Mud on cat

[AlexandraEiffel]

This morning one of my cats appeared with mud on her. On her side and back. Some of its all dried on with clumping fur. She's not covered but it's noticeable.

Anyway, I though not a problem she'll soon clean herself. But 2 hours later and she still wandering round with it on her. She seem her normal self otherwise, been in and out, eaten, playing etc.

Is this weird?

Just wipe it off with a damp cloth?

Why haven't you just wiped it off?

Since it's dry I'd brush or comb it out. Adding water sounds like a receipe for an even muddier cat

Sometimes they take a while to realise, she'll get it off eventually but sometimes I give ours a helping hand/hint.

Thanks. I'm not stuck with what to do about it. I'm trying to figure out if my cat's behaviour is odd or if my expectations of cat behaviour are wrong. When I've had cats in the past I've never known them not clean themselves, but they've been darker colour so maybe I've not noticed. For me it rang alarm bells as not the behaviour I'd expect from a cat, and perhaps a sign of something more going on. But thought it sensible to gauge opinion from other cat owners. Hopefully that makes the question make more sense.

My previous cat would not tolerate any mud or dirt on her. My current cat around with seeds stuck to him, a muddy tail, soil between his toes. Different personalities? I keep a flea comb handy as it's very good for removing dirt from his fur.

Come to think of it, my previous cat did not care for being brushed or combed, whereas my grubby cat loves it.

I understood why you were asking, op. Just keep an eye on her and when you get a chance check for any wounds or sore/irritated patches.

She's probably just being footloose and fancy-free but does no harm to check.

Fab thanks. Maybe the range of cleanliness is greater than I thought! We've only had them about 3 months (not kittens though) so are still figuring out their quirks.

My current cat's favourite thing is dirt baths! Finds a thorough dirty patch of ground and rolls around in it for ages. Gets filthy but loves it lol

It could be she's had a fight, on occasion that my cat has come back in this state she's usually had a bite under there somewhere.
It's common for them to roll about during a fight or while trying to escape.
Also would you want to lick of lumps of mud with your tongue?
I'd consider giving her a wash in the kitchen sink. Its easier at waist height.

Are you sure it’s mud? If she’s been rolling on a new laid path or something, could be cement which she won’t be able to lick off.

Although cats often like a dust bath, I usually find that actual mud is the result of a mishap. A fight, a fall, getting stuck somewhere awkward, or sometimes being clipped by a car.

Bear in mind that cats don't show pain very well and often purr to soothe themselves.