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My cat smells bad after being sprayed, could it be toxic or skunk?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 years and 8 months old | 10 lbs
My female cat got sprayed by a male cat, I think, it could be kerosene can't really tell. Bad smell. I bathed her but still has some smell. What do I fo. She's cleaning herself and I'm worried
1 Answer
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on December 14th, 2016
If Georgina still smells, and there is a chance it could be kerosene, do not allow her to continue to bathe herself. Kerosene is toxic if ingested, and it can be toxic as well on her skin. I would bathe her again with a baby shampoo or Dawn dish soap to try to get rid of the smell, and if that doesn't work, I would take her into a vet because of the concern it could be kerosene on her skin.
Another thing to consider is that she may have been sprayed by a skunk. I obviously can't smell her to say if that's correct or not, but that would also be a hard smell to get rid of and would smell terrible on a cat. You can get a shampoo to get rid of skunk smell from the pet store.
Another thing to consider is that she may have been sprayed by a skunk. I obviously can't smell her to say if that's correct or not, but that would also be a hard smell to get rid of and would smell terrible on a cat. You can get a shampoo to get rid of skunk smell from the pet store.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful