Can I dye my cat with Kool Aid???? Need answers fast!!

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krazy kat2

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My daughter dyed her hair with Kool Aid, and it had to grow out. It was bright red for months, longer than when she streaked it with food coloring.
 
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leli

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Okay, everyone can relax, Sammy is still black and WHITE. I was just trying to come up with something new to do this year, since I won't be with my family at all. I didn't mean to suggest that I believe my cats are toys or anything. I figured if kool aid was safe and short lived it would be like dressing him up without having to spend money (which I don't have) on a costume. I realize that thinking he would look cute in a costume or dyed apparently means I'm some sort of idiot, but I wasn't intending to do him harm. Anyway, he's fine and happy.....trying like mad to get at the candy for the kids (the paper crinkling when we hand it out keeps drawing him back). Happy Hallowe'en!
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by Leli

Okay, everyone can relax, Sammy is still black and WHITE. I was just trying to come up with something new to do this year, since I won't be with my family at all. I didn't mean to suggest that I believe my cats are toys or anything. I figured if kool aid was safe and short lived it would be like dressing him up without having to spend money (which I don't have) on a costume. I realize that thinking he would look cute in a costume or dyed apparently means I'm some sort of idiot, but I wasn't intending to do him harm. Anyway, he's fine and happy.....trying like mad to get at the candy for the kids (the paper crinkling when we hand it out keeps drawing him back). Happy Hallowe'en!
i don't think people thought you were an idiot - i certainly didn't! if i hadn't thought it might not be good for him, i would've said go for it - cute idea, IMO. too bad there isn't some short-lived, cat-friendly colorant out there! sometimes it's hard to read emotions via print - if the person was saying it to you aloud, you'd be able to tell by tone of voice what they were feeling.
 

silverbook

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I'm glad you didn't dye him with kool-aid. I don't know how it would have affected his fur or him. I do know that when people dye animal fiber yarn like wool for knitting, they often use kool-aid because it dyes wool so well. So based on that alone it probably would not have been a good idea and would have lasted much longer than you were thinking.
 

purity

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Originally Posted by Deb25

I'm with the majority of the members. A cat is a living creature, and not a plaything to be decorated for a holiday.
Just wanted to agree with this. I'm frankly quite disturbed that anyone would even consider dying their cats fur
 

semiferal

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I say have your own fun and leave the cat out of it. He neither needs nor wants to have his fur colored by any means.
 

shiraz21

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Originally Posted by Deb25

I'm with the majority of the members. A cat is a living creature, and not a plaything to be decorated for a holiday.
I just wanted to say that people are living creatures and they dress up their kids and put face paint, etc on them all the time. So I don't want to hear that. I just came accross this thread today... sorry, that's just my observation. Don't be a hypocrite or put your animals above people. I'm sure Leli loves her cats and was only asking the forum because she wasnt sure about it. Leli, I think it was a cute idea, might not be the healthiest thing, but cute thought. Sorry you arent able to be with your family on Halloween
 

goldenkitty45

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Yes but wash it out as soon as you can - its sugar in their fur. My boys decided to dye our white rex bright blue one time - I almost fainted. Washed it out right away and nothing was hurt.

I found out later they did a few of the outside cats too - red and green.
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by Shiraz21

I just wanted to say that people are living creatures and they dress up their kids and put face paint, etc on them all the time. So I don't want to hear that. I just came accross this thread today... sorry, that's just my observation. Don't be a hypocrite or put your animals above people. I'm sure Leli loves her cats and was only asking the forum because she wasnt sure about it. Leli, I think it was a cute idea, might not be the healthiest thing, but cute thought. Sorry you arent able to be with your family on Halloween
I think the difference between people and cats is that we can communicate to people and they understand our language whereas with animals it's difficult to speak to them in their own language so that they are aware of what is happening to them. And because they probably don't understand what we are doing to them, they must surely be freaking out. Just MHO.
 

shiraz21

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

I think the difference between people and cats is that we can communicate to people and they understand our language whereas with animals it's difficult to speak to them in their own language so that they are aware of what is happening to them. And because they probably don't understand what we are doing to them, they must surely be freaking out. Just MHO.
Ok I understand where you're coming from there.
 

dangcatsfault

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Last year I bought a calendar titled 'WHY PAINT CATS' There is only one link in the calendar. http://www.whypaintcats.com There are some pictures and a lot of consumer feedback on the subject. (the calendars pictures were a lot more subtle compared to the pictures that are shown on that link.)

I am torn between "ooooh that looks pretty cool" and in the next breath "aaah those poor kitties" I know, as well as anyone who has cats, that if a cat doesn't like what you are doing to her/him, he/she is NOT going to be sticking around for it for more than 5 seconds. And good luck trying to catch them for the next go round. (like their second ride in the car to the vet)


The painted cats featured in these pictures must be the mellowest of mellow cats.
 

xocats

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Sammy is adorable.

