Cleaning a cat

[AuldAlliance]

Our cat went missing last night and we found her late this evening. She has clearly been in a barn or garage, as she stinks of tractor fuel and oil. We've washed her, but her fur is still matted and smelly.
Is there anything we can do other than keep washing her with warm water and soap?

I’ve always thought it quite cruel to shave cats but in this instance, to save her ingesting anything toxic when cleaning herself, might that be the best option?

If you’ve done all this already I mean. I’m glad you got her back.

“Oil and grease
The best solution for cleaning oil or grease from cat fur is a mild washing up liquid. Lather the soap into the affected area (undiluted) and then rinse your cat in a tub of warm water until the suds have all disappeared.”

Must admit I'd be tempted to shave as well. Just incase she has something toxic when ingested.

Thanks for your replies.
I've only tried soap (savon de Marseille) and water, rubbed in and rinsed off.
Might go for the shaving option tomorrow. Gulp. She has long, thick fur.

LadyFeliciaMontague: we are very, very glad we found her, too. It was a stroke of luck after hours of searching: if a friend hadn't spotted her, she might have spent another night outside.

Is it possible to try shampoo? It must be awful to do this but maybe shampoo might be more effective at removing the oil?

Washing up liquid will remove oil or grease better than soap. I'd try that before shaving her.

I'd seek the advice of a vet.

www.wikihow.com/Get-Motor-Oil-Off-a-Cat

I've washed her again with liquid soap (savon de Marseille once more) and she barely smells now and her fur isn't matted. I'm keeping an eye on her and will call the vet if anything seems amiss.

Thanks!

If you go for shampoo make sure it's a pet friendly one. Human shampoo isn't great for their skin or fur. Hope you get her sorted, thank goodness you found her.

So far, I've only used the simplest olive-oil based liquid soap, nothing like shampoo. She seems OK and is very happy to be back home (and we are very relieved - she can't miaow, so I was worried we'd never find her). We're watching her closely and I've been trying to phone the vet for advice, but the line is always engaged. I'm in France and in the new post-lockdown context everyone is probably trying to get appointments.
Thanks for your help...

Swarfega works to remove the oil quickly (assuming it is available in France?) , then rinse off well. Wear thick gloves!

In the 70s, we rescued a cat that had been soaked in petrol and partially burned. The vet advised cutting off the worst as less traumatic than a full bath, then wiping with mild soapy rags.
Charlie lived to be an old man who died peacefully in his sleep under the garden hedge in the summer.

I'd say swarfega for the cat and a Kevlar vest and gauntlets for yourself. Believe me, I've tried swarfega-ing a cat. It wasn't pretty.
We ended up taking her to the vets.

@Bargebill19 It sounds very unusual for an vet to pass away peacefully in his sleep under a garden hedge. I dare say he'd been sampling the horse tranquilizer a bit too much.

I'm already sporting some scratches from yesterday's efforts and from the walk home when she freaked out because a car went past.
Never seen Swarfega here, will see if they have it. She has no visible patches of anything on her, and I wonder if she was lying on something soaked in oil/petrol, rather than in direct contact.

at Charlie the Vet in the hedgerow.

Washing up liquid is the best thing. She will probably kick off having the shaver on her. Maybe you could try doing it without immersing her in water as such. Massage the liquid in making her think your stroking and then get a well soaked cloth to gradually get it out. Don't use too much or perhaps dilute a bit like 50/50, or you won't be able to get soap out. I had to put my cat in the bath once because of a paint mishap, but it was only on his underside, and he was as good as gold, a very laid back character. At vets though they could sedate her to shave.

😂😂😂. Charlie the cat!!!!!

Washing up liquid has worked a treat.
Thanks for all your advice (and for the Charlie chuckle...).

Yes, washing-up liquid does work well, it was the tumble dryer that buggered up the procedure at our house.

Try wahl no rinse pet shampoo. Just massage in and towel dry

Try dog shampoo with nice smell.