Cat sprayed by Skunk, please help

jb68711

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My kitty Levi was sprayed in the face almost 3 hours ago by a skunk. Long story short, he's an indoor cat who cries at the door to be let outside in the evening. I let him out, and I'll come open the door in a couple hours and he'll be ready to come back in.
Last night I let him out, and about half an hour later I could smell skunk smell through the balcony door... I immediately thought "ew, skunk", I recognized the smell and it's not uncommon (you can smell a skunk from a mile away), but I noticed it was a strong smell and it was nearby. I then thought of Levi and ran to the door, and he was there and walked in, he was squinting his left eye and drooling. I then smell his face and knew he had been sprayed. I called the animal emergency clinic, but they informed me that they do not allow animals who have been sprayed by skunks because of it affecting other pets that are in the office, which makes sense.
So I googled of course, and found a remedy that combined hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, and dawn dish soap. I hastily skimmed through the directions. After the applying the solution to him and bathing him, the smell on his face had subsided greatly... There's still a hint of it. He has stopped drooling, so I assume the "bad taste" is out of his mouth... But his left eye is still squinting.
Any advice on how I should follow up on this without going to the vet? His face still does smell of skunk if I put my nose to it, just not nearly as pungent as it was initially. Should I repeat the process again?
 

stephenq

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My kitty Levi was sprayed in the face almost 3 hours ago by a skunk. Long story short, he's an indoor cat who cries at the door to be let outside in the evening. I let him out, and I'll come open the door in a couple hours and he'll be ready to come back in.
Last night I let him out, and about half an hour later I could smell skunk smell through the balcony door... I immediately thought "ew, skunk", I recognized the smell and it's not uncommon (you can smell a skunk from a mile away), but I noticed it was a strong smell and it was nearby. I then thought of Levi and ran to the door, and he was there and walked in, he was squinting his left eye and drooling. I then smell his face and knew he had been sprayed. I called the animal emergency clinic, but they informed me that they do not allow animals who have been sprayed by skunks because of it affecting other pets that are in the office, which makes sense.
So I googled of course, and found a remedy that combined hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, and dawn dish soap. I hastily skimmed through the directions. After the applying the solution to him and bathing him, the smell on his face had subsided greatly... There's still a hint of it. He has stopped drooling, so I assume the "bad taste" is out of his mouth... But his left eye is still squinting.
Any advice on how I should follow up on this without going to the vet? His face still does smell of skunk if I put my nose to it, just not nearly as pungent as it was initially. Should I repeat the process again?
Its probably fine to repeat.  You can also get non medicated saline drops for the eye.  Maybe the vet will see your cat now?
 

Willowy

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Nothing the vet can do, really, it just has to wear off. You can use regular saline eye drops to flush his eyes, and keep bathing him with that mixture for a few days.

You should probably get his rabies shot boostered, just in case.
 

DreamerRose

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There is a specific solution for skunk called Skunk-off. I got mine years ago from the vet, but pet stores may also carry it.
 
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jb68711

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Thanks guys, appreciate it!
 
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jb68711

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Update: Levi is doing fine. I'm planning on giving him another bath, his face still has a little skunk smell but only when I put my nose to him. Thanks again @willowy and @dreamerrose
 
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