bonfire, either because it was still faintly warm. Next doors cats love sleeping under my car just the right period after the school run.

Or their were birds having a dust bath and he jumped in for a snack.

Thanks everyone.

I gave him a wipe down with a wet flannel then combed him last night. His depression has lifted although he looks like someone who has had a bag of flour tipped over them in reverse.

He's very clean so hopefully he won't look like this for too long.

Still haven't worked out what he did though!

I would reckon it as a 'hot pursuit' mishap of some kind. Glad he's coming through it.

Thanks cozie

I had another go at him with an ecloth a while ago. He looks like a hobo!