Obese Kitty - Sensitive Subject

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tessielou

tessielou

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Hi everyone,
My kitty Tessie has a real problem in that she is so obese, she can't get "back there" to clean her private parts! The vet says that can be contributing to her chronic urinary problems. I have had her shaved back there before, but it's still pretty bad. Per my old vet, I use some Dove dish detergent on a warm rag to clean her, but she HATES it--growls, even screams if I persist for more than a couple minutes. It's not working. Does anyone have any suggestions for a product or technique I can use? Right now her anus looks a bit inflammed, although she is not constipated nor does she have diarrhea. I thought about trying those medicated pads for hemmorhoids but not sure about the ingredients--alcohol, citric acid, etc.? Help!
 
As far as hemorrhoid pads go, the only ingredient in them that is useful is the witch hazel. You can buy it in bottles from drug stores and make your own pads with cotton balls soaked in it. Now I have no idea if witch hazel is ok for use on kitties, but I can't imagine that it'd be bad. Something to google, I guess!
 
When Latte had some bad UTI's and incontinence issues she had to get shaved in the bottom, a bit on the side, and part of her legs. :sad: She was not overweight, but arthritis issues prevented her proper cleaning. When she was shaved the first time, the skin was very sore looking. The vet recommended some things (steroids, then diaper rash cream with zinc oxide). I was not thrilled about the chemicals, just in case she reached back there. I spent some time consulting at a food coop (health food store...whole foods might be an option). I ended up with a bar soap for sensitive skin, scent free, highly recommended to not leave any residue. I also bought some straight shea butter. Apparantly it is used around the world for some of the worst skin conditions. It was explained that it would also act as a protective layer from dirt and such which could irritate her skin more, since it was unprotected w/o hair. After 3 days with the delicate wash (basically patting her bottom lightly), and shea butter gently rubbed on... her bottom looked so much better. :mrgreen: Honestly, Ive used it on myself now that latte is gone. Its been the most incredible for the dry, cold winters and itchy skin!

One thing I noticed, especially when sore was WHAT I used to wipe her bottom with. I think a lot of materials are going to feel abrassive, and uncomfortable (ie/normal towel or wash cloth). I ended up using cloth infant blankets or diapers (cloth, too). I think Ive read/heard in the rumor mill that a very old, soft cotton shirt might work as well.

As for procedure...blah. Tried in the bathtub (without water), tried towel burrito. Ended up just getting her the best I could, when I could, and where I could.

I now foster a cat who is obese (trying to lose weight). She was unable to reach back there when she came to me, so they had her bottom shaved. I have not done anything except help her from time to time, with a damp cloth. Doesnt usually work out too well. I think after she losed about a pound she has a bit of an easier time cleaning, so I leave her alone.

I think the two important things I would pay attention to are the chemicals and possible ingestion, as well as what you are using to wipe (texture of cloth).

Best of luck to you two!

ETA: I did do some research and found nothing wrong if a kitty ingested shea butter. It seemed to be found in a lot of 'cat' products, as well.
 
Thanks guys. My vet said that Dove was best cleanser because it's so gentle and what they use to clean birds and other wildlife that get soaked in oil from the oil spills. She said I didn't even have to rinse it off because it creates a barrier. I would think any soap would be irritating if the area is already inflammed. Come to think of it, my old vet was wrong about a lot of things, so she's probably wrong about the Dove, too. :roll:

I will try to find some of the shea butter, some witch hazel, and maybe get some baby washcloths. The main problem is, there is some feces around the anus that I just can't seem to get off. If she would hold still long enough, I could cut it off. Maybe I'll have DH do towel burrito with tail sticking out. I thought about getting my own shaver, like the vet has. I really have to get a handle on this, because with the diabetes, it's going to be awhile before she gets the weight off, and I don't want her to keep getting these infections.

Thanks again for the suggestions, everyone. This is such a great place!
 
Sandy, they use Dawn for the wildlife cleanup, not Dove. I wouldn't put any soap on it or witch hazel......I would just use warm water and a thin coating of vaseline can take away burning sensations. If she can't reach it, the vaseline won't hurt her.
 
Hi Hope,
Oops, I meant Dawn. Ok, I'll try the vaseline tonight. I tried to clean her about an hour ago. It lasted all of 5 minutes and then I gave up. It did really look sore, though, so hopefully the vaseline will soothe the area.
Thanks!
 
I know they supposedly use dawn for wildlife cleanup, but that stuff KILLS my skin! It is incredibly irritating to me. I have to use dye and fragrance free soap (and preferable sodium lauryl sulfate-free too). Now, granted, I have incredibly sensitive skin and eczema, but all those dyes and perfumes are something I wouldn't want to use on my "delicate" parts.
 
I agree about the Dawn. It's gentle, but it's still soap! Does anyone out there use an electric shaver on their cat's backsides?
 
