As a cat owner it is important to ask yourself if you know what to do if your cat swallows or gets stung by a bee. Will you be prepared if this happens while on a family camping trip, or in the wee hours of the morning? Cats and bee stings can result in a serious situation depending on how many times your cat got stung and on what part of your cat’s body. Cats are curious animal, so when they get stung by bees it’s usually on the face, nose, or paw. The old adage, “curiosity killed the cat”, actually has an element of truth. Cats are nosy creatures, sniffing at anything of interest. Since felines find insects interesting, they sniff at them, and if they stick their nose where it doesn’t belong, that could turn out to be fatal. So, let’s take a comprehensive look at what happens if a cat got stung by a bee. Cats and bees Since their bodies are small, a bee sting can have a greater, faster effect on cats than it does on humans . Cats react to bee stings a lot like people do. You can expe...
Using of Dish water detergents like Dawn and Palmolive are also recommended by most vet for once in while (with of course proper precautions and as long it is rinsed properly).They are mostly used to remove oil creases caused by motor oil or to treat fleas.
However, Using Dish soap detergents like Palmolive and Dawn can cause some serious damage to our beloved feline friend due to ingredients (harmful chemicals) used in making this soap,sensitive nature of cats to chemicals and there is always a risk of ingestion as cats are known to groom or lick themselves more often.
Even though your vet recommends you and tells you it is safe or even if other people do it all the time with no ill effects.These side effects are not immediate and in most cases, it is can cause long term health concerns.
Please read on why using dish detergents like Palmolive might not be the good idea for Cats and what are the safer and natural alternatives .
Looking for the water less way to bath your cat?
Check out Vet's Best Water-less Cat Bath which is great at keeping you cat clean without having to bathe her multiple times a month.
Toxic chemical used in Palmolive and Cats Sensitive nature to chemical
The purpose of using Palmolive or Dawn dish soap on wildlife after an oil spill is because they need to have the oil removed from their bodies as quickly as possible.
Otherwise their skin cannot breathe and they will die. Palmolive or Dawn soap are so effective at removing oil because the chemicals in it are caustic and cut through anything basically. No wonder it kills fleas on contact.
Like humans, cats absorb product ingredients through their skin. She also may ingest product residue when she licks herself.
Common ingredients in products for humans and even in dog shampoos can harm cats, including essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, tea tree and jojoba. Glycerin, a main ingredient in some soaps, can cause loose stools.
Thanks to a cat’s curious nature, Cats often are more likely to investigate new items and get themselves into trouble. After all, curiosity killed the cat,but satisfaction brought him back!
Cats have an altered ability to metabolize drugs or poisons through their liver, they are often more sensitive to certain products or chemicals as compared to dogs or humans.
Palmolive and Dawn Dish detergent are made with very strong chemicals that are harmful and caustic.
Yes, it is used to get oil out, kill fleas and remove odors etc.But it is far from natural in fact it is filled with chemicals and is NOT safe to use on pets.
Plus, all the added synthetic fragrances and unnatural dyes, neither which are healthy or natural for pets.
The Environmental Working Group, known as the EWG which empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment, gave Dawn dish soap a 'D' grade because it has methylisothiazolinone in it.
You may Click here to read EWG’s guide for to see how your dish soap rates
Chemicals used in Palmolive Dish Soap
Here are a couple of toxic chemical used in Palmolive that may cause adverse effects. You may check the official site of Palmolive for full list of Chemicals used.
Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate may cause skin irritation
Sodium Xylene Sulfonate can, in an industrial setting, irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract
Other chemicals used show little or no signs of being harmful. But with synthetic chemical-laden products, there is always cause for concern.
You may also check Palmolive’s website FAQ, where in they have mentioned that it is not intended for bathing and shampooing.
Risk of ingesting the residue of Dish liquid soap like Palmolive
Because cats are such great groomers they can lick chemicals from their fur or paws.Cat are also more likely and known to groom other cats or kittens due to Motherly instinct, Social grooming/all-grooming.
If accidentally licked or ingested by a cat, it can cause severe profuse drooling, chemical burns to the mouth and esophagus, difficulty breathing, and vomiting.
Of the thousands of calls that came into Pet Poison Helpline from cat owners and veterinarians treating cats in 2012,Household cleaners are one of the top toxins that caused emergencies.
Top five poisons that caused emergencies
- Topical spot-on insecticides
- Household cleaners
- Antidepressants
- Poisonous plants
- Human and veterinary NSAIDS
Natural and Safe alternatives
I personally don't think bathing is necessary unless they got something on them that you need to get off or they're not grooming themselves for whatever reason.
The good news is your cat takes care of a majority of their hair care needs by themselves with all that licking, but that doesn’t remove mats, eliminate dandruff or make them smell better.
The National Cat Groomers of America recommends cats get a bath and blown dry every 4-6 weeks to keep their coats from getting matted or pelted (This depends on activity level, Indoor vs Outdoor environment, Coat length and type, health issues).
As safe alternatives you may try natural castile soaps. Pure castile soap is made from an olive oil base.
Natural castile products contain no animal ingredients and are free of chemicals and dyes.
Castile liquid or bar soap for babies lathers well with water for cat bathing.
Rinse the cat well after lathering. Continue gently applying fresh water to your cat until the water runs clear.
She'll appreciate not having to lick soap residue, no matter how pure and natural the source.
If you need to treat flea, you can try Dr Bronner’s unscented variety which is gentle and natural flea control shampoo.
The good news is your cat takes care of a majority of their hair care needs by themselves with all that licking, but that doesn’t remove mats, eliminate dandruff or make them smell better.
The National Cat Groomers of America recommends cats get a bath and blown dry every 4-6 weeks to keep their coats from getting matted or pelted (This depends on activity level, Indoor vs Outdoor environment, Coat length and type, health issues).
As safe alternatives you may try natural castile soaps. Pure castile soap is made from an olive oil base.
Natural castile products contain no animal ingredients and are free of chemicals and dyes.
Castile liquid or bar soap for babies lathers well with water for cat bathing.
Rinse the cat well after lathering. Continue gently applying fresh water to your cat until the water runs clear.
She'll appreciate not having to lick soap residue, no matter how pure and natural the source.
If you need to treat flea, you can try Dr Bronner’s unscented variety which is gentle and natural flea control shampoo.