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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Help - my cat has mashed up his ear with chewing gum

25 replies

Devora · 07/03/2016 08:08

Very forlorn cat this morning - he has got a wodge of chewing gum stuck to his ear, and the ear has got bent inside out and stuck into place. The gum has hardened and I can't get it off. My normal approach to gum - hack at it with a knife - doesn't seem appropriate in this case and I am terrified of tearing his ear.

Any advice? Is this a trip to the vet?

OP posts:

Katymac · 07/03/2016 08:12

Poor pussy - I don't think freezing the ear would help much either

I'd be inclined to go to the vet

AtiaoftheJulii · 07/03/2016 08:12

Olive oil (any oil I guess, but olive oil won't hurt his ear - you can even buy 'medical' grade olive oil at the chemists for putting in ears) - rub it on, the oil stops the gum being sticky. It will take a little while, but should all come off.

AtiaoftheJulii · 07/03/2016 08:12

(Works on hair and clothes too!)

cozietoesie · 07/03/2016 08:40

I'd be inclined to try the vet also. I reckon the oil might work but whatever the solution, it might be better if it's likely to be lengthy to do it while he's out for the count - or a least sedated and away with the fairies. ( And have him checked over while he's there. )

How on earth did he manage it?

Original poster

Devora · 07/03/2016 08:52

Thank you all. It is very mashed, his ear looks like origami - I'm thinking it probably will have to be the vet. An expense I could live without, but the more I look at it the less inclined I am to have a go. Anywhere else on the body I would, but the ear looks so fragile.

cozietosie - no idea how it happened. He does roam far and wide at night. I've never been a great fan of chewing gum, and here's another reason to hate the stuff.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 07/03/2016 08:54

It's just that it's his ear. His paw I could understand more easily - but his ear? Lawksamussy.

Original poster

Devora · 07/03/2016 09:03

I think he must have rubbed his head on the underside of a bench or something. Then struggled to get it off; it's very matted. Poor cat - he does love going out even though he's scared of his own shadow and gets horribly bullied by the other cats. It's 9am so I'll try to ring the vet now.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 07/03/2016 09:04

Good luck to him. Poor lad.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/03/2016 09:21

I wonder if someone put it in his ear. I think the vets your best bet.

timtam23 · 07/03/2016 10:37

I would say vet too, the olive oil is a good idea but he's unlikely to sit still for long enough for you to remove all the gum. Poor boy!

Ratbagcatbag · 07/03/2016 10:47

Oh no. Poor kitty. I agree that in this case the vets will be the least traumatic I would think.

roundandroundthehouses · 07/03/2016 10:51

Oh, the poor fella. I'd ring the vet for advice first, but reckon he'll definitely need a professional.

cozietoesie · 07/03/2016 10:57

I don't even like to guess about the stories the vets among us could tell of 'Things I've had to remove from cats/other animals.'

pilates · 07/03/2016 13:24

I would try olive oil (it works very well with chewing gum in the hair).

Failing that, a trip to the vet.

Original poster

Devora · 08/03/2016 10:30

Hi all, well we did go to the vet and all is good (though cat has a bald ear). Actually, she got it off fairly easily - I suspect I could have done the same if I hadn't been so terrified about tearing his skin - plus she had extra dose of confidence and long fingernails! Cat was very good and purred anxiously throughout (in a kind of Stockholm Syndrome if-I-show-how-much-I-love-you-maybe-you-won't-hurt-me kind of way). He's now curled up next to me, fast asleep.

Woman in the waiting room said to me bracingly, "I'd get that off with WD40 and an old spoon!" I admired her spirit but vet did say she thought it was best to come in as it was such a mangled mess and the skin there is so delicate.

Thanks all for your hand-holding

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 08/03/2016 10:47

Poor bald-eared lad. I'm glad he's OK now and here's hoping there's not another time!

TeaStory · 09/03/2016 16:52

Glad he's okay, but...

A cat thread with no pictures?!

Original poster

Devora · 10/03/2016 11:27

You're quite right, TeaStory, I don't know what I was thinking of.

OP posts:

Dumbledoresgirl · 10/03/2016 11:32

Awww, he is GORGEOUS.

Sorry, I've only just seen this thread and would have had no helpful comment to make at the time, but I love cats and that is one lovely cat. I'm glad he is all better now (apart from the bald ear - a little hat perhaps? )

Original poster

Devora · 10/03/2016 11:41

Thanks Dumbledoresgirl - I'm swelling with pride! He IS lovely; absolutely enormous, timid and not over-bright, but such a sweet nature.

OP posts:

fuzzywuzzy · 10/03/2016 11:49

peanutbutter gets gum out of hair not sure if that is of any help

fuzzywuzzy · 10/03/2016 11:50

ah just finished reading thread glad he is home and well and de-gummed

TeaStory · 10/03/2016 20:06

Awwww, he's beautiful. You're forgiven

roundandroundthehouses · 10/03/2016 20:09

Ahh, I checked back in hoping for a picture of the magnificent chap, and there he is. Glad the ear is fine :)

Original poster

Devora · 11/03/2016 00:00

What a nice bunch of MNetters you are

OP posts:

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