I use an electric shaver on all my long haired cats. mind you, they did NOT like it at first. the noise scared the bejeezus out of them and it took two of us to do it. i've been doing them now for a few years, every few months, so they don't mind it so much anymore and i can do it by myself. one of them will actually stand on the counter, tail raised, and eat his meal while i do his. LOL!!

if you're going to try it, try turning on the shaver first, away from kitty to see what the reaction will be.
and i assume you are experienced with the shavers? be careful cutting too close as you can nip kitty and make them bleed.
 
Cindy, no, I've never had one or used one. What is the best kind to get? Are they specifically for cats (small in size)? I take her back to vet next Monday--maybe I'll get her shaved again then, and then ask about using one myself. Do you get close to their "privates" when you shave your cats? I sure would not want to cut her. I can imagine how hard that would be to heal back there.
 
If you have some antibiotic ointment with pain reliever - that is ok on sore areas and has a mild numbing effect.

My allergy cat used to hate having ointment put on his scratched areas until I started using the pain reliever kind -- now he stands and lets me put it on.
 
i'm still at work so i can't tell you the name of the one i have but it's the same one i use to cut fiance's hair. shhhhhhhh, he thinks i have two different ones, and i used to but one died and i haven't replaced it. it's not like "stuff" is getting on it but it creeps him out thinking about it. LOL!!

i do believe though that you can get one for animals at the pet store now that i think about it. i think i've seen them in the dog section at petsmart actually.

and yeah i do around their privates. have to be a bit more careful in that area of course, especially with the boys & their nuggets. oh, i do 2 boys and one girl and i do her belly too so you have to be careful about getting too close to their nipples too as the same thing can happen. mind you i don't shave them bald. their hair is a couple inches long i'd say and i cut it down to maybe 1/2 inch or less.
 
:lol: :lol: :lol: Thinking about fiancee! And that also gives me an idea--maybe I could use DH's beard trimmer? Much smaller and not much noise? What do you think?
 
carolynandlatte said:
ETA: I did do some research and found nothing wrong if a kitty ingested shea butter. It seemed to be found in a lot of 'cat' products, as well.
Click to expand...
I use Shea Butter for my hands in the winter before I go to bed, I lather it on & Baby goes CrAzy for it.. licks it & I suspect would eat it out of the jar :lol:

I have not let her do it since being diagnosed as Diabetic, I am not sure if it is a Diabetic Friendly product, but it has never caused her harm when ingesting it.

I agree, Kitty Wipes are a good choice, hopefully kitty can lose some weight so she can maintain good health cat_pet_icon
 
OT: Weight loss

I know you didn't ask about this, but Dr. Lisa works alot with obese cats and she has a page that discusses the slow and safe method of helping a cat to lose weight. Here.
 
To loosen up debris before wiping them off, you might try a spray bottle with some warm water in it - while in the bathroom, so that if she sits down, it is someplace easy to clean up!
 
Re: OT: Weight loss

Venita and The Boyz said:
I know you didn't ask about this, but Dr. Lisa works alot with obese cats and she has a page that discusses the slow and safe method of helping a cat to lose weight. Here.
Click to expand...


Ya...the best thing you can do to help this permanently is to trim her down.
 
Thanks everyone,
Agreed she needs to lose weight, and I did go back and reread dr. lisa's article. As she says, though, you have to be really careful with a diabetic cat. It's quite a balancing act. I did buy the baby scale that she recommended. I'll let you all know if the vet has any other bright ideas about keeping her clean when we go in next week.
 
It shouldn't be a problem if a little vaseline is ingested. It can be an ingredient of hairball medicines, people use it on their lips.
 
I agree that the solution is for her to lose some weight. If your cat is older/elderly, it is very possible that she has some degree of arthritis and obesity compounds arthritis -- making weight loss even more of a priority and a serious quality of life issue.

tessielou said:
As she says, though, you have to be really careful with a diabetic cat. It's quite a balancing act.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what exactly you're referring to in Dr. Lisa's article ... the cat needs to keep eating, that's most important. Diabetes itself absolutely doesn't preclude a cat from actively dieting.
 
Jess, this is the part of Dr. Lisa's article that I was talking about:
"If your cat is overweight, please see my Feline Obesity page but you need to understand that it is beyond the scope of a webpage to explain how to implement a safe weight loss program at the same time that you are dealing with an unregulated or newly diagnosed diabetic cat. This can be a tricky situation since an unregulated diabetic cat is starving internally - at the cellular level - and restricting calories, in some cases, can be very dangerous."

I had hoped that replacing her HC dry stuff with the LC canned would help her lose weight, but so far, she has gained 5 oz since switching. But, I'm also giving more treats as a result of all the testing and shots she's getting.

Larry, that looks like a great clipper--thanks!
 
Maui used to have chronic diarrhea and while she could clean herself, ick.

