Oatmeal bath...real oatmeal

tekgrl

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Hello,

I was able to obtain real, unflavored oatmeal. I would like to start bathing my 7 mo old boy Palas every 2 weeks because he has a strange skin problem that I think is being helped by bathing.

(Brief history: Got checked by vet and it is not mange, ringworm, fleas, ticks, or ear mites. He is indoor only. The spots do itch but doesn't drive him nuts...just a few swats occasionally. All appear on his head, neck, shoulders. They are a little bloody and lose hair the size of quarters and dimes and get better with topical skin treatment. I believe it's a skin allergy...possibly to the scented clumping litter dust...not sure.)

Obviously, I can't just do an oatmeal bath in the bathtub and allow all that oatmeal to go down the drain. Does anyone do this or have any advice for doing this? Right now I'm bathing him with a flea shampoo for cats but he doesn't have fleas and that's all I have for him right now.
 

persi & alley

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Originally Posted by tekgrl

Hello,

I was able to obtain real, unflavored oatmeal. I would like to start bathing my 7 mo old boy Palas every 2 weeks because he has a strange skin problem that I think is being helped by bathing.

(Brief history: Got checked by vet and it is not mange, ringworm, fleas, ticks, or ear mites. He is indoor only. The spots do itch but doesn't drive him nuts...just a few swats occasionally. All appear on his head, neck, shoulders. They are a little bloody and lose hair the size of quarters and dimes and get better with topical skin treatment. I believe it's a skin allergy...possibly to the scented clumping litter dust...not sure.)

Obviously, I can't just do an oatmeal bath in the bathtub and allow all that oatmeal to go down the drain. Does anyone do this or have any advice for doing this? Right now I'm bathing him with a flea shampoo for cats but he doesn't have fleas and that's all I have for him right now.
I have no problems whatsoever finding real Irish oatmeal, unflavored of course. I never thought about bathing my cats with it though, In fact, I usually eat this every morning and leave a little bit in the bowl for the cats to come over and finish off.
 

goldenkitty45

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What about putting a plastic tub in the kitchen sink or regular tub and putting the oatmeal in there? You could dump the tub after you rinse him off good. I'd put the stopper in the tub/sink and clean out any oatmeal that might splash out.

When you are finished soaking him in the oatmeal (before rinsing), take out the plastic tub first and then you won't have as much oatmeal that goes down the drain.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by tekgrl

Right now I'm bathing him with a flea shampoo for cats but he doesn't have fleas and that's all I have for him right now.
Are you sure this isn't making him worse? Flea shampoo is harsh, depending on the kind it's no more than a pesticide and shampoo. Not something you want to use regularly. It's not something I'd want on my skin.
I'm not sure, maybe someone else could ok it, but gentle tearless baby shampoo may be a safer option for regular washing. Another option is just to ask the vet if they have a very gentle shampoo, maybe even medicated shampoo to help with any itching.

Have you ruled out allergies? To other things, not just your litter. If you really do suspect it's the litter use an alternative that isn't scented, something like the wheat or corn litters. There are also other medical conditions that can cause weird skin problems, other members may have more information on that then I do and check the sticky concerning that in this section.
 

kittiesx2

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My daughter has excema and we do alot of oatmeal baths.
Buy the cheapest socks that you can find or use mis-matched ones ...mid calf length works pretty well. Fill sock 1/4 to 1/2 full of oatmeal and tie a knot on sock to close. Plunk the sock into bathwater and squeeze it until water turns white. I throw away the sock when I'm done...I know that it's wastful but I have enough to do around here
...you could clean out the sock and re-use if you want to
 

yosemite

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I too would question the flea shampoo first. Over-the-counter flea products are often ineffective and downright dangerous.

He could also have a food allergy and the flea shampoo would do nothing to help that either.

Whenever we've bathed our kitties we've used a gentle baby shampoo and rinsed very, very, well.

My first advice is to throw away that flea shampoo - the sooner the better.
 

sharky

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I third the QUestioning using flea shampoo...

DO NOT use BABY shampoo as it is the wrong PH for a cat( yes many of us did this as kids but it truely isnt the safe thing ) ... I would use only a CAT shampoo and consult the vet or groomer if unsure about it
 
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tekgrl

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Thank you for the information about the oatmeal bath. Does it absorb as well in a sock as it does actually applied to the skin?

Its not the flea shampoo...the baths seem to make it better not worse that's why I want to do them more often. I also don't want to use the flea shampoo anymore either. That is why I'm asking about doing the oatmeal baths. I have consulted 2 vets about this issue and neither has given me any advice at all or even offered suggestions as to why this is happening. They don't want me to solve the issue because they want to keep selling me prescription topical treatment and paying visit fees when they have to "look at it". I'm not paying anymore money to them for this. I've spent about $160 from just taking the cat in to see the vets about this problem alone (does not include vaccines, spay, neuter) and they have given me the answers above and not solved the problem at all. And yet, they want me to come back in to see them some more so I can pay more fees...hmmm...no thanks. I've come to the conclusion that this is some type of allergy and I'll try bathing and maybe switching foods if the bathing doesn't work or maybe other suggestions that CatSiters might have about this. But I'm done with the vet for this.

As soon as I have an inexpensive alternative to the flea shampoo, it will get thrown out
Thanks.
 
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tekgrl

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tekgrl;1723983 said:
Its not the flea shampoo...the baths seem to make it better not worse that's why I want to do them more often. I also don't want to use the flea shampoo anymore either. That is why I'm asking about doing the oatmeal baths. I have consulted 2 vets about this issue and neither has given me any advice at all or even offered suggestions as to why this is happening. They don't want me to solve the issue because they want to keep selling me prescription topical treatment and paying visit fees when they have to "look at it". I'm not paying anymore money to them for this. I've spent about $160 from just taking the cat in to see the vets about this problem alone (does not include vaccines, spay, neuter) and they have given me the answers above and not solved the problem at all. And yet, they want me to come back in to see them some more so I can pay more fees...hmmm...no thanks. I've come to the conclusion that this is some type of allergy and I'll try bathing and maybe switching foods if the bathing doesn't work or maybe other suggestions that CatSiters might have about this. But I'm done with the vet for this.
I hope this didn't come off as rude and ungrateful. I appreciate all the advice and experiences given. I am willing to pay for and can afford to pay for treatments when they are needed. In the future, will take my cats to another vet in the hopes of finding a better one. Right now I'm just frustrated with the treatment I've received so far. I really think this is not an emergency situation nor contagious. I also think it's something in the environment that is causing it so I should be able to figure it out. I just want to do the bath to determine if it is the litter that's doing it. If it is, I will try a new litter. If the baths don't resolve the issue, I will be posting another thread to request help with food to test food allergy theory.
 
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