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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.

Can I wash her little paws...? And what is safe?

77 replies

BulletFox · 16/12/2017 17:49

We've just made the transition from her being an outdoor cat to indoor.

She's coping really well. But I did wonder about attempting to wash her little paws every day though I'm not sure what would be a safe washing agent and how she'd react.

Could be kitty claws at the ready!

OP posts:
Marcine · 16/12/2017 17:50

Why do you need to?

Wallywobbles · 16/12/2017 17:50

Does she not wash her own feet? I must be missing something. Why does she need her feet washing?

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2017 17:50

Why do you need to wash her paws?

FuckyNellYaBastad · 16/12/2017 17:51
Confused
ChaChaChaCh4nges · 16/12/2017 17:51

Confused Why would you do that?

dementedpixie · 16/12/2017 17:52

Why on earth do you need to wash her paws? They clean them by themselves. If you really needed to then a damp cloth would suffice

troodiedoo · 16/12/2017 17:52

Buy her some little wellies.

PersianCatLady · 16/12/2017 17:52

I am confused, why would an indoor cat need their paws washed but not an outdoor cat?????

girlandboy · 16/12/2017 17:52

Not something I'd do personally. The most I've done is get a damp cloth to wipe a big blob of mud of her paw to save her licking it off!

I don't think many people wash their cats paws on a daily basis.

ChaChaChaCh4nges · 16/12/2017 17:53

Are you the somewhat vulnerable poster who has just moved and relied on stranger neighbours while your electric was off? Has a gun/ammunition stolen and had started using the shower cubicle for cat litter, and drinking very heavily?

ragged · 16/12/2017 17:53

I guess OP doesn't wear her outdoor shoes indoors.

ChaChaChaCh4nges · 16/12/2017 17:55

Sorry, I should add - the reason I ask is that the poster on that thread was really struggling with decisions and self-care. If it was you, please don’t start messing around with your cat.

BulletFox · 16/12/2017 17:59

I didn't think it was that daft a question!

Ok, because she's more restricted now, and has to use a litter tray I wondered if it would be best to give her a mild clean each day.

Maybe it's a silly idea but I just thought about it earlier. Of course she might go catbatshit crazy if I ever attempted it and claw me to death.

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 16/12/2017 18:02

She will clean herself much more efficiently than any human could clean her Smile.

dementedpixie · 16/12/2017 18:04

No she doesn't need a mild clean every day. They clean themselves. Why is she now indoor only ?

BulletFox · 16/12/2017 18:04

Oh alright. Maybe it was a thick idea.

OP posts:
BulletFox · 16/12/2017 18:06

Oh we've just moved to a flat, which she's not used to, and doesn't have outside access for the first time in her life.

There's a stone courtyard I could let her out into but I can't take the risk of little poos!

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 16/12/2017 18:06

It's not a thick idea, OP - if you've not had experience of an indoor cat, you can't be expected to know everything about looking after one.

StripySocksAndDocs · 16/12/2017 18:07

Totally unnecessary.

Only time you'd wash a cat is if there's something on they they should lick. Like oil. Even then it's not the easiest of jobs.

Altwoo · 16/12/2017 18:07

Get yourself a cat guide - sound alike it might help with some basic principles. I’d also query making an outdoor cat indoors-only - what are your reasons for this?

StripySocksAndDocs · 16/12/2017 18:08

Shouldn't lick. Not should!!

Altwoo · 16/12/2017 18:08

Just seen update - keep the litter tray, but let her out (once she’s had her bedding in period). I cannot tell you how awful it would be for her to be kept in after having had that freedom. Imagine being housebound for the rest of your life!

ScreamingValenta · 16/12/2017 18:09

Re. the courtyard - cat poos are usually quite firm and don't stain, so it would be easy to pick them up with a poo bag and throw them away.

PersianCatLady · 16/12/2017 18:10

An indoor cat is even more lesd likely to need their paws cleaning than an outdoor cat as they are not going to walk in oil or mud.

BulletFox · 16/12/2017 18:13

Altwoo she's quite bizarre, I never thought she was a people cat but during the move she adamantly refused to get into the cat carrier and curled up on my lap during transit.

The removal people said they'd never seen anything like it.

I'll figure out ways to keep her happy being indoors.

OP posts: