Tar removal?

stattess · Sep 20, 2005

Wasn't 100 % sure of where to post this:

A couple who has been helping me trap my feral colony and feeding them on days that I cannot picked up a young cat last night. (I was busy getting Lacey and her babies back into their box and couldn't go feed)

Since we are trapping, as some of you may know, it is sometimes a tedious process. Therefore when we are able to grab one in a fast way (such as picking it up) we go for it.

We are trying to get him or her into a clinic for the spay / neuter and shots, and are right now trying to find a foster home.

He / she is young. Eyes are open, teeth are there (not sure which set) and will eat wet on own. Did not go for the milk (KMR) or water though unless fed through a dropper. Is very lovable and tries to climb and cuddle like I'm momma cat. Licked my face, hands and arms last night (this morning) but did try and suckle on my fingertips.

Concern and reason for posting. Hasn't as of yet pooped or peed that I have seen. Cannot wait to get home and check in. Equally as important is that she / he har tar or tar like substance on belly and feet (back only).

What do I do? Do I rush her into any place possible to get her seen by doc, do we wait and have her seen by the people we are using for the ferals? Do I try and clean her up and how?

Thank you,
Stacy

emb_78 · Sep 20, 2005

Originally Posted by stattess

Wasn't 100 % sure of where to post this:

A couple who has been helping me trap my feral colony and feeding them on days that I cannot picked up a young cat last night. (I was busy getting Lacey and her babies back into their box and couldn't go feed)

Since we are trapping, as some of you may know, it is sometimes a tedious process. Therefore when we are able to grab one in a fast way (such as picking it up) we go for it.

We are trying to get him or her into a clinic for the spay / neuter and shots, and are right now trying to find a foster home.

He / she is young. Eyes are open, teeth are there (not sure which set) and will eat wet on own. Did not go for the milk (KMR) or water though unless fed through a dropper. Is very lovable and tries to climb and cuddle like I'm momma cat. Licked my face, hands and arms last night (this morning) but did try and suckle on my fingertips.

Concern and reason for posting. Hasn't as of yet pooped or peed that I have seen. Cannot wait to get home and check in. Equally as important is that she / he har tar or tar like substance on belly and feet (back only).

What do I do? Do I rush her into any place possible to get her seen by doc, do we wait and have her seen by the people we are using for the ferals? Do I try and clean her up and how?

Thank you,
Stacy

You can clean them with warm water and Dawn. I what also take her to a vet.

stattess · Sep 20, 2005

Question though in regards to your reply Erin:

If the kitten is seemily fine except for the tar, and we are trying to get her into a certain animal hospital (doc) due to their work with our ferals and our group can he or she wait if I attempt to clean up? It will still be this week. Maybe tomorrow, or do I rush her in elsewhere?

Thanks again.

emb_78 · Sep 20, 2005

Originally Posted by stattess

Question though in regards to your reply Erin:

If the kitten is seemily fine except for the tar, and we are trying to get her into a certain animal hospital (doc) due to their work with our ferals and our group can he or she wait if I attempt to clean up? It will still be this week. Maybe tomorrow, or do I rush her in elsewhere?

Thanks again.

I thought you said she wasn't urinating or deficating??? If she is doing fine and she can probably wait. But it is up to you

yosemite · Sep 20, 2005

I would definitely try to get the tar off with the Dawn detergent and water since she may try to lick it off and if it's tar I would presume it to be toxic to her.

If, as you say, she is not going to the bathroom, you need to take her to a vet for sure - sooner rather than later.

hissy · Sep 20, 2005

Sounds to me through your posting that this kitten should still be on bottle feedings and being stimulated to poop and pee. If it is not eating hard food, or soft food and is taking KMR from a syringe, your best bet is to do some bottle feeding and stimulations in order to get things going.

The dawn detergent will not take off the tar. What will work is the Crisco shortening- (the lard) You need to coat the paws as thick as possible- she will lick it off, but that's okay- put the kitten in an enclosed area- like a tall box so it can't climb out, for about ten minutes- and then using a damp warm rag, gently rub off the crisco and follow that with a treatment of a warm dry cloth (run it through your dryer) and then gently pull the tar off-

Good luck and thanks for trapping the forgotten ones

yosemite · Sep 20, 2005

Originally Posted by hissy

Sounds to me through your posting that this kitten should still be on bottle feedings and being stimulated to poop and pee. If it is not eating hard food, or soft food and is taking KMR from a syringe, your best bet is to do some bottle feeding and stimulations in order to get things going.

The dawn detergent will not take off the tar. What will work is the Crisco shortening- (the lard) You need to coat the paws as thick as possible- she will lick it off, but that's okay- put the kitten in an enclosed area- like a tall box so it can't climb out, for about ten minutes- and then using a damp warm rag, gently rub off the crisco and follow that with a treatment of a warm dry cloth (run it through your dryer) and then gently pull the tar off-

Good luck and thanks for trapping the forgotten ones

Thanks Hissy - I was hoping you would see this and give better information about getting the tar off.

stattess · Sep 20, 2005

She didn't poop or pee last night. I got her at about 8:30 pm. Not sure of what she has done before then. I tried stimulating but she / he is squirmy. Will see what is home when I get there. I guess what came through in my panic is wondering if the tar has gotten anywhere and plugged up anything.

Will try to examine more closely tonight and will get to a vet immed if I think things are not "moving" along.

Thank you all!

Stacy

hissy · Sep 20, 2005

Stacy when you stimulate her does she cry or does she just squirm? Are you stimulating her while she is right side up or upside down? I start in the sink with a towel down they can stand on, and a thin stream of warm water directed at their backside. I don't use a cotton ball, I just use my finger and I make a gentle circle near their anus, and then rub their tummy as well. It generally only takes a few seconds for peeing to happen, and a bit longer for solids to come. And of course you wash your hands well after stimulation, but for me anyway, I get better results not having to feel through the cotton.

StefanZ · Sep 20, 2005

Tar? The black thick oily? Butter. I know this from my childhood. Butter is good to take this away...

A possible reason why he isnt doing this is perhaps he is a little nervous in his new environment? New pet kits often dont do their 24 hours. If vet necessary? dunno.
Tar as such isnt poisonous, but I dont want to take a oath on it.

And yes, try with this gentle stimulation of belly and the behind. Wet a cloth a little with warm water and rub gently, like cat-mothers tongue.

stattess · Sep 20, 2005

Sounds like such fun.

Kidding. I will do this tonight and will take him / her in if need be. Will give an update later.

Stacy

dr. doolittle · Sep 21, 2005

Tar and oil and gasoline are all very toxic to cats! The lard idea is a good one. Polysporin ointment will also take it off (there is a compound in the ointment that dissolves the tar). Whatever you do do not let the kitten ingest the tar- it could kill her!

stattess · Sep 21, 2005

She has a vet appointment today. The lard only worked a little... she squirms like crazy and it was everywhere in the box but on her :{

She went to the bathroom somewhere between 12 am and 4:28 am (time I went to bed and time she woke me screaming her head off). I spoke with a friend who is a vet tech at length last night and it was explained to me that the problem was most likely due to lack of hydration. BINGO... force fed milk (KMR) and BINGO.

There was so much poop. (Bet you really wanted to know that?)

ptreseler · Mar 14, 2019

Regarding tar in-between toes.
DO NOT use mineral oil it is toxic.
ONLY use butter to break down the tar. Wash with mild Dawn dishwashing soap, or Babyshampoo.
Coconut oil, Olive oil, are best. They break down the tar. Still need to mild soap to get it all out. AND rinse good.
Butter is effective, but it will stimulate hunger from the smell. Olive oil, and Coconut oil are not usually appetizing so they will not make intense cleaning from the where it gets on other parts of the body.

To wash, I held him up against my chest, with one arm under his belly, with his foots in a 4qt soup pan. One hand free to rustle in-between his toes with the soap, and then a fresh tank of water to rinse thoroughly.

Then I gave him some hairball slime from the tube to help him pass the toxic chem.

Not a friendly look I tell you.

Tar removal?

stattess

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