Things to use:
warm water and soft cloths
baby shampoo - is even more gentle than dish soap
waterless shampoo for pets
vaseline or petroleum jelly to coat the area after cleaning - I'm not suggesting neosporin as others have, just in case your cat has any skin sensitivities - the neosporin could be an irritant

be careful if you use any kind of wipes, as alcohol will sting and aggravate

hope this helps
 
tessielou said:
Jess, this is the part of Dr. Lisa's article that I was talking about:
"If your cat is overweight, please see my Feline Obesity page but you need to understand that it is beyond the scope of a webpage to explain how to implement a safe weight loss program at the same time that you are dealing with an unregulated or newly diagnosed diabetic cat. This can be a tricky situation since an unregulated diabetic cat is starving internally - at the cellular level - and restricting calories, in some cases, can be very dangerous."
Click to expand...

Hi Sandy,

I have to write my articles in a very general manner. I do not know anything abut your cat's diabetic state but, as Jess pointed out, we need to get the fat off of these chubby cats.

Since you are above most diabetic cat caregivers - just by virtue of finding this board - I would think that you could start getting her to lose weight safely.

The above comments (the ones that you quoted) are for people who are not home testing and have no clue about how to handle diabetes and who are dealing with newly diagnosed cats.

Did you see the picture of Bennie's butt on my Obesity page? I used Preparation H and corn starch on him. If it looked too wet...he got corn starch but if it looked reasonably dry, he got Preparation H. It seems like I did PH in the AM and CS in the PM.

And...look at the improvement in just 4 days!! (See pictures on my Obesity page.)

I completely disagree with using soap...especially the recommendation to leave it there. First of all, if she did try to clean herself....YUCK! No cat wants to lick soap. Even if the rx to leave it there was not made...you would be hard pressed to get all of the soap off of her without rinsing it with water under the faucet.
 
Dr. Lisa, thanks so much for your post. I know Tessie needs to lose weight. I am very confused about how to go about it, since she is a newly diagnosed diabetic (11/27) and still unregulated. She has been on 100% LC canned food for 3 weeks. She is a hover kitty, the opposite of your Bennie. My vet told me to limit her to 11 oz. of Purina DM daily, but she quit eating that and I have switched her to Fancy Feast Classic, no more than 11 oz. daily. She also gets about 20-25 LC kibble treats with her tests and shots. I have read your entire website (some parts several times), and I purchased the baby scale you recommended. I weigh Tessie Lou weekly. She has gained 5 oz. in the past 3 weeks.

I won't use soap on her backside anymore. I made some headway last night using cotton cosmetic pads soaked in warm water, followed by dry ones, then neosporin on the inflammed area, but I'll switch to Preparation H and cornstarch right away. Very impressive results on Bennie--what a sweet boy!

Many thanks for your interest in my Tessie Lou,
Sandy
 
Hi Hillary,
Thanks for your post and for the good ideas. I think you're right about the neosporin. After reading Dr. Lisa's post, I will be trying the cornstarch/Prep H approach. The trick is getting the area cleaned up first, but I think I'm making some progress.

Have a good evening!
Sandy
 
If she has deep pockets to the left and right of her vulva.....make sure to get your finger (covered with a soft paper towel) into these areas. Molly got some very nasty black goop to the left and right of her vulva. I could not actually see it but if I put my finger in the folds, the paper towel came out black.
 
I notice that on my website I state that I used baby powder but I used cornstarch. I don't ever want to put anything that has the least bit of perfume odor on a cat.
 
Tessie - when I used the waterless shampoo on Maui, I would wash her with warm water after, to make sure the soap was off her and that she wouldn't lick it. I also then went a step further and used more pads to dry her and sometimes pulled out the hair dryer (Maui likes the hair dryer).

It's good to learn about prep h and cornstarch as follow up options. Thanks Dr. Lisa for the tip.
 
It's helpful that your know how much she is eating now.

Cut back to 10 ounces of FF per day. And cut back the kibble by a few pieces.
You will have to put the left-overs in the Fridge (or feed to another cat).

You never want to reduce calories by more than about 10% at a time.

Stay at that for about a week, then weigh her.

Keep cutting back by about 5% at a time, until she stabilizes.
Then cut back another little bit.

Since you are testing her BG, you should be OK if your go slowly.

If you can get her to exercise a little--- "Da Bird" toy is enticing to most cats.
You have to play with her.


I used the above method with Mr. Kitty (GA) to reduce from 16# to 14#...it took
almost a year.
 
Lisa dvm said:
If she has deep pockets to the left and right of her vulva.....make sure to get your finger (covered with a soft paper towel) into these areas. Molly got some very nasty black goop to the left and right of her vulva. I could not actually see it but if I put my finger in the folds, the paper towel came out black.
Click to expand...

Dr. Lisa, I will check that out next time I go to clean her (today). The black goop is what she has around her anus that I'm working on. I will check the vulva too. Thanks so much.
 
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