Disclaimer: the information provided below is not intended
to replace or override the advice of your veterinarian. Both the author
and the site owner assume that this information will be used to work with
your vet in planning the best treatment plan for your cat
You know them - those cute, furry little critters that always look like a nice friendly kitty until you get up close. And then, just as you and your cat get within range, you recognize the nice little 'kitty'. Oh no! Look out! No one wants to get hit with the distinctive odor that skunks are famous for.
Skunks now make their home not only in rural areas, but also in suburban and even occasionally, heavily populated areas. They eat a wide variety of foods, so can live almost anywhere. This makes it possible for us and our furkids to stumble upon them in the most unlikely of places.
Since skunks are predominantly nocturnal, encounters with them almost always happen after dark when it's harder to see them at a distance. Should you come upon a skunk in the daylight, particularly if it is acting strangely, report it to animal control; it could be rabid.
Once you've identified the animal, try to back away or give it a wide berth. When threatened, they will first stomp their feet before spraying. This is a warning to get out of there fast! Keep your cats away from them because not only can they spray, but they have very sharp claws and teeth.
If your cat found the skunk on their own and got sprayed, or if you were unfortunate enough to get hit too, there are a couple of things you can use to get rid of the odor.
The most well known remedy for removing skunk odor is tomato juice. You'll need lots though! Put your fur friend in the tub or sink, lightly put a dry cotton balls in each ear, and just soak them in the juice. You'll need to work it down to the skin and let it soak a few minutes. Then shampoo with a mild castile soap.
A more effective treatment is to mix up 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 tsp. liquid soap. Do not put this in a closed container as it can explode and only mix up as much as you need to use at a time. Rinse your kitty with the solution and let it soak in for a couple of minutes. Then shampoo with a liquid castile soap.
Most times, our cats will get sprayed right in the face. This is a very tricky area to neutralize the odor. If you are very, very careful, you can soak a cotton ball with the peroxide mixture, squeeze most of it out, and then dab around the face. Be especially careful to avoid getting any in the eyes and put dry cotton balls in the ears before you begin. If the cat was hit directly in the face, their eyes may be very irritated from the skunk essence already. A drop or two of a soothing herbal eye drop mixture may help as well.
When using the peroxide solution be careful not to get it on good clothes, porous surfaces or home furnishings as it can bleach them, especially if they are in the sun. A dark furred kitty may show some signs of lightened fur as well, but it won't be dramatic and is much preferred over the odor of a skunk encounter.
As always, the best treatment is prevention, or in the case of these furry stinkers, avoidance!