Nice To Know I Still Have Some Sense Of Smell, I Guess

[bloodyrosemccoy]

Good news, everyone! The cat is almost entirely de-skunked. She got another bath* today in the magic H2O2 + baking soda solution and then a shampooing, which she endured with stoic resolve. And she was downright thrilled when, once dry, she got brushed (to get some of the contaminated fur off her) and given head scrumbles.** Given that she's been exiled to The Outsides since Saturday, I think she's missed cuddlings.

She still gets to stay in her spacious garage accommodations for a while longer, since when you get up close she still stinks and that's not the kind of thing you want on the furniture. But she smells almost clean and looks a lot happier. Understandably, since her own nose probably feels a lot clearer now that it doesn't have quite so strong a skunk stink in it.

Skunks, man. Don't mess with those guys.


*Yes, another. The last time she got skunked (there was a last time), one bath was enough to neutralize the stink. I don’t know what the hell she was doing this time to get what appears to have been a point-blank magnum blast right between the eyes, but it was exponentially worse. It was like a goddamn FORCE FIELD of stink. You'd get within fifteen feet of her and your body would be like WHAM into a wall of acrid thiols. Took some real bravery, mostly from Mom, to get close enough to wash her that first time around.

**Though she has clearly hostile feelings toward the blow dryer.

Comments

[badgermirlacca.livejournal.com]

I respectfully suggest that if this kitty is dumb enough to tangle with skunks twice, maybe she should (once deodorized) stay inside?

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's so much stupidity as just bad luck. (Now, my other cat, the one who got herself ate, SHE was stupid. Adorable and sweet, but stupid.) If she's going to be outside around here, there's always a risk that she'll surprise another critter from time to time, even if she knows to avoid them. Plus, after fourteen years of being an in-and-out cat, I don't think she'd want to trade it just because sometimes the outside can be dangerous.

As she gets older, though, she may take your suggestion into consideration. The outside is certainly less comfortable than the couch.

[biomekanic.livejournal.com]

It might have been a "teenager" skunk. The smell from the young ones is even stronger than the smell from an older one. Or she might have tangled with a mom and her pups.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

*grin* We've been using the term "teenage skunk," too, because not only are they stronger-smelling, but they're more willing to use it. Good to know the theory is not just ours!

[biomekanic.livejournal.com]

We had pet skunks when I was a kid. You can't get them descented until they reach a certain age, and when startled they release a tiny amount of the smell.

It was usually enough to clear everyone out of the house for an hour or so.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Gives a whole new meaning to "Fire a warning shot across their nose!"

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you could even keep pet skunks.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Poor kitty!