I'm glad that you decided to not color his fur.
 

semiferal

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Originally Posted by Shiraz21

I just wanted to say that people are living creatures and they dress up their kids and put face paint, etc on them all the time. So I don't want to hear that. I just came accross this thread today... sorry, that's just my observation. Don't be a hypocrite or put your animals above people.
I don't think anyone is "putting animals above people" at all.

The difference between dyeing a cat with Kool-Aid and dressing up a child for Halloween is that the child either enjoys dressing up (my parents never had to force me to put on my costume and go trick-or-treating - I couldn't wait!) or simply doesn't care. A baby doesn't know the difference between a bunting that makes him look like a piece of candy corn and the bunting he wears to bed at night.

I don't know any cats who would tolerate being dyed with Kool Aid. I know mine wouldn't!

As for "putting animals above people", to say that something shouldn't be done to an animal is not the same as putting animals above people. For example, if I say that it is wrong to refuse to feed your cat, I am not saying that your cat is more important than a starving child! To draw that kind of conclusion just doesn't make sense.
 

plebayo

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I have to say personally, I don't believe in dying easter chicks, so no I wouldn't dye your cat. Not to mention the dyed easter chicks that I had [rescues] laid purple eggs for a long time. I don't find any purpose in it, other than a person's own amusement.

I will say, my cat would let me dye him with kool-aid. My cat let's me do anything to him. Which really helps at the vet clinic [which he hates] he'll just lay on the exam table and not move.

I don't think it's really "harmful" using coolaid. There's a "pink lady" who has everything pink in her house, and she dyes her white cat pink all the time. People do do it.

I just don't find any legitimate purpose behind it.
 

catnapt

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Originally Posted by Leli

Ok, food colouring is out because it's too permanent....but how about good old Kool Aid? No harm in that, is there? I want Sammy to be black and orange for Hallowe'en. And I'll be able to wash it out after a few days, right? I'm looking to do this in time for the Trick-or-Treaters, so if you have anything to say on the subject, now's the time!
food coloring is what is IN kool aid to give it its color
also has artificial flavors which are not good for anyone really
 

beckiboo

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Originally Posted by touro1979

I think thats a really bad idea. Why would you put your animal through all that trauma of being bathed in kool aid just so your cat matchs your holiday decorations. I am also agaisnt people dressing up there cats in costumes and clothing. I think cats are beutiful and cute without any unnessary idiotic alterations.
I disagree. I did not know if it was fully safe, so did not respond earlier, but goodness! From the responses, it sounds as if you were going to shave him for Halloween! I think Koolaid probably would have been harmless, as was his costume last year. Some cats just lay down and pout at costumes, others love it. I'm sure you know your kitty well enough to know he would take the dye job just fine!

I'm glad Sammy enjoyed Halloween. And for the record, I also think cats are beautiful and cute naked, but are also adorable when gently dressed in silly costumes by loving owners. I wish my cats would tolerate it, but they won't. But the dogs tail goes non-stop when she is dressed up!
 

goldenkitty45

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I think those complaining about coloring their cats is due to the fact that their cats don't like baths. Its NOT gonna hurt the cat to be colored nor dressed up. Some cats are so mellow they don't care what you do to them. I used to dress my blue tabby up for Halloween (witch's hat) and he was cool about it - he also liked wearing a t-shirt that said "Super Star" on the back.

Like I said, my rex didn't care about being dyed blue for a few hours - I was more upset because he was white. But the shampoo took every bit of color out of his coat and he was perfectly ok.

I'm surprised at how "mean" most of you are about this - its not harmful at all.

And BTW the outdoor cats didn't have baths - the color faded away within a day or two - they didn't have a dark shade to begin with - barely noticed it.
 

dangcatsfault

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To xocats.... that is "thee" cutest little kitty avatar i've ever seen!! I can't wait to get enough posts so that I can use some of the .gifs I have made.
 

purity

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I think those complaining about coloring their cats is due to the fact that their cats don't like baths. Its NOT gonna hurt the cat to be colored nor dressed up. Some cats are so mellow they don't care what you do to them. I used to dress my blue tabby up for Halloween (witch's hat) and he was cool about it - he also liked wearing a t-shirt that said "Super Star" on the back.

Like I said, my rex didn't care about being dyed blue for a few hours - I was more upset because he was white. But the shampoo took every bit of color out of his coat and he was perfectly ok.

I'm surprised at how "mean" most of you are about this - its not harmful at all.

And BTW the outdoor cats didn't have baths - the color faded away within a day or two - they didn't have a dark shade to begin with - barely noticed it.
No, most of 'us' are complaining about this because we don't see cats as playthings to be dyed to suit a persons whim. Behaviour such as this just perpetuates some people's image of cats as nothing more than toys, to be played with and then thrown away when bored. Personally this attitude is not something I would wish to encourage.
